After averaging the highest local rating in the NBA during the regular season, the Cavaliers have continued to draw giant numbers during the playoffs.
TNT’s coverage of the Cavaliers’ Game 4 loss to the Magic drew an “almost unheard-of” 30.3 rating in the Cleveland market Tuesday night, “higher than [the ratings for] some Browns games … last season.”
By contrast, Game 4 drew an stellar, but paltry-by-comparison 19.8 rating in the Orlando market.
While the 30.3 is extremely impressive, especially considering that every game of the East Finals has been exclusive to cable network TNT, the rating pales in comparison to the 42.6 rating Game 4 of the ’07 Indians/Red Sox ALCS drew in the Cleveland market. Keep in mind that the ’07 ALCS aired on broadcast (FOX).
The Cavaliers stayed alive in the East Finals with a Game 5 win on Thursday night, likely ensuring another night of massive ratings in Cleveland.
Sources: Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Orlando Sentinel
