ESPN, ABC and TNT each drew big audiences during the 2009 NBA Conference Finals. Twelve telecasts across the three networks averaged a 5.3 U.S. rating and 8.6 million viewers, up 29% and 41%, respectively, from a 4.1 and 6.1 million last year, and up 71% in ratings from a 3.1 in ’07.
The Magic/Cavaliers East Finals averaged a 5.4 rating and 8.6 million viewers on TNT, up 35% in ratings and 46% in viewers Pistons/Celtics in ’08, up 59% in ratings and 72% in viewers from Cavaliers/Pistons in ’07, and the highest rated Eastern Conference Finals since 76ers/Bucks in ’01.
Meanwhile, the Lakers/Nuggets West Finals averaged a 5.3 rating and 8.7 million viewers on ESPN and ABC, up 26% and 40%, respectively, from Lakers/Spurs on TNT last year, up a whopping 89% in ratings from Spurs/Jazz in ’07, and the highest rated Western Conference Finals since Lakers/Kings in ’02.
Magic/Cavaliers was the highest rated, most viewed Conference Final ever on TNT, and Lakers/Nuggets was the highest rated, most viewed Conference Final ever on ESPN/ABC. Overall, the ’09 Conference Finals averaged a 5.3 rating, the highest for the Conference Finals since 2002 (6.9).
Ratings for the 2009 NBA Conference Finals.
| Date | Time | Game | Net | Rating | vs. ’08 | Viewers | vs. ’08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue., 5/19/09 | 9:00 PM | Nuggets/Lakers Game 1 | ESPN |
35%
|
49%
|
||
| Wed., 5/20/09 | 8:30 PM | Magic/Cavaliers Game 1 | TNT |
12%
|
20%
|
||
| Thu., 5/21/09 | 9:00 PM | Nuggets/Lakers Game 2 | ESPN |
26%
|
38%
|
||
| Fri., 5/22/09 | 8:30 PM | Magic/Cavaliers Game 2 | TNT |
19%
|
25%
|
||
| Sat., 5/23/09 | 8:30 PM | Lakers/Nuggets Game 3 | ABC |
46%
|
60%
|
||
| Sun., 5/24/09 | 8:30 PM | Cavaliers/Magic Game 3 | TNT |
46%
|
56%
|
||
| Mon., 5/25/09 | 9:00 PM | Lakers/Nuggets Game 4 | ESPN |
45%
|
60%
|
||
| Tue., 5/26/09 | 8:30 PM | Cavaliers/Magic Game 4 | TNT |
31%
|
39%
|
||
| Wed., 5/27/09 | 9:00 PM | Nuggets/Lakers Game 5 | ESPN |
33%
|
44%
|
||
| Thu., 5/28/09 | 8:30 PM | Magic/Cavaliers Game 5 | TNT |
34%
|
47%
|
||
| Fri., 5/29/09 | 9:00 PM | Lakers/Nuggets Game 6 | ESPN |
19%
|
31%
|
||
| Sat., 5/30/09 | 8:30 PM | Cavaliers/Magic Game 6 | TNT |
—
|
—
|
||
|
Average rating/viewership
|
5.3
|
29%
|
8.6 mil
|
41%
|
|||
Ratings for the Conference Finals since ’00.
| Year | West Finals | East Finals | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | Net | Rating | Net | Rating | #/gms | |
| 2009 |
5.3
|
ESPN, ABC |
5.4
|
TNT |
5.3
|
12
|
| 2008 |
4.2
|
TNT |
4.0
|
ESPN, ABC |
4.1
|
11
|
| 2007 |
2.8
|
ESPN, ABC |
3.4
|
TNT |
3.1
|
11
|
| 2006 |
3.8
|
TNT |
4.2
|
ESPN, ABC |
4.0
|
12
|
| 2005 |
3.7
|
ESPN, ABC |
4.0
|
TNT |
3.9
|
12
|
| 2004 |
5.1
|
TNT |
3.1
|
ESPN, ABC |
4.1
|
12
|
| 2003 |
3.7
|
TNT |
3.1
|
ESPN, ABC |
3.4
|
10
|
| 2002 |
8.4
|
NBC, TNT |
5.0
|
NBC, TNT |
6.9
|
13
|
| 2001 |
5.2
|
NBC, TNT |
5.5
|
NBC, TNT |
5.4
|
11
|
| 2000 |
7.4
|
NBC, TNT |
5.6
|
NBC, TNT |
6.6
|
13
|
Updated (6/2/09): Lakers/Nuggets Game 4 drew 9.7 million viewers, not 9.9 million; Cavaliers/Magic Game 6 drew 8.4 million viewers, not 8.3 million.
