The NBA Finals continues to deliver impressive numbers on ABC.
Game 4 of the Warriors/Cavaliers NBA Finals drew an 11.7 final rating and 19.8 million viewers on ABC Thursday night, up 26% in ratings and 33% in viewership from Spurs/Heat last year (9.3, 15.0M) and up 17% and 22%, respectively, from Heat/Spurs in 2013 (10.0, 16.2M). It peaked with a 13.6 rating and 23.4 million from 11-11:15 PM ET.
The Warriors’ win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched Game 4 of the NBA Finals since Lakers/Pistons in 2004 (12.7, 20.3M), and the second-best in both measures since Lakers/Sixers in 2001 (12.6, 20.0M). All four games of the series have hit at least an 11-year high in ratings and viewership. Game 4 also ranks as the eighth-highest rated and seventh-most watched NBA Finals game since the event moved to ABC in 2003, and third in both measures with clinching games excluded.
The Warriors/Cavaliers series has now generated four double-digit ratings, tying 2004 as the most in any NBA Finals since 2001. Last year’s NBA Finals had only one double-digit rating, a 10.3 for Game 5.
Among adults 18-49, Thursday’s game had a 7.6 rating — up 27% from last year (6.0), up 13% from 2013 (6.7), and the highest Game 4 rating in the demo since 2004 (9.1). It had a 7.4 among adults 18-34, up 28% from last year (5.8), up 14% from 2013 (6.5), and the highest since 2012 (7.8).
Warriors/Cavaliers is now averaging an 11.0 rating and 18.9 million viewers on ABC, up 21% in ratings and 27% in viewership from last year (9.1, 14.9M) and up 22% and 28%, respectively, from 2013 (9.0, 14.8M). It is averaging a 7.3 among adults 18-49, up 22% from last year and 2013 (6.0 both years).
In ratings, viewership and the adults 18-49 demographic, the series ranks as the highest rated and most-watched NBA Finals through four games since Lakers/Sixers in 2001.
(Thu. numbers and series avg. from ESPN Media Zone, ABC via TV By the Numbers)
