A battle of the NBA’s last two Eastern Conference champions put up fairly mediocre numbers on ABC Sunday.
Sunday’s Magic/Celtics tilt drew a 2.1 overnight rating on ABC, down 9% from Cavaliers/Pistons last year (2.3), but up 5% from Mavericks/Pistons in ’08 (2.0).
The 2.1 overnight is tied as the lowest of the season for an NBA telecast on ABC.
Despite the relatively low number, Magic/Celtics drew the highest overnight rating of any non-NFL sporting event on Super Bowl Sunday, topping the Northern Trust Open (1.9) and Penguins/Capitals on NBC (1.3).
Overnight ratings for nationally televised NBA games on Super Bowl Sunday
Since 2000
| Year | Date | Time | Game | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sun., 2/7/10 | 2:30 PM | Magic/Celtics | ABC |
2.1
|
| 2009 | Sun., 2/1/09 | 2:30 PM | Cavaliers/Pistons | ABC |
2.3
|
| 2008 | Sun., 2/3/08 | 2:30 PM | Mavericks/Pistons | ABC |
2.0
|
| 2007 | Sun., 2/4/07 | 2:30 PM | Pistons/Cavaliers | ABC |
2.1
|
| 2006 | Sun., 2/5/06 | 12 PM | Rockets/Knicks | ABC |
2.1
|
| 2005 | Sun., 2/6/05 | 3:30 PM | Lakers/Rockets | ABC |
2.4
|
| 2004 | Sun., 2/1/04 | 2 PM | 76ers/Timberwolves | ESPN |
—
|
| 2003 | Sun., 1/26/03 | 2 PM | Trail Blazers/Mavericks | ESPN |
—
|
| 2002 | Sun., 2/3/02 | 12:15 PM | Pacers/Wizards or Heat/Knicks | NBC |
3.7
|
| 2:30 PM | Lakers/Mavericks | NBC |
4.6
|
||
| 2001 | Sun., 1/28/01 | 12 PM | 76ers/Pacers | NBC |
3.2
|
| 2:30 PM | Lakers/Knicks | NBC |
4.5
|
||
| 2000 | Sun., 1/30/00 | 12 PM | Kings/Knicks | NBC |
4.0
|
| 2:30 PM | Lakers/Rockets | NBC |
5.0
|
(Sports Business Daily)
