Game 7s usually figure to attract more viewers than Game 1s — that is, unless the Game 7 involves a pair of no-name teams and the Game 1 involves the star-studded Lakers.
The Lakers’ Game 1 win over the Jazz drew a 3.8 final rating and 6.0 million viewers on ABC last Sunday, up 19% in ratings and 27% in viewership from Mavericks/Nuggets Game 1 last year (3.2, 4.7 mil), down 7% and up 1%, respectively, from Jazz/Lakers Game 1 in ’08 (4.1, 5.9 mil) and up 9% and 15%, respectively, from Spurs/Suns Game 1 in ’07 (3.5, 5.2 mil).
Jazz/Lakers Game 1 ranks as the highest rated, most-viewed game of the NBA Playoffs thus far.
Excluding the Kentucky Derby, the game was the highest rated sporting event of the weekend on broadcast.
Far fewer viewers tuned in to Game 7 between the Bucks and Hawks earlier in the day.
The Hawks’ win drew a 2.1 and 3.1 million viewers on ABC, down 19% in ratings and 20% in viewership from Heat/Hawks Game 7 last year (2.6, 3.8 mil), down 40% and 36%, respectively, from Hawks/Celtics Game 7 in ’08 (3.5, 4.8 mil) and down 13% and 3%, respectively, from Nets/Cavaliers Game 1 in ’07 (2.4, 3.2 mil).
Bucks/Hawks Game 7 is tied as the lowest rated NBA Playoff game on ABC since the network resumed airing games in ’02. Only 76ers/Pistons Game 1 in ’05 drew a rating as low.
(ESPN)
