There was no big jump from Game 3 to Game 4 of the NBA Finals, but overnight ratings once again remained well above previous years.
The Celtics’ Game 4 win over the Lakers drew an 11.6 overnight rating on ABC Thursday night, up 6% from Lakers/Magic Game 4 last year, which went overtime (10.9), up 12% from Celtics/Lakers Game 4 in ’08 (10.4) and up 49% from Spurs/Cavaliers Game 4 in ’07 (7.8).
Ratings peaked at a 15.3 from 11:30-11:45 PM ET.
Thursday’s game drew the highest overnight rating of the NBA Finals so far, edging Tuesday’s Game 3 (11.5). Overnight ratings have increased from game to game.
This marks the highest overnight rating for Game 4 of the NBA Finals since Lakers/Pistons Game 4 in ’04 (14.4). Additionally, the 11.6 is the highest overnight for any of the first four games of the NBA Finals since that 2004 series.
So far, every single game of the Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals has hit a six-year high in overnight ratings, with the lone exception of Game 1 — which was tied as the highest in six years.
Game 4 was the top program of the night on broadcast, helping ABC to another victory in primetime.
Since Game 4 of the NBA Finals moved to a Thursday night in 2005, final ratings for the game have declined between 14% and 17% from the overnight — putting Thursday’s game on pace to finish in the 9.6-10.0 range.
10 Highest Overnights For NBA on ABC Since The Network Acquired The Rights in ’02
(ESPN)
