A seven-game NBA Finals more than made up for several sweeps in the second round and consistent declines in the Conference Finals.
The 2010 NBA Playoffs averaged a 3.6 U.S. rating and 5.7 million viewers across ABC, ESPN/ESPN2 and TNT, up 3% in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (3.5, 5.4 mil), and up 9% and 16%, respectively, from 2008 (3.3, 4.9 mil).
ESPN and TNT both saw declines for their playoff coverage. ESPN averaged a 2.9 U.S. rating and 4.6 million viewers, down 7% and 6%, respectively, from last year (3.1, 4.9 mil). Meanwhile, TNT averaged a 2.7 and 4.3 million, down 13% and 8%, respectively, from last year (3.1, 4.7 mil).
ABC picked up the slack with a 6.6 rating and 11.0 million viewers for its 16 playoff games (including the NBA Finals), up 27% and 28%, respectively, from last year (5.2, 8.6 mil).
Compared to other sporting events on broadcast, the NBA Playoffs on ABC finished ahead of NASCAR on FOX (11 telecasts; 4.8, 7.9 mil) and the NCAA Tournament on CBS (26 telecasts; 6.0, viewership unavailable), but was topped by the MLB postseason on FOX (12 telecasts; 8.6, 14.6 mil).
The playoffs as a whole finished behind the entire MLB postseason (9.0 mil) and the entire college football bowl season (6.6 mil).
Ratings/Viewership For 2010 NBA Playoffs
Game 6 of the NBA Finals is compared to 2008; Game 7 of the NBA Finals is compared to 2005.
| Date | Time | Game | # | Net | Rating | vs. ’09 | Viewers | vs. ’09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/17/10 | 3:00 PM | Bulls 83 | 1 | ABC |
2.5
|
14%
|
3,679
|
18%
|
| Cavaliers 96 | ||||||||
| 5:30 PM | Bucks 92 | 1 | ESPN |
1.5
|
—
|
2,160
|
—
|
|
| Hawks 102 | ||||||||
| 8:05 PM | Heat 76 | 1 | ESPN |
2.5
|
47%
|
3,821
|
58%
|
|
| Celtics 85 | ||||||||
| 10:30 PM | Jazz 113 | 1 | ESPN |
1.9
|
-10%
|
2,921
|
-6%
|
|
| Nuggets 126 | ||||||||
| Sun., 4/18/10 | 3:00 PM | Thunder 79 | 1 | ABC |
3.3
|
3%
|
5,132
|
6%
|
| Lakers 87 | ||||||||
| 5:39 PM | Bobcats 89 | 1 | TNT |
2.0
|
11%
|
3,116
|
13%
|
|
| Magic 96 | ||||||||
| 8:18 PM | Spurs 94 | 1 | TNT |
2.5
|
14%
|
3,925
|
22%
|
|
| Mavericks 100 | ||||||||
| 10:53 PM | Blazers 105 | 1 | TNT |
2.0
|
even
|
2,988
|
8%
|
|
| Suns 100 | ||||||||
| Mon., 4/19/10 | 8:05 PM | Bulls 102 | 2 | TNT |
2.6
|
even
|
3,907
|
4%
|
| Cavaliers 112 | ||||||||
| 10:41 PM | Jazz 114 | 2 | TNT |
2.1
|
even
|
3,149
|
6%
|
|
| Nuggets 111 | ||||||||
| Tue., 4/20/10 | 8:06 PM | Heat 77 | 2 | TNT |
1.9
|
-21%
|
2,874
|
-22%
|
| Celtics 106 | ||||||||
| 10:42 PM | Thunder 92 | 2 | TNT |
2.5
|
4%
|
3,741
|
4%
|
|
| Lakers 95 | ||||||||
| Wed., 4/21/10 | 7:06 PM | Bobcats 77 | 2 | TNT |
1.4
|
-26%
|
2,066
|
-29%
|
| Magic 92 | ||||||||
| 9:46 PM | Spurs 102 | 2 | TNT |
2.1
|
5%
|
3,059
|
10%
|
|
| Mavericks 88 | ||||||||
| Thu., 4/22/10 | 7:05 PM | Cavaliers 106 | 3 | TNT |
1.8
|
-18%
|
2,763
|
-19%
|
| Bulls 108 | ||||||||
| 9:48 PM | Lakers 96 | 3 | TNT |
2.5
|
-4%
|
3,934
|
3%
|
|
| Thunder 101 | ||||||||
| Fri., 4/23/10 | 7:00 PM | Celtics 100 | 3 | ESPN |
1.6
|
23%
|
2,386
|
—
|
| Heat 98 | ||||||||
| 9:52 PM | Mavericks 90 | 3 | ESPN |
1.9
|
19%
|
2,820
|
—
|
|
| Spurs 94 | ||||||||
| 10:30 PM | Nuggets 93 | 3 | ESPN2 |
0.9
|
—
|
1,461
|
—
|
|
| Jazz 105 | ||||||||
| Sat., 4/24/10 | 2:00 PM | Magic 90 | 3 | TNT |
1.2
|
-25%
|
1,678
|
-20%
|
| Bobcats 86 | ||||||||
| 4:30 PM | Suns 87 | 4 | TNT |
1.7
|
55%
|
2,429
|
50%
|
|
| Blazers 96 | ||||||||
| 7:00 PM | Hawks 89 | 3 | ESPN |
1.3
|
8%
|
1,945
|
7%
|
|
| Bucks 107 | ||||||||
| 9:35 PM | Lakers 89 | 4 | ESPN |
2.7
|
23%
|
4,163
|
26%
|
|
| Thunder 110 | ||||||||
| Sun., 4/25/10 | 1:00 PM | Celtics 92 | 4 | ABC |
2.6
|
-21%
|
3,913
|
-21%
|
| Heat 101 | ||||||||
| 3:30 PM | Cavaliers 121 | 4 | ABC |
3.7
|
6%
|
5,704
|
7%
|
|
| Bulls 98 | ||||||||
| 7:03 PM | Mavericks 89 | 4 | TNT |
2.1
|
40%
|
3,252
|
45%
|
|
| Spurs 92 | ||||||||
| 9:47 PM | Nuggets 106 | 4 | TNT |
2.1
|
even
|
3,156
|
3%
|
|
| Jazz 117 | ||||||||
| Mon., 4/26/10 | 8:05 PM | Magic 99 | 4 | TNT |
2.1
|
11%
|
3,068
|
16%
|
| Bobcats 90 | ||||||||
| 10:59 PM | Blazers 88 | 5 | TNT |
1.9
|
-21%
|
2,716
|
-25%
|
|
| Suns 107 | ||||||||
| Tue., 4/27/10 | 8:05 PM | Bulls 94 | 5 | TNT |
2.8
|
12%
|
4,244
|
9%
|
| Cavaliers 96 | ||||||||
| 10:50 PM | Thunder 87 | 5 | TNT |
3.1
|
41%
|
4,685
|
40%
|
|
| Lakers 111 | ||||||||
| Wed., 4/28/10 | 8:05 PM | Bucks 91 | 5 | TNT |
1.8
|
even
|
2,538
|
-8%
|
| Hawks 87 | ||||||||
| 10:47 PM | Jazz 102 | 5 | TNT |
2.1
|
11%
|
3,060
|
14%
|
|
| Nuggets 116 | ||||||||
| Thu., 4/29/10 | 8:05 PM | Mavericks 87 | 6 | TNT |
2.4
|
-31%
|
3,590
|
-33%
|
| Spurs 97 | ||||||||
| 10:49 PM | Blazers 90 | 6 | TNT |
2.1
|
-19%
|
3,115
|
-16%
|
|
| Suns 99 | ||||||||
| Fri., 4/30/10 | 7:00 PM | Hawks 83 | 6 | ESPN |
1.5
|
-17%
|
2,190
|
-14%
|
| Bucks 69 | ||||||||
| 9:43 PM | Lakers 95 | 6 | ESPN |
3.1
|
—
|
4,833
|
—
|
|
| Thunder 94 | ||||||||
| 10:00 PM | Nuggets 104 | 6 | ESPN2 |
0.9
|
—
|
1,416
|
—
|
|
| Jazz 112 | ||||||||
| Sat., 5/1/10 | 8:00 PM | Celtics 93 | 1 | TNT |
3.4
|
-23%
|
5,705
|
-18%
|
| Cavaliers 101 | ||||||||
| Sun., 5/2/10 | 1:00 PM | Bucks 74 | 7 | ABC |
2.1
|
-19%
|
3,056
|
-20%
|
| Hawks 95 | ||||||||
| 3:30 PM | Jazz 99 | 1 | ABC |
3.8
|
19%
|
5,955
|
27%
|
|
| Lakers 104 | ||||||||
| Mon., 5/3/10 | 8:00 PM | Celtics 104 | 2 | TNT |
3.5
|
21%
|
5,499
|
26%
|
| Cavaliers 86 | ||||||||
| 10:30 PM | Spurs 102 | 1 | TNT |
2.7
|
-25%
|
4,110
|
-24%
|
|
| Suns 111 | ||||||||
| Tue., 5/4/10 | 8:00 PM | Hawks 71 | 1 | TNT |
1.9
|
-35%
|
2,977
|
-34%
|
| Magic 114 | ||||||||
| 10:44 PM | Jazz 103 | 2 | TNT |
3.0
|
11%
|
4,668
|
17%
|
|
| Lakers 111 | ||||||||
| Wed., 5/5/10 | 9:07 PM | Spurs 102 | 2 | TNT |
2.7
|
-7%
|
3,999
|
-8%
|
| Suns 110 | ||||||||
| Thu., 5/6/10 | 8:00 PM | Hawks 98 | 2 | ESPN |
2.1
|
-16%
|
3,155
|
-13%
|
| Magic 112 | ||||||||
| Fri., 5/7/10 | 7:00 PM | Cavaliers 124 | 3 | ESPN |
2.4
|
4%
|
3,701
|
11%
|
| Celtics 95 | ||||||||
| 9:43 PM | Suns 110 | 3 | ESPN |
2.7
|
-31%
|
4,267
|
-28%
|
|
| Spurs 96 | ||||||||
| Sat., 5/8/10 | 5:00 PM | Magic 105 | 3 | ESPN |
1.4
|
-30%
|
2,006
|
—
|
| Hawks 75 | ||||||||
| 8:15 PM | Lakers 111 | 3 | ABC |
3.7
|
16%
|
5,809
|
17%
|
|
| Jazz 110 | ||||||||
| Sun., 5/9/10 | 3:30 PM | Cavaliers 87 | 4 | ABC |
4.2
|
31%
|
6,580
|
31%
|
| Celtics 97 | ||||||||
| 8:04 PM | Suns 107 | 4 | TNT |
2.8
|
-13%
|
4,577
|
-10%
|
|
| Spurs 101 | ||||||||
| Mon., 5/10/10 | 8:00 PM | Magic 98 | 4 | TNT |
2.3
|
-12%
|
3,400
|
-14%
|
| Hawks 84 | ||||||||
| 10:44 PM | Lakers 111 | 4 | TNT |
3.2
|
3%
|
5,079
|
5%
|
|
| Jazz 96 | ||||||||
| Tue., 5/11/10 | 8:05 PM | Celtics 120 | 5 | TNT |
4.2
|
24%
|
6,737
|
29%
|
| Cavaliers 88 | ||||||||
| Thu., 5/13/10 | 8:00 PM | Cavaliers 85 | 6 | ESPN |
5.7
|
84%
|
8,983
|
87%
|
| Celtics 94 | ||||||||
| Sun., 5/16/10 | 3:30 PM | Celtics 92 | 1 | ABC |
4.5
|
even
|
7,030
|
-6%
|
| Magic 88 | ||||||||
| Mon., 5/17/10 | 9:00 PM | Suns 107 | 1 | TNT |
4.4
|
—
|
7,112
|
—
|
| Lakers 128 | ||||||||
| Tue., 5/18/10 | 8:29 PM | Celtics 95 | 2 | ESPN |
4.6
|
-8%
|
7,156
|
-12%
|
| Magic 92 | ||||||||
| Wed., 5/19/10 | 9:00 PM | Suns 112 | 2 | TNT |
4.4
|
-4%
|
7,004
|
-4%
|
| Lakers 124 | ||||||||
| Sat., 5/22/10 | 8:30 PM | Magic 71 | 3 | ESPN |
3.7
|
-32%
|
6,023
|
-31%
|
| Celtics 94 | ||||||||
| Sun., 5/23/10 | 8:34 PM | Lakers 109 | 3 | TNT |
5.0
|
-7%
|
8,460
|
-6%
|
| Suns 118 | ||||||||
| Mon., 5/24/10 | 8:29 PM | Magic 96 | 4 | ESPN |
4.9
|
-16%
|
7,960
|
18%
|
| Celtics 92 | ||||||||
| Tue., 5/25/10 | 9:00 PM | Lakers 106 | 4 | TNT |
4.9
|
-22%
|
7,641
|
-24%
|
| Suns 115 | ||||||||
| Wed., 5/26/10 | 8:29 PM | Celtics 92 | 5 | ESPN |
4.4
|
-21%
|
6,835
|
-26%
|
| Magic 113 | ||||||||
| Thu., 5/27/10 | 9:00 PM | Suns 101 | 5 | TNT |
5.3
|
-15%
|
8,670
|
-13%
|
| Lakers 103 | ||||||||
| Fri., 5/28/10 | 8:30 PM | Magic 84 | 6 | ESPN |
4.6
|
-10%
|
7,538
|
-11%
|
| Celtics 96 | ||||||||
| Sat., 5/29/10 | 8:30 PM | Lakers 111 | 6 | TNT |
4.8
|
-8%
|
8,154
|
-3%
|
| Suns 103 | ||||||||
| Thu., 6/3/10 | 9:00 PM | Celtics 89 | 1 | ABC |
8.6
|
10%
|
14,088
|
8%
|
| Lakers 102 | ||||||||
| Sun., 6/6/10 | 8:00 PM | Celtics 103 | 2 | ABC |
9.2
|
12%
|
15,718
|
12%
|
| Lakers 94 | ||||||||
| Tue., 6/8/10 | 9:00 PM | Lakers 91 | 3 | ABC |
9.6
|
12%
|
15,959
|
12%
|
| Celtics 84 | ||||||||
| Thu., 6/10/10 | 9:00 PM | Lakers 89 | 4 | ABC |
9.9
|
5%
|
16,371
|
3%
|
| Celtics 96 | ||||||||
| Sun., 6/13/10 | 8:00 PM | Lakers 86 | 5 | ABC |
10.8
|
35%
|
18,654
|
32%
|
| Celtics 92 | ||||||||
| Tue., 6/15/10 | 9:00 PM | Celtics 67 | 6 | ABC |
10.4
|
-3%
|
17,960
|
6%
|
| Lakers 89 | ||||||||
| Thu., 6/17/10 | 9:00 PM | Celtics 79 | 7 | ABC |
15.6
|
31%
|
28,230
|
49%
|
| Lakers 83 |
(ESPN, Sports Business Daily)
