NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC Delivers Highest Overnight Rating Since 2004.
The NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC – in which Miami defeated Dallas 92-84 – generated a 10.7 overnight rating, the highest for a Game 1 of The Finals since 2004 (Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Lakers, 11.5 overnight rating), according to Nielsen.
The 10.7 overnight rating is up 15 percent compared to Game 1 of the 2006 NBA Finals (9.3 overnight rating), when these same two teams played.
Additionally, last night’s overnight rating is up three percent compared to a 10.4 overnight rating for last year’s Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.
In Miami, the top-rated metered market, the game delivered a 31.9 rating, an increase of 28 percent compared to a 24.9 rating locally for Game 1 in 2006.
Dallas, ranked second among the metered markets, netted a 29.9 rating, the highest-rated game locally since the 2006 Finals.
The Finals on ABC continue with Game 2 tomorrow, Thursday, June 2, at 9 p.m. ET. Mike Breen calls The Finals on ABC with analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Doris Burke.
The Finals are also available on ESPN Radio (Mike Tirico and Hall of Famers Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown) and ESPN 3D (Mark Jones and Bruce Bowen for Game 2). Coverage will begin with the Buick Regal NBA Countdown pregame show at 8:30 p.m., hosted by Stuart Scott with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and analysts Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon.
(source: ABC)
