- 9 Overnight Rating is Best for Game 4 in Over a Decade
The 2015 NBA Finals, in which the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are tied 2-2, is the highest-rated ever on ABC through four games, according to Nielsen. Last night’s Game 4 delivered a 13.9 overnight rating, which is the highest-rated Game 4 on ABC in over a decade and up 31 percent from a 10.6 for last year’s Game 4 (Miami-San Antonio). The broadcast peaked with a 16.0 from 11:15-11:30 p.m. ET.
Locally, the NBA Finals on ABC continues to deliver big numbers. In the Cleveland market, Game 4 generated a 45.7 rating, which is the second-highest rated NBA game ever on ABC (Game 3 was the highest). In the San Francisco market, the broadcast delivered a 30.5 rating, which is the third-highest rated NBA game ever on ABC (Games 2 and 3 rank as the highest).
Through four games, the record-setting 2015 NBA Finals is averaging a 13.1 overnight rating, which is up 26 percent from a 10.4 last year.
Additionally, the NBA Finals is expected to win the night across all of television (broadcast and cable) for the 46th consecutive time.
NBA Countdown, ABC’s NBA Finals pre-game show, posted a 4.8 overnight rating, which was up 23 percent from a 3.9 for last year’s Game 4 pre-game show.
NBA Finals Game 4 on WatchESPN
The NBA Finals continue to deliver record audiences on WatchESPN. Thursday’s Game 4 drew 744,500 unique viewers and an average minute audience of 203,000.
The 2015 NBA Finals will continue with Game 5 on Sunday, June 13, at 8 p.m. on ABC. Mike Breen, in his record-setting 10th season as the voice of The Finals, will continue to provide commentary with analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson and reporter Doris Burke. NBA Countdown will precede the broadcast at 7:30 p.m. with host Sage Steele and analysts Jalen Rose and Doug Collins.
ABC has been the exclusive home of the NBA Finals since the 2002-03 season.
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Media contact: Ben Cafardo at 860-766-3496 or [email protected] (@Ben_ESPN).
