Highest-Rated NBA Finals Ever on ABC through Three Games
- Record Ratings Continue with Best-Ever 13.7 for a Game 3 on ABC
Through three games, the 2015 NBA Finals, in which the Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Golden State Warriors 2-1, is the highest-rated ever on ABC, according to Nielsen. All three of this year’s NBA Finals broadcasts on ABC have set ratings records on the network.
Tuesday’s Game 3 delivered a 13.7 overnight rating, making it ABC’s highest-rated Game 3 ever and up 33 percent from a 10.3 from last year. The broadcast peaked with a 16.4 from 11:30-11:45 p.m. ET.
For the 45th consecutive time, the NBA Finals is expected to win the night across all of television (broadcast and cable).
More local records
In the Cleveland market, Game 3 delivered a massive 49.0 rating, making it the highest-rated NBA game ever on ABC or ESPN in the market, surpassing the records it set for both Games 1 and 2. Additionally, in the San Francisco market, Game 3 generated a 31.6, which trails only Game 2 as the highest-rated NBA game ever on ABC or ESPN in the market. (Game 2 did a 31.7).
Top 10 local markets
| Market | Rating |
| 1.Cleveland | 49.0 |
| 2.San Francisco | 31.6 |
| 3.Columbus | 25.2 |
| 4.Memphis | 19.5 |
| 5.Atlanta | 17.0 |
| 6.Miami-Ft. Lauderdale | 16.8 |
| 7(T).Sacramento | 16.2 |
| 7(T).Norfolk | 16.2 |
| 9.Birmingham | 15.2 |
| 10.Raleigh-Durham | 15.1 |
Game 3 on WatchESPN
NBA Finals Game 3 set more records on WatchESPN. Tuesday’s game generated 736,200 unique viewers and an average minute audience of 207,300, both records for an NBA game on the platform and up 113 percent and 118 percent, respectively, from last year’s Game 3.
In addition, NBA Countdown, ABC’s NBA Finals pre-game show, posted a 4.7 overnight rating, which is up 30 percent from a 3.6 for last year’s corresponding pre-game show.
The 2015 NBA Finals will continue with Game 4 on Thursday, June 11, at 9 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 8:30 p.m. with host Sage Steele and analysts Jalen Rose and Doug Collins.
ABC has been the exclusive broadcast 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).
