Houston Roundball Review: Men's Hoops

This is The Houston Roundball Review's (www.TheHRR.com) blog for men's basketball. The HRR began in 1994 and has been media credentialed to cover college and pro basketball -- since 1997. Member of the United States Basketball Writers Association.

Monday, June 08, 2009

NBA Finals Ratings UP

Apparently, an NBA Finals match up without LeBron James competing against Kobe Bryant is not a death knell to television ratings.

ABC "won the night" among all networks with its coverage of Game 1 of the NBA Finals (Orlando vs. Lakers). ABC handily beat its nearest competitor (CBS) by 2.8 million viewers (10.1 million to 7.3 million) and by 71 percent in Adults age 18 to 49 (4.1 to 2.4 for FOX).

A total 29 million viewers in the U.S. tuned in to watch Game 1. The telecast averaged a 7.8 household rating.

In that key 18 to 49 demographic, Game 1 equaled the highest-rated opening game for the NBA Finals in five years; and, it was the second-highest ever opening game on ABC.

Game 2 of the Finals was seen by the most viewers of any show on television Sunday night; four percent more than Game 2 last year (Lakers versus Celtics); a whopping 64 percent more than Game 2 of the 2007 NBA Finals (Cleveland versus San Antonio); and the second-highest in ABC's current seven-year history with the NBA.

Game 2's rating among Men 18 to 34 was 7.8, an increase of 11 percent over the 2008 Finals (7.0 for Lakers vs. Celtics) and 81 percent higher than the 2007 Finals (4.3 for the Cavaliers vs. the Spurs).
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