The ultimate in an NBA championship series, Celtics vs Lakers with historic viewership with milions of viewers glued to this seven game series. Game 1 with 10 million viewers growing game-over-game to the championship of over 18+ million. This series and stats will go into the history books of TV sports rating viewership. RBR-TVBR has compiled the game by game review:
Game 7, this match-up drew incredible ratings on television for ABC and their affiliates. For the fans in the stands that are tracking the viewership here are the stats.
Game 1: Celtics 89 Lakers 102 – Game 2: Celtics 103 Lakers 94 – Game 3: Lakers 91 Celtics 84 – Games 4: Lakers 89 Celtics 96
Game 5: Lakers 86 Celtics 96 – Game 6: Celtics 67 Lakers 89 – Games 7: Celtics 79 Lakers 83
2010 NBA Finals Game 7 final: Lakers-Celtics rocked the ratings house with Coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals Game 7, ABC Outdelivers its Combined Competition on Thursday by 1.9 Million Viewers and by 58% in Adults 18-49. Scored its Top Summer Thursday in More Than 18 Years and Wins All 7 Nights with the 2010 NBA Finals, as Each Game Finishes As Primetime’s No. 1 TV Program in Viewers and All Key Adult Demos.
Game 7 of 2010 Stands as the Biggest NBA Finals Telecast in 12 Years. On Average, the 2010 NBA Celtics-Lakers Finals Finish as the Most-Watched Ever on ABC and the Largest Overall Since 2001.
Thursday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.) With coverage of the deciding Game 7 for the 2010 NBA Finals (Celtics-Lakers), ABC towered over Thursday night, beating its combined network competition (CBS, NBC, Fox and CW) during primetime by nearly 2 million viewers (18.1 million vs. 16.2 million) and by 58% in Adults 18-49 (7.1/22 vs. 4.5/14). ABC won all 7 nights with its coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals.
In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC posted its top summer Thursday in more than 18 years – pre-dating the start of Nielsen’s electronic database, in September 1991.
“NBA Finals on ABC – GM 7” (9:04 – 11:59 p.m., ET) The “NBA Finals on ABC – GM 7” towered over its primetime competitors to stand as Thursday’s No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (28.2 million) and across each of the key Adult demos: A18-34 (11.8/38), A18-49 (11.4/33) and A25-54 (11.2/30). It was the 7th consecutive broadcast for the 2010 NBA Finals to rank as the No. 1 TV show of the evening in viewers and key adults. Claiming their 16th NBA title, the LA Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics by a score of 83-79.
With Game 7, ABC scored its best-ever numbers in its eight years of broadcasting the NBA Finals (beginning in 2003) with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact on both Nielsen measures, Game 7 of the 2010 championship series registered as the biggest for any NBA Finals telecast in 12 years – since the series-clinching Game 6 of the 1998 Bulls-Jazz series on 6/14/98.
In viewers and young adults, Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals also qualified as TV’s top non-Olympics summer (Memorial Day-Labor Day) telecast in nearly 10 years – since 8/23/00.
2010 NBA Finals Game 6: It was the 6th consecutive broadcast for the 2010 NBA Finals to finish as the No. 1 TV show of the evening in viewers and key adults. In a lopsided victory, the LA Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics by a score of 89-67, forcing a decisive Game 7 on ABC Thursday night (6/17/10). It’s just the 3rd time in the last 22 years for The Finals to go to a Game 7.
“NBA Finals on ABC – GM 6” (9:04 – 11:43 p.m., ET) The “NBA Finals on ABC – GM 6” overshadowed original network competition during prime, including NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” Fox’s 2-hour “Hell’s Kitchen,” to stand as Tuesday’s definitive No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (18.0 million) and across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (7.3/24), A18-49 (7.1/21) and A25-54 (7.2/20).
Despite the one-sided nature of the contest, as the Lakers led by substantial margins throughout the game, it was ABC’s highest-rated-ever Game 6 in the eight years of broadcasting the NBA Finals (starting in 2003) in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. Additionally, it was the top-rated telecast for any NBA Finals game in 6 years among Adults 18-34 (7.3/24) and Teens 12-17 (5.6/20) – since the series-ending fifth game of the 2004 Pistons-Lakers NBA Finals on 6/15/04.
On average, the 2010 NBA Finals continues to attract the championship series’ strongest numbers in 6 years (since 2004), its 2nd-highest-ever on ABC in both Total Viewers (16.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (6.6/20). Versus the 5-game 2009 Lakers-Magic series, The Finals on ABC is up year to year by 2.1 million viewers and by 12% in Adults 18-49 (14.3 million and 5.9/17).
2010 NBA Finals Game 5: ABC outperformed the combined delivery of CBS, NBC and Fox by 30% on the evening. It was ABC’s 5th consecutive primetime win with coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals. With Continuing Coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals, ABC Wins Sunday By Wide Margins for the 2nd Straight Week in Viewers and Adults 18-49. ABC Scores Most-Watched Summer Sunday in 10 Years. For the 5th Straight Telecast of the 2010 Series, the “NBA Finals on ABC” Finishes as the No. 1 TV Program with Viewers and All Key Adult Demos.
Game 5 Stands as the Most-Watched for Any NBA Finals Game in 5 Years. The NBA Finals Generates its Best Results in 6 Years, Registering the Second-Strongest-Ever Numbers on ABC.
Sunday Night (7:00-11:00 p.m. – “Fast Affiliate Ratings”) With continuing coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals (Celtics-Lakers Game 5), ABC towered over its competition for the 2nd straight Sunday. Based on Nielsen’s preliminary time-period-based “Fast Affiliate” ratings, ABC outpaced its nearest competition during primetime by 5.3 million viewers (12.8 million vs. 7.5 million – CBS w/”64th Annual Tony Awards”) and by 147% in Adults 18-49 (4.8/14 vs. 1.5/5 – Fox). In Adults 18-49, ABC outperformed the combined delivery of CBS, NBC and Fox by 30% on the evening (4.8/14 vs. 3.7/11). It was ABC’s 5th consecutive primetime win with coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals.
Based on projected National ratings, ABC scored its most-watched summer Sunday in 10 years and top-rated among Adults 18-49 in 6 years – since 6/11/00 and 6/13/04, respectively.
“NBA Finals on ABC – GM 5” (8:04 – 11:00 p.m., ET “Fast National Ratings”) Based on Nielsen’s special-ordered program-based “Fast National” ratings, the “NBA Finals on ABC – GM 5” outpaced its primetime competitors to register as Sunday’s No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (18.2 million) and across each of the key Adult demos: A18-34 (6.8 rating), A18-49 (7.0 rating) and A25-54 (7.3 rating). It was the 5th consecutive airing for the 2010 NBA Finals to qualify as the No. 1 TV show of the night in viewers and key adults. The Boston Celtics defeated the LA Lakers by a score of 92-86, to lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. Game 5 stood as the strongest yet for the 2010 NBA Finals in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. In fact it stood as the most-watched overall for any NBA Finals game in 5 years – since the series-clinching Game 7 of the 2005 Pistons-Spurs Series on 6/23/05. Furthermore, it was the largest overall audience for a non-series-clinching NBA Championship contest since 2004 – since Game 4 of the 2004 Lakers-Pistons Series on 6/13/04.
In viewers and young adults, it was the best Game 5 for the NBA Championship Series in 6 years and the second-highest-ever on ABC – since the series-clinching Game 5 of the 2004 Pistons-Lakers series on 6/15/04.
Based on 5-game averages, the 2010 NBA Championship Series continues to pull the highest numbers in 6 years (since 2004), its 2nd-strongest-ever on ABC in both Total Viewers (16.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (6.5/19). Versus the first five games of 2009 (Lakers-Magic), The Finals on ABC is growing year to year by 1.8 million viewers and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (14.3 million and 5.9/18).
A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 36% currently, from 31% at the same point in 2009. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next-day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.
(Source: ABC – The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate time period and Fast National Program Live + Same Day Ratings), 6/13/10.)
2010 NBA Finals Game 4: The NBA Finals on ABC – GM 4 (9:03-11:50pm, ET) out delivered its primetime competitors to stand as Thursday’s #1 TV program in Total Viewers and across each of the key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54). It was the 4th consecutive broadcast for the 2010 NBA Finals to finish as the #1 TV show of the night in viewers and key adults. The Boston Celtics defeated the LA Lakers by a score of 96-89, tying the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Game 4 registered as the biggest draw yet in overall viewership for the 2010 NBA Finals and as the most-watched for any NBA Championship game in 2 years – since the series-clinching Game 6 of the 2008 Celtics-Lakers Series (on 6/17/08). Beyond that, the NBA Game attracted the largest audience for any non-Olympic summer telecast on any network since the same date 2 years ago. In viewers and young adults, it was the best Game 4 for the NBA Championship Series in 6 years and the second-highest-ever on ABC – since Game 4 of the 2004 series on 6/13/04.
Based on 4-game averages, the 2010 NBA Championship Series continues to generate the strongest numbers in 6 years (since 2004), its 2nd-highest-ever on ABC in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
2010 NBA Finals Game 3: “NBA Finals on ABC – GM 3” (9:04 – 11:55 p.m., ET) The “NBA Finals on ABC – GM 3” topped stiff competition during primetime, including Fox’s season finale of “Glee” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” to finish as Tuesday’s No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (16.0 million) and across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (7.0/22), A18-49 (6.7/19) and A25-54 (6.6/18). It was the 3rd broadcast in a row for the 2010 NBA Finals to qualify as the evening’s highest-rated television program in viewers and key adults. The LA Lakers beat the Boston Celtics by a score of 91-84, to lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.
In viewers and young adults, it was the biggest Game 3 for the NBA Championship Series in 6 years and the second-highest-ever on ABC – since Game 3 of the 2004 series on 6/10/04. In addition, it was the highest-rated-ever Game 3 on ABC among Men 18-34, Men 18-49 and Teens 12-17.
2010 NBA Finals Game 2: Sunday Night (7:00-11:00 p.m. – “Fast Affiliate Ratings”) Driven by Game 2 coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals, featuring the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, ABC turned in a convincing win on Sunday evening. According to Nielsen’s preliminary time-period-based “Fast Affiliate” ratings, ABC outpaced its nearest competition during primetime by 4.5 million viewers (11.1 million vs. 6.6 million – CBS) and by 137% in Adults 18-49 (4.5/13 vs. 1.9/6 – NBC). In Adults 18-49, ABC beat the combined delivery of CBS, NBC and Fox on the evening (4.5/13 vs. 4.4/13). It was ABC’s 2nd consecutive night to claim a dominant primetime victory with coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals.
2010 NBA Finals Game 2: (8:04 – 11:04 p.m., ET “Fast National Ratings”) According to Nielsen’s special-ordered program-based “Fast National” ratings, the “NBA Finals on ABC – GM 2” overcame its competitors during primetime, including NBC’s broadcast of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, to qualify as Sunday night’s No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (15.5 million) and across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (6.4 rating), A18-49 (6.3 rating) and A25-54 (6.3 rating). It was the 2nd straight telecast for the 2009 NBA Finals to stand as the night’s top-rated television program in viewers and key adults. The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers by a score of 101-96, tying the best-of-seven series at 1-1
ABC’s Game 2 of the 2010 NBA Finals posted solid year-to-year increases in Total Viewers (+1.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+9%), over the second game of the 2009 Lakers-Orlando Finals (14.1 million & 5.8/17 on 6/7/09). In viewers and young adults, it was the strongest Game 2 for the NBA Championship Series in 6 years and the second-highest-ever on ABC – since Game 2 of the 2004 series on 6/8/04. ABC began carriage of the NBA Finals starting in 2003.
2010 NBA Finals Game 1: Thursday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.) With coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, ABC posted a dominant win on Thursday night, beating its nearest competition (Fox) by 2.0 million viewers (10.7 million vs. 8.7 million) and by 24% in Adults 18-49 (4.1/14 vs. 3.3/11).
In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (tie), ABC tallied its strongest Thursday with summer programming since September 2005 – since 9/8/05.
The Net produced its most-watched-ever opening night with the NBA Finals. It was also ABC’s highest-ever opening night delivery with the NBA Championship Series in Adults 18-34 (4.2/15-tie), Men 18-49 (5.4/19-tie), Men 25-54 (5.5/17-tie) and Teens 12-17 (3.2/13).
(source: ABC)
