NBA Finals Game 3 on ABC Wins the Night with 11.1 Overnight Rating 22nd Consecutive Time Finals Generate Highest-Rated Program of the Night.
The NBA Finals Game 3 on ABC – in which Miami held on to defeat Dallas 88-86 – delivered an 11.1 overnight rating and was the highest-rated program of the night in prime time, leading ABC to win the night (according to Nielsen).
It is the 22nd consecutive time The Finals have generated the highest-rated program of the night. The 11.1 overnight rating was the second highest-rated Game 3 in the last seven years.
Last night’s Game 3 was up 23 percent compared to a 9.0 rating for Game 3 in 2006, when these same two teams met in The Finals. In the last seven years, the game only trailed last year’s 11.5 overnight rating for Game 3 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.
In Miami, the game registered a 32.3 metered market rating, up 33 percent over Game 3 in 2006 (24.3 metered market rating). It is the third highest-rated NBA game in Miami (records through 2003). The game generated a 26.7 metered market rating in Dallas, an increase over the 25.6 rating for Game 2.
The Finals on ABC continue with Game 4 Tuesday, June 7, 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 Tim Legler for Game 4). 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)
