NBA Finals Generates Highest-Ever Game 1 Overnight Rating on ABC
The NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC – Oklahoma City defeated Miami to take a 1-0 series lead – generated a record 11.8 overnight rating, the highest ever for a Game 1 on the network, according to Nielsen. The game peaked with a 14.1 rating from 11:30 to 11:45 p.m. ET.
The 11.8 rating is up 10 percent compared to last year’s Finals Game 1 (Miami vs. Dallas), which earned a 10.7. The previous record for Game 1 was an 11.6 in 2004 (Detroit vs. L.A. Lakers).
In Oklahoma City, the game generated a 44.3 rating, the highest for an NBA game ever in the market. In Miami, the game generated a 30.5 rating.
The NBA Countdown pregame show averaged a 4.6 overnight rating, up 28 percent from a 3.6 for last year’s Game 1 pregame show.
The 2012 NBA Finals will continue with Game 2 on Thursday, June 14, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN Radio and ESPN3.