NBA Playoffs: Boston/Cleveland Game 7 6.9 Overnight Rating

The Eastern Conference Semifinal Game 7 on ABC between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers (Sunday, May 18) earned a 6.9 overnight rating.  If the overnight rating holds up, it will be the highest-rated non-Finals game broadcast ever on the network.

NBA Playoffs: ESPN and ABC Viewership up

ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs has averaged 2,306,000 household impressions through the first round, an increase of 28 percent when compared to 1,807,000 households last year.  The corresponding 2.4 rating is up 26 percent over last season’s 1.9 rating.  This marks the highest-rated and most-viewed opening round ever on ESPN (previously 2,112,000 households and a 2.3 rating in 2006).

Through the second weekend of the NBA Playoffs (April 27), ABC is averaging 3,571,000 household impressions, up 18 percent over last year’s 3,019,000 households.  Additionally, the 3.2 rating is up 19 percent over the 2.7 rating in 2007.

ABC’s 4.2 overnight rating for Boston/Atlanta Game 7 (Sunday, May 4) is up 40 percent over the comparable broadcast last year (New Jersey/Cleveland, Conference Semifinals Game 1 – 3.0 overnight rating).  ABC’s 4.8 overnight rating for Utah/Los Angeles Lakers Conference Semifinals Game 1 (Sunday, May 4) is up seven percent over the broadcast last season (San Antonio/Phoenix, Conference Semifinals Game 1 – 4.5 overnight rating).

ESPN Concludes Most-Viewed NBA Season

ESPN’s NBA audience for the 2007-08 season was the largest of the six years since ESPN reacquired NBA rights for the 2002-03 season, an average of 1,206,000 households.  That represents an increase of 14 percent from the previous year (1,061,000).  The season that concluded last night, Wednesday, April 16, averaged a 1.3 rating and 1,468,000 viewers (P2+) over 70 games, up 18 percent and 13 percent, respectively, from last year (1.1 and 1,303,000 for 71 games).  Read more...

"There Can Only Be One"

This year's NBA Playoffs promo campaign is a first-time creative collaboration between the NBA and ESPN.  The campaign, entitled "There Can Only Be One," is designed to bring to life the dedication, desire, and sacrifice that create the intense emotions and drama of the NBA Playoffs.  A series of 20-plus commercials, directed by Academy Award nominated directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, features a split screen of two rival NBA stars reciting the same script about remembrance, fear, believing, respect, hard work and the dream of winning a championship.  Some of the NBA stars include Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, and Chris Paul.  To view the spots click here.

Lakers vs. Suns Ranks as Third Most-Viewed ESPN NBA Regular-Season Telecast

ESPN’s NBA telecast last evening (Feb. 20) – in which the Los Angeles Lakers, behind Kobe Bryant’s 41 points, spoiled Shaquille O’Neal’s debut with the Phoenix Suns with a 130-124 victory – averaged 2,813,000 household impressions and 3,616,000 viewers (P2+), ranking as the third most-viewed regular-season game ever on the network. The corresponding 2.9 rating also ranked third among regular-season telecasts.

ESPN’s most-viewed regular-season telecasts include: Houston vs. L.A. Lakers (1/17/03 – 3.8 rating, 3,326,000 household impressions, 4,882,000 P2+); Indiana vs. Detroit (12/25/04 – 3.5 rating, 3,133,000 household impressions, 4,325,000 P2+).