ABC earned an 11.1 overnight Nielsen rating for last night’s Heat-Mavericks NBA Finals Game Four, down 4.3% from an 11.6 overnight for the comparable Lakers-Celtics Game Four last year, which aired on a Thursday night. The 11.1 overnight marks the second-best Game Four overnight since '04 and is also up 22% from a 9.1 overnight for Heat-Mavericks Game Four in ‘06. Last night’s game peaked at a 15.5 rating from 11:30-11:45pm. The telecast was the highest-rated program of the night on all networks, the 23rd straight Finals telecast to be the top primetime program on its respective night. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale earned a 34.2 local rating, while Dallas-Ft. Worth earned a 30.5 rating (THE DAILY). Meanwhile, the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Philiana Ng reports an originial episode of NBC's "America's Got Talent" and the first live episode of NBC's "The Voice" "powered the network for the No. 1 spot in viewership on Tuesday night" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 6/8).
BARRY GOOD JOB: In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin writes ABC/ESPN studio analyst Jon Barry has “elevated his performance to another level” during the playoffs. His voice is "easy on the ears," he has a smooth delivery and he "doesn't scream to make his point." Voisin: “He was very good before; he is exceptional now. And fortunately for his viewers and bosses, he is one of the few current broadcasters/former NBA players who doesn't want to be a coach, doesn't aspire to join someone's front office or ownership group or hasn't already been a coach or front-office type or part-owner of an organization.” TNT’s Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith are “must-hear TV,” but Barry this postseason is “establishing himself as a major telegenic talent" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/8).
SOCIAL MEDIA MAYHEM: ESPN.com’s Maria Burns Ortiz noted the NBA during the Finals is continuing its “2011 NBA Playoffs Pulse,” which “monitors the players being most talked about on Facebook.” Fans can “see who is trending now among all players, or they can narrow in on the most talked about player in the Finals or an earlier series.” The NBA also is “capitalizing on its video success.” The league “now offers users the chance to create and share their own ‘NBA Ultimate Playoffs Moments’ highlight reel.” Choosing from “dozens of videos, fans can edit together their top five clips and share the final film on multiple social media networks, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace” (ESPN.com, 6/6).
WELCOME TO THE SHOW: Al Jazeera host Paul Fadel said that the international network is airing “its first NBA Finals.” Fadel said that the Al Jazeera telecast “is being shown in 55 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and southern Europe” (DALLASNEWS.com, 6/7).
