ABC drew a 13.1 overnight rating for the Warriors' 104-89 win over the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, marking the net's best figure for an opening game since acquiring the league's TV rights prior to the '02-03 season. It also is the best NBA Finals Game 1 figure since NBC drew a 15.2 overnight for Lakers-76ers in '01 on a Wednesday night. ABC's previous record was set last year for the same matchup in Game 1, which went to OT (12.9 overnight). The Cavaliers-Warriors opener also is up 26% from a 10.4 overnight for Spurs-Heat in '14, and up 24% from a 10.6 for Heat-Spurs in '13. Last night's game peaked at a 14.8 rating from 10:45-11:00pm ET and gave ABC a win in primetime for the 49th straight time that an NBA Finals game aired on the net. Cleveland-Akron led all markets with a 36.0 local rating, followed by S.F.-San Jose-Oakland with a 32.8. Rounding out the top five markets were Sacramento (20.2), Columbus (18.9) and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale (18.8). The game on WatchESPN had 1 million unique viewers, marking an NBA record for the streaming platform (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
IDEAL MATCHUP: In Boston, Chad Finn writes the Warriors are "undoubtedly one of the most compelling stories in sports, and that appeal, whether you’re rooting for them or not, has been reflected in the television ratings." If the Finals "live up to the hype, this year’s ratings on ABC should surpass last year’s -- and with relative ease if there is a seventh game" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/3). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell wrote, "Fate, karma, luck and skill all did their part to set up the perfect climax of this NBA season ... with another chapter of a rivalry for the ages." Any championship battle "worth its muster deserves the marquee value provided by the type of budding rivalry that features the NBA’s two most dominating players of the moment" (USA TODAY, 6/3).
GONE DARK: DirecTV on Thursday "lost Forum Communications’ stations WDAY, WDAZ and KBMY, ABC affiliates in Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck, ND, respectively." The stations "went dark at midnight and were still down" Thursday afternoon. DirecTV is encouraging impacted customers to watch the Finals "live at ABC.com or through the WatchABC app" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 6/3).
ROLE MODEL: ESPN's Doris Burke said of mentoring young reporters, "I’m obviously very sensitive to young women broadcasters because you know their path is going to be different. But I find that the younger generation is incredibly prepared. They’re polished, they’re professional, they’re ambitious -- the landscape has changed drastically in terms of their reception. My biggest thing has always been that I don’t want to screw it up for the women that might come after me" (NYMAG.com, 6/2).
