The NBA Finals begins tonight in Miami, and the Mavericks-Heat series on ABC
"has a chance to be the highest-rated and most-viewed Finals" since the Rockets-Magic
series in '95 "or even" the Bulls-Trail Blazers series in '92. LeBron
James and the Heat "have become the tide that floats all boats"
in terms of interest in the NBA (ESPN.com,
5/31).
|
NBA FINALS RATINGS TREND ON ABC
|
|
YEAR
|
GAMES
|
RATING
|
VIEWERS (000)
|
MATCHUP |
|
'10
|
7
|
10.6
|
18,144
|
Lakers-Celtics |
|
'09
|
5
|
8.4
|
14,347
|
Lakers-Magic |
|
'08
|
6
|
9.3
|
14,941
|
Celtics-Lakers |
|
'07
|
4
|
6.2
|
9,289
|
Spurs-Cavaliers |
|
'06
|
6
|
8.5
|
12,972
|
Heat-Mavericks |
|
'05
|
7
|
8.2
|
12,544
|
Spurs-Pistons |
|
'04
|
5
|
11.5
|
17,942
|
Pistons-Lakers |
|
'03
|
6
|
6.5
|
9,864
|
Spurs-Nets |
| |
|
|
|
|
With American Airlines serving as the title sponsor for both the Heat and
Mavericks arenas, Front Row Marketing Services estimates the airline will get
more than $10M per game in national advertising exposure. That is based on the
"number of times the company's name appears on screen or is mentioned by broadcasters."
American Airlines spokesperson Tim Smith said of the estimate,
"We don't know if that's right, but there's value in it, and we're sure it's
a large amount" (AP,
5/29).
USA Today runs an eight-page special section devoted to the Finals with ads
from league sponsors T-Mobile, BBVA and Kia and league partner Sirius XM Radio
(THE DAILY).
