ABC averaged a 10.2 rating and 17.3 million viewers for the six-game Mavericks-Heat NBA Finals, marking the second most-viewed NBA Finals since Pistons-Lakers in '04 (17.9 million viewers). This year's figures are down 3.8% and 4.4%, respectively, from a 10.6 rating and 18.1 million viewers for last year's seven-game Lakers-Celtics series. Compared to the '06 Heat-Mavericks matchup, this year's Finals were up 20.0% and 33.7%, respectively. Sunday night's Game Six earned a 13.3 rating and 23.8 million viewers, marking the most-viewed Game Six ever on ABC and the most-viewed Game Six in 13 years. The Game Six figures were up 27.9% and 33.0%, respectively, from Lakers-Celtics Game Six last year. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale topped all U.S. markets for the six games of the NBA Finals this year, averaging a 33.7 local rating. Dallas-Ft. Worth finished second with a 30.7 rating, followed by West Palm Beach (17.7), San Antonio (15.5) and Cleveland-Akron (15.8) (Austin Karp, THE DAILY). In Ft. Lauderdale, Tom Jicha noted it was ABC's "biggest non-Oscar Sunday since 2006." The game was a "demo smash as well, outperforming the 'American Idol' finale in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 category" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 6/13). DAILY VARIETY's Rick Kissell wrote under the header, "NBA Closer Huge For ABC" (VARIETY.com, 6/13).
| NBA FINAL RATINGS TREND ON ABC |
| YEAR | GAMES | RATING | VIEWERS (000) | MATCHUP |
| '11 | 6 | 10.2 | 17,339 | Mavericks-Heat |
| '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 |
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| TOP 10 MOST-VIEWED NBA FINALS TELECASTS SINCE '04 |
| YEAR | GAME | RATING | VIEWERS (000) |
| '10 | Lakers-Celtics: Game Seven | 15.6 | 28,203 |
| '11 | Mavericks-Heat: Game Six | 13.1 | 23,880 |
| '04 | Pistons-Lakers: Game Five | 13.8 | 21,843 |
| '04 | Pistons-Lakers: Game Four | 12.7 | 20,285 |
| '05 | Spurs-Pistons: Game Seven | 11.9 | 18,997 |
| '10 | Lakers-Celtics: Game Five | 10.8 | 18,654 |
| '11 | Heat-Mavericks: Game Five | 10.8 | 18,318 |
| '10 | Lakers-Celtics: Game Six | 10.4 | 17,960 |
| '10 | Lakers-Celtics: Game Four | 9.9 | 16,371 |
| '04 | Pistons-Lakers: Game Three | 10.5 | 16,213 |
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SIMPLY MAV-ULOUS: In Dallas, Barry Horn noted WFAA-ABC averaged a 39.8 local rating and 1.03 million HHs in the Dallas-Ft. Worth market for Game Six, marking the "largest local television rating in team history." Game Six also marked the "first time in the series that D-FW out-rated Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, which clocked in at 36.2." Horn noted Cleveland-Akron was the No. 3 market for Game Six, with WEWS-ABC averaging a 22.6 local rating for the game (DALLASNEWS.com, 6/13).
VOID TO FILL: On Long Island, Neil Best writes it was "no surprise the NBA Finals performed well, helped not only by Heat hatred but also a series of close, entertaining games." However, ESPN/ABC NBA analyst Mark Jackson leaving to coach the Warriors is a "loss for viewers." Jackson's chemistry with announcer Mike Breen and analyst Jeff Van Gundy, "each of whom he has known for years, will be difficult to replicate" (NEWSDAY, 6/14).
NEW YEAR, NEW RECORDS: NBA.com delivered 141 million video streams and 401 million page views during The Finals, up 89% and 11%, respectively, from last year's record numbers. Downloads of the NBA GameTime app also were up 37% over last year (Turner).
