Quick Take for Sunday, June 7, 2015
(Fast National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)
ABC Beats the Other Networks' Combined Delivery in Adults 18-49 For the 2nd Consecutive Evening of the 2015 NBA Finals Coverage
NBA Finals Hits its Best-Ever Game 2 Numbers on ABC in Viewers and Young Adults
On Average, the 2015 NBA Finals Builds by Double Digits to its Top Results on ABC
Sunday Night (Fast Affiliate Ratings - 7:00-11:00 p.m.)
With continuing coverage of the 2015 NBA Finals (Cleveland-Golden State GM2), ABC took full control of Sunday's primetime, outdrawing runner-up CBS with the "Tony Awards" by 7.1 million viewers (13.9 million vs. 6.8 million - CBS) and more than doubling other nets combined in Adults 18-49 (+140% - 5.3/18 vs. 2.2/7 - CBS, NBC and Fox). In fact it was ABC's 2nd straight night to beat its combined competition with NBA Finals coverage among young adults.
"NBA Finals on ABC Game 2" (Fast National Ratings - 8:00 - 11:24 p.m. E.T.)
Featuring the Cavaliers at the Warriors, ABC's 2015 NBA Finals Game 2 was Sunday's dominant No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (18.8 million) and across each of the key Adult demographics: A18-34 (7.1 rating), A18-49 (7.3 rating) and A25-54 (7.6 rating). Building from Game 1 to Game 2, it was the 2nd consecutive broadcast for the 2015 NBA Finals to finish as the No. 1 TV program of the night. As the opening two games of The Finals went into overtime for the first time ever, Cleveland won the second game by a score of 95-93 to tie the best-of-seven series 1-1. The NBA Finals also stood as Sunday's most-social TV telecast with 2,988,710 tweets.
· The NBA Finals Game 2 spiked over its year-ago "Fast National" ratings in Total Viewers (+26% - 18.8 million vs. 14.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (+24% - 7.3 rating vs. 5.9 rating) to deliver the highest-ever Game 2 numbers on ABC (since beginning carriage in 2003).
· On average through two games, the 2015 NBA Finals is up year to year in Total Viewers (+24% - 18.3 million vs. 14.8 million) and Adults 18-49 (+20% - 7.1 rating vs. 5.9 rating) for ABC's strongest start with The Finals.
· Among Total Viewers and across all key Adult demos, the first two games of the 2015 NBA Finals qualify as TV's Top 2 telecast since the early April - since 4/6/15.
Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live + Same Day Program Ratings), 06/07/15, unless noted otherwise. Nielsen Socialguide 06/07/15, Total Tweets +/- 3hrs during telecast.
Most-Watched & Highest-Rated NBA Finals Ever on ABC through Two Games
· Record Audience of 18.8 Million Watched Game 2; Broadcast Peaked with 24.4 Million Viewers
The 2015 NBA Finals, currently tied 1-1 between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, is the most-watched (18,321,000 viewers P2+) and highest-rated (10.6 U.S. household) ever on ABC through the first two games, according to Fast Nationals from Nielsen.
Last night's Game 2 delivered 18,795,000 viewers, which was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 2 ever on ABC. It peaked with 24.4 million viewers at 11 p.m. ET. Game 2 was up 26 percent from 14,914,000 viewers for Miami-San Antonio last season.
Additionally, Game 2 delivered a 10.5 U.S. household rating, which is up 19 percent from an 8.8 last year and ranks as the highest-rated NBA Finals Game 2 on ABC in over a decade.
For the 44th consecutive time, the NBA Finals is expected to win the night for ABC across all of television (broadcast and cable) and across all key demos.
NBA Finals on WatchESPN
NBA Finals Game 2 on WatchESPN generated a record 704,000 unique viewers and an average minute audience of 173,900, which is the second-largest audience for an NBA game ever on the platform (2013 NBA Finals Game 7 was the largest).
The NBA Finals will continue with Game 3 on Tuesday, June 9, at 9 p.m. on ABC. Mike Breen, the voice of the NBA Finals, will provide play-by-play with analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson and reporter Doris Burke.
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