Game 7 Peaks with 7.4 Rating

ABC’s coverage of the Cleveland Cavaliers-Indiana Pacers Game 7 on Sunday generated a 5.4 metered market rating, making it the highest-rated first round NBA Playoffs telecast in 14 years across networks, according to Nielsen. The 5.4 rating was up 29 percent from last year’s comparable game – LA Clippers vs. Utah Jazz Game 7, which drew a 4.2 rating.

Game 7 on ABC peaked from 3:30-3:45 p.m. ET with a 7.4 rating. In the Cleveland market, Game 7 generated a 24.6 rating, making it the highest-rated first round NBA Playoffs game since 2010. In Indianapolis, Game 7 drew a 21.6 rating, which is the best rating ever for a first round game in the market.

The last time a first round NBA Playoffs game drew a higher rating was on April 25, 2004 when the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets broadcast on ABC delivered a 5.8 rating. There have been 625 nationally televised first round games since then.

Additionally, ABC’s coverage of Game 1 between the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz on Sunday delivered a 4.4 metered market rating, up 38 percent from last year’s comparable game – Boston Celtics vs. Washington Wizards, which drew a 3.2 rating. The 4.4 rating also outdrew every second round telecast from 2017. The broadcast generated a 12.1 rating in the Salt Lake City market and an 11.9 rating in the Houston market.

Through six broadcasts, the 2018 NBA Playoffs on ABC is averaging a 4.2 metered market rating, up 11 percent from 2017.

In addition to the NBA Playoffs, ESPN and ABC combined for a significant weekend of major live sports, including the NFL Draft and Sunday Night Baseball, with all events generating ratings success.

The NBA Playoffs will continue on ESPN this Thursday, May 3, at 6 p.m. when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. The NBA Playoffs on ABC will continue on Saturday, May 5, at 8:30 p.m. for Game 3 of the Cavaliers-Raptors series. On Sunday, May 6, ABC will broadcast Game 3 between the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans at 3:30 p.m. ESPN’s full schedule and coverage plans will be issued this week.

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ESPN NBA contacts: Ben Cafardo at 860-766-3496 or [email protected]. Twitter: @Ben_ESPN;

Gianina Thompson at 860-766-7022 or [email protected]. Twitter: @GiaPlusNina