ABC Dominates Sunday Primetime Thanks To Game 2 Of 2010 NBA Finals

Driven by Game 2 coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals, featuring the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, ABC turned in a convincing win on Sunday evening. According to Nielsen's preliminary time-period-based "Fast Affiliate" ratings, ABC outpaced its nearest competition during primetime by 4.5 million viewers (11.1 million vs. 6.6 million - CBS) and by 137% in Adults 18-49 (4.5/13 vs. 1.9/6 - NBC). In Adults 18-49, ABC beat The Combined delivery of CBS, NBC and Fox on the evening (4.5/13 vs. 4.4/13). It was ABC's 2nd consecutive night to claim a dominant primetime victory with coverage of the 2010 NBA Finals.

"NBA Finals on ABC - GM 2" (8:04 - 11:04 p.m., ET "Fast National Ratings")

According to Nielsen's special-ordered program-based "Fast National" ratings, the "NBA Finals on ABC - GM 2" overcame its competitors during primetime, including NBC's broadcast of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, to qualify as Sunday night's No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (15.5 million) and across each of the key adult demographics: A18-34 (6.4 rating), A18-49 (6.3 rating) and A25-54 (6.3 rating). It was the 2nd straight telecast for the 2009 NBA Finals to stand as the night's top-rated television program in viewers and key adults. The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers by a score of 101-96, tying the best-of-seven series at 1-1

· ABC's Game 2 of the 2010 NBA Finals posted solid year-to-year increases in Total Viewers (+1.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (+9%), over the second game of the 2009 Lakers-Orlando Finals (14.1 million & 5.8/17 on 6/7/09). In viewers and young adults, it was the strongest Game 2 for the NBA Championship Series in 6 years and the second-highest-ever on ABC - since Game 2 of the 2004 series on 6/8/04. ABC began carriage of the NBA Finals starting in 2003.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 36% currently, from 31% at the same point in 2009. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next-day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate time period and Fast National Program Live + Same Day Ratings), 6/6/10.

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