ESPN Draws Its Highest-Rated 2018 NBA Playoffs Telecast for Cleveland Cavaliers-Indiana Pacers Game 6
ESPN drew its highest-rated 2018 NBA Playoffs telecast for Friday's first round Game 6 telecast of the Indiana Pacers' victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The telecast generated a 2.9 metered market rating, up 81 percent from last year's Boston Celtics-Chicago Bulls game, a 1.6, according to Nielsen.
Last night's telecast peaked with a 3.6 metered market rating from 9:45-10 p.m. ET. In Cleveland, the game delivered a 12.3 rating, making it the highest-rated first round game on ESPN ever in the market. In Indianapolis, the telecast also delivered its best-ever local rating for a first round game on ESPN, with an 11.9 rating.
The 2018 NBA Playoffs on ESPN is averaging a 2.5 metered market rating, up 14 percent from 2017.
Additionally, last night's Utah Jazz Game 6 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder generated a 2.8 metered market rating on ESPN, up 40 percent from last night's comparable game - the Jazz vs. LA Clippers (2.0). In the Salt Lake City market, Game 6 delivered a 9.4 rating, while in the Oklahoma City, market, the telecast drew a 9.2 rating.
Coverage continues on ABC tomorrow, Sunday, April 29, at 1 p.m. as the Cavaliers host the Pacers in Game 7 of their first round series. At 3:30 p.m., the Houston Rockets host the Jazz in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Both games will also stream on the ESPN App.
