NBA Finals Game 2 Draws Record Ratings on ABC
By: Tyler Peterson Jun. 08, 2015
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 for the 2nd night 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.
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