NBA Finals Top 2 Sports Shows For Week
The NBA Finals games 2 and 1 claimed the top 2 sports shows for the week of June 2-8, 2008 with viewership of 13.5 and 13.4 million respectively. The Belmont Stakes at #3 significantly exceeded its recent ABC average to draw 13.1 million as viewers saw Big Brown come up short in his bid for the Triple Crown.
Games 5 and 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals drew far more than they had in recent years to finish at #4 and 5 for the week at 6.8 and 6.2 million viewers respectively.
Top Sports Shows for the Week of June 2-8, 2008:
| RANK | PROGRAMS | Network | Persons Live+SD (000) | HH Rating Live+SD |
| 1 | NBA FINALS LAKERS/CELTICS-GM 2 6/08 | ABC | 13,499 | 8.5 |
| 2 | NBA FINALSLAKERS/CELTICS GM 1 6/05 | ABC | 13,384 | 8.7 |
| 3 | BELMONT STAKES 6/07 | ABC | 13,096 | 8.2 |
| 4 | NHL STANLEY CUP FINAL DETROIT/PITTSBURGH #6 6/04 | NBC | 6,779 | 4.0 |
| 5 | NHL STANLEY CUP FINAL PITTSBURGH/DETROIT #5 6/02 | NBC | 6,247 | 3.8 |
| 6 | SPRINT CUP RACING/POCONO | TNT | 6,098 | 3.9 |
| 7 | GMC NBA COUNTDOWN-GM 1 6/05 | ABC | 5,706 | 4.0 |
| 8 | BELMONT STAKES PRE-RACE 6/07 | ABC | 5,638 | 3.8 |
| 9 | GMC NBA COUNTDOWN-GM 2 6/08 | ABC | 4,963 | 3.4 |
| 10 | WWE RAW | USA | 4,729 | 2.7 |
| 11 | WWE RAW | USA | 4,516 | 2.5 |
| 12 | FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN | CW | 4,084 | 2.4 |
| 13 | STANFORD ST JUDE CHAMP-SU 6/08 | CBS | 2,614 | 1.9 |
| 14 | FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL – VARIOUS | FOX | 2,606 | 2.0 |
| 15 | US GYMNASTICS 6/7 | NBC | 2,303 | 1.6 |
| 16 | RUMBO AL MUNDIAL 6/4 MEXICO/ARGENTINA | TEL | 2,259 | 1.2 |
| 17 | PREFONTAINE CLASSIC 6/8 | NBC | 2,085 | 1.5 |
| 18 | FRENCH OPEN TENNIS SAT 6/07 | NBC | 2,043 | 1.6 |
| 19 | FRENCH OPEN TENNIS SUN 6/08 | NBC | 2,021 | 1.5 |
| 20 | US GYMNASTICS 6/8 | NBC | 1,830 | 1.2 |
Close behind with its weekly race, the NASCAR Sprint Cup race from the Poconos placed at #6 with 6.1 million viewers and was the only cable sports show to make our list (but note our caveat below about cable shows).
As usual, WWE Raw put 2 episodes in the top 20, this week at #9 and 10 with 4.7 and 4.5 million viewers. Their broadcast relative, Friday Night Smackdown came in at #12 with 4.1 million viewers.
Major League Baseball put one game in the top 20 at #14 with 2.6 million viewers.
Note: Our Sports Ratings combine the top Broadcast sports shows and any cable sports shows that appeared in the top 40 cable programs. It is possible that a cable sports show that had enough viewers to make this list is left off because it didn’t have enough viewers to make the list of the top 40 cable programs for the week (which is all we have access to).
Nielsen Ratings Data: ©2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Golf Championship
What did your anchor mean when he said on national tv…, “Imagine a guy named Rocco winning this championship? What did he mean and what is the nationality of Rocco Anthony Mediate? If he is Italian, and I suspect he could be, I am offended by that comment, and would like to know how that statement was meant.
Please email me .
Camille Barra
Mr. Mediate is an American, born in Pennsylvania.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocco_Mediate
Of course the NBA finals will do well. Its the only game in town and its a classic match-up. But is the broadcast that good? In my opinion, NO. Little or no replays are shown and those that we do get to see are usually 2 plays old. Never do we see the slightest bit of controversy. However, ESPN/ABC always thinks its a great idea to leave the game and let us see a play walk to the locker room. WHY? I know the guy is injured and a verbal comment while the game is on is fine. They also feel the need to have people's faces on the screen and split the action rather than just let us watch the game and HEAR the person speaking.