ABC reports that 16.9 million viewers watched last night’s series-clinching victory where the Boston Celtics won their 17th championship in six games. It was the second most watched game of the series. ABC also reports that for the six games, the series averaged *exactly* 15 million viewers. Bill and I had a little bet around whether the series would generate 15 million average viewers or not. I took the under, Bill took the over.
The real number is more like 14.95 million, which is under 15 million. I won’t be quick to call this a “push” with Mr. Gorman. But I can wait a few days to take all the significant digits into account. From Bill and my point of view, it worked out well, but will ABC be disappointed?
The league and ABC must be waxing nostalgic somewhat. For all practical purposes, Jupiter aligned with Mars and the NBA and ABC both got the matchup they coveted. Indeed, it produced much better results than last year’s matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Lebron James led Cleveland Cavaliers.
This year’s finals had 61% more viewers than last year’s (15.0mm vs. 9.3mm). 61% is a nice increase, but the network and the league must be wistful for the days of yore and averages over 20 million. But like Michael Jordan, those days are gone. All things considered the league and ABC will take the 15 million and be happy with it.
What were the ratings in LA and Bos?
Garry, unfortunately we haven't seen any local ratings for the Boston and LA markets.
The ratings in LA were strong especially with the size of the city, and Boston was ok but significantly lower. Crious to see if the la ratings droped off significantly as the agame wore on and Boston went up significantly as the game wore on. One thing is ironic but the NHL is the least appealing for ratings yet their trophy “The Stanley Cup is a much bigger deal for people to witness than the other leagues. For a sport that isn't that popular their trophy is far mor appealing and popular than the NBA MLB and NFL. I have seen people who know little about hockey but are totally taken back when they see the cup. Many just want to touch it just to see what it feels like, The other trophies just don't have that appeal. When Ray Bourque brought the cup back to Boston after he won it playing for Colorado the place was packed and they were going nuts. Somehow bring back the other tropies under the same scenario just wouldn' fly.
The NBA ratings were terrific and better than Tiger Woods. Tiger did great with the bad knee but since he dissed hockey, know he knows how the great Bobby Orr felt like only he did it for years playing on one leg and always in pain but he did not advertise it or show it in the course of a game. After a game he could not walk. He got hit a lot and did not complain or talk about or bring attention to it. And when he played guys hit him knowing it might end his carreer. Tiger did a splendid job but keep it perspective. Bobby Orr did it for 8 years and did not have the advanced treatments they had today. Bobby Orr could golf after but could not skate until he had more surgury of late. Hockey players love to golf and play thru pain without thinking twice about it. I think if Tiger took a puck in the face he would have not continued or maybe he migh have.At least he does not have to worry about going to Michigan and facing hockey town. I just wish had great competition like Nickluas had. then Tiger's golf carreer would be complete. No Tom Watson's Johnny Miller Lee Trevino etc to have always someone taking a run at him. Tiger does not have that not because he is so great (which he is ), because the others just aren't that good. teh last time prior to the US Open he played Mike Wier and it was great ( a hockey atmosphere in Montreal. Nicklaus beat name playere week in and week out. Tiger hasn't. That is not his fault it just is what it is.
The way they taked about his win in the US open, the ratings should have been much higher.
Some Boston numbers from a local station
http://wbztv.com/local/nba.finals.ratings.2.751...
“BOSTON (WBZ) ? Hundreds of thousands of fans watched Tuesday night's Celtics win on TV, but the ratings don't match the tune-in for the most recent Patriots Super Bowl appearance or the Red Sox World Series win.
During the height of Game 6 — about 11 p.m. — 1,343,900 people were watching the Celtics and Lakers.
Compare that to Super Bowl XLII, when the Patriots suffered a hear-breaking loss against the Giants. The largest audience during that game was 3,017,100.
And as for the Red Sox, Game 4 against the Rockies in October netted 2,111,150 viewers at its height.
But despite the ratings, a win is a win, and now the Celtics are World Champions!
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)”