Complete Ratings for the 2008 NBA Finals June 29, 2008 2:54 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in 2008 NBA Finals, Basketball, Broadcast TV Ratings, NBA Finals, News, Nielsen TV Ratings, Sports, Television.trackback
Last year when the the NBA Finals were experiencing a significant year-to-year decline, I put together a complete analysis of the game by game and year-to-year numbers (read it here). Considering just how much stronger the series rated this year compared to last, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the ratings for the 2008 NBA Finals. So keep on reading for a full on look at the ratings from game 1 through game 6. Needless to say (as you can see from the graph tease above), there was a major improvement.
Now remember, in addition to being the lowest-rated series ever, last year’s series went only four games as my poor Cavaliers got swept 4-0 to the Spurs. Enough of reliving the pain of defeat, here are the 2008 breakdowns with a comparison from the year prior in parentheses. (the comparisons for Game 5 and 6 are based on the 2006 numbers, since 2007 only went four games and 2006 went six games).
Game 1
- Households – 8.7/13 — (6.3/11, +38.10%)
- Viewers – 13.38M — (9.21M, +45.28%)
- Adults 18-49 – 5.4/17 — (3.7/12, +45.95%)
Game 2
- Households – 8.5/15 — (5.6/10, +51.24%)
- Viewers – 13.50M — (8.55M, +57.89%)
- Adults 18-49 – 5.5/16 — (3.4/10, +61.76%)
Game 3
- Households – 9.2/16 — (6.4/11, +43.75%)
- Viewers – 14.51M — (9.49M, +52.90%)
- Adults 18-49 – 6.0/18 — (3.8/12, +57.89%)
Game 4
- Households – 8.7/16 — (6.5/12, +33.85%)
- Viewers – 13.76M — (9.91M, +38.85%)
- Adults 18-49 – 5.6/17 — (4.0/13, +40.00%)
Game 5 (vs. game five of the 2006 Finals)
- Households – 10.2/19 — (9.1/15, +12.09%)
- Viewers – 17.39M — (13.49M, +28.91%)
- Adults 18-49 – 7.3/21 — (5.9/18, +23.73%)
Game 6 (vs. game six of the 2006 Finals)
- Households – 10.7/19 — (10.1/18, +5.94%)
- Viewers – 16.88M — (15.71M, +7.45%)
- Adults 18-49 – 6.9/20 — (6.5/19, +6.15%)
To make a fair comparison, the first four games of the 2008 Finals pulled in a 8.8/15 HH rating, 13.79M viewers and a 5.6/17 A18-49 rating (vs. the 2007 Finals (Games 1-4): 6.2/11 HH rating, 9.29M viewers, 3.7/12 A18-49). That puts the gain against the first four games of the 2007 finals at a remarkable 41.94% among households, 48.44% among viewers and 51.35% among adults 18-49.
Including Games 5 and 6, the complete series averaged a 9.3/16 HH rating/share, 14.90M viewers and a 6.1/18 A18-49 rating/share.
So overall, the 2008 finals grew by 50% among households, 60.39% among viewers and 64.86% among adults 18-49.
Even if you were to go back two years ago, the gains would still be there (the 2006 Finals through six games: 8.5/15 HH rating, 12.82 million viewers, 5.4/16).
So there you have it, after a disasterous (both in ratings and excitement) series last year, the NBA got exactly the matchup they were craving, and the ratings results show exactly that, as the series drew nearly 15 million viewers and was watched by more than 60% more viewers from the year prior.
If numbers ain’t your thing, I’ve included easy to read graphs . Check them out below (click to enlarge).
Your Entertainment Now 
I’m pretty sure the Spurs swept the Cavs in four games in 2007 … I wish it had been the Suns (it should have been the Suns).
You are of course correct, kcbennett. I think I had the Suns on my mind because I’m certain the Cavs and Suns would have made for a much more enjoyable series.
They also pretty much got robbed when they played the Spurs. But oh well, why live in the past? :)
hi i’m from italy, i love this. i hope you’ll understand me. i don’t speak english very well.