NBA Finals ratings : Game 1 between the Celtics and the Mavericks was viewed by only 10.99 million people

[Soldier]

NBA Finals opens under 11 million for Celtics' rout of Mavs

The Celtics' blowout win over the Mavericks topped only the COVID-era years as the least-watched NBA Finals Game 1 since 2007.

www.sportsmediawatch.com

NBA Finals opens under 11 million for Celtics’ rout of Mavs​

by Jon Lewis

34 mins ago






Jun 6, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) dunks against Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) and forward Maxi Kleber (42) in the third quarter during game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports


The Dallas Mavericks failed to show up in Game 1 of the NBA Finals — and so did the viewers.

Thursday’s Mavericks-Celtics NBA Finals Game 1 averaged a 5.7 rating and 10.99 million viewers on ABC (11.04 million including 43,000 on ESPN Deportes), topping only the two COVID-era series of 2020 (Heat-Lakers: 4.1, 7.69M) and 2021 (Bucks-Suns: 4.5, 8.70M) as the least-watched Game 1 of the Finals since 2007.
Ratings and viewership declined 5% from last year’s Heat-Nuggets Game 1, which drew a 6.0 and 11.58 million on ABC and ESPN2. Compared to the previous Finals to involve the Celtics — 2022 against the Warriors — ratings fell 11% and viewership 8% from a 6.4 and 11.90 million.
Though ratings and viewership declined, Game 1 averaged a higher share of the overall audience (20%) and adults 18-34 (50%) than any other Finals opener on ABC. (The share — the percentage of homes or viewers watching in the average minute out of the number using television — will tend to rise as television viewership declines.)

The Celtics’ 18-point margin of victory tied the Lakers’ 2020 win over Miami in the “bubble” as the most-lopsided Finals opener since 2017. Ratings and viewership peaked early at a 6.2 and 12.11 million during the 9:15 quarter-hour and bottomed out sharply at the conclusion, dropping to a 4.8 and 9.01 million during the 10:45 quarter-hour.
Game 1 drew a 3.5 rating in adults 18-49, a 2.9 in 18-34 and a 4.0 in 25-54 — down 6, 9 and 6 percent respectively from last year (3.7, 3.2, 4.2).
The NBA Finals has now opened below the 14 million mark in six-straight years, the longest streak since a seven-year stretch from 2003-09.

 

[GilSho]

This Caitlin Clark shyt has proved a lot of America won't tune into these games because the stars are black/foreign. If the NBA ever gets the male equivalent of Caitlin then he'd be by far the biggest star in the League and those ratings will get doubled in an instant.

 

[I'm Blackman]

I didnt watch because I forgot about it..when i saw the blowout i turned the channel.

Also none of these guys are mega stars to get casuals to watch.

 

[jwinfield]

Damn, the only solution is to spend more time talking about who is going to coach the Lakers and Bronny.

 

[RickyDiBiase]

this ain't the 90's anymore.

 

[Damnshow]

None of these guys are Jordan, Kobe, Bron or Curry, therefore lower ratings. Casuals watch basketball to see big names.

 

[Surreal]

More to do with ABC/ESPN coverage

They're awful and their lineup, outside of Perkins, are pretty unlikeable people

 

[FAH1223]

This Caitlin Clark shyt has proved a lot of America won't tune into these games because the stars are black/foreign. If the NBA ever gets the male equivalent of Caitlin then he'd be by far the biggest star in the League and those ratings will get doubled in an instant.

Cooper Flagg in the nation’s capital in 2025-26.

 

[Soldier]

This Caitlin Clark shyt has proved a lot of America won't tune into these games because the stars are black/foreign.

If the NBA ever gets the male equivalent of Caitlin then he'd be by far the biggest star in the League and those ratings will get doubled.

The MLB’s World series gets roughly the same ratings as the NBA Finals. Last year WS between Arizona and Texas had predictably lower ratings than average.
.

The Stanley Cup Finals gets worse ratings than both the NBA Finals And the World Series.

Only the Super Bowl gets massive ratings partly because of multiple factors unrelated to the sport itself.

First off, NBA finals/Stanley Cup Finals/World series are all best of seven championship series instead of a ultimate « winner takes all » single championship game like the SuperBowl. Second, the finals of these three leagues are pure sports events. The focus is purely on hockey/basketball/baseball games, the two finalist teams and the marquee players on both teams. It’s not like that with the Super Bowl. If you take out the halftime show and commercials, the SB will get half of its usual TV ratings. The superbowl is a massive and ubiquitous cultural event that transcends sports. For millions of casuals/non sports fans, The SB is the only football game they watch, and they watch it for obvious reasons. It’s treated much more like a traditional carnival/holiday than your usual sports league’s championship series.

World Series television ratings - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

NBA Finals television ratings - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Stanley Cup Finals television ratings - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Super Bowl television ratings - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Trojan 24]

Caitlin not walking thru that door

 

[Boonapalist]

Cooper Flagg in the nation’s capital in 2025-26.

Damn you don’t want him to ever see a conference final

 

[FAH1223]

Damn you don’t want him to ever see a conference final

He’s the great white hope that’ll get us there

With Bilal

 

[Estarossa]

I streamed it but the Mavs was getting they ass whooped so I lost interest…

 

[Trojan 24]

Cooper Flagg in LA after they tank in 2025-26.

 

[Ku$h Parker]

this ain't the 90's anymore.

We DUNNNNN WIT DA 90S!!!!!!