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Lowest ever TV ratings for an opening game in NBA finals

MichiganMichigan Posts: 4,942 ✭
in Sports Talk
NEW YORK — Game 1 of the NBA finals drew the lowest rating ever for an opening-game in prime time, dropping 19 percent from last year.

The San Antonio Spurs’ 85-76 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night earned a 6.3 rating and 11 share on ABC. The previous low was a 6.4/11 in 2003.

Last year’s Game 1 between Miami and Dallas earned a 7.8 rating and 14 share.

The rating is the percentage watching a telecast among all homes with televisions, and the share is the percentage tuned in to a broadcast among those households with televisions on at the time. A ratings point represents 1,114,000 households.



So what went wrong? Doesn't this seem like a dream matchup with the up and coming Cleveland team vs the veteran Spurs?

My theory - after the Cavs big comeback against the Pistons and all the hype about LeBron how could the championship series seem like anything but a letdown by comparison and the audience just tuned it out.

The NBA needs to shorten their whole playoff system by at least a month by having fewer teams qualify, dragging this out into June
is just too much.

Comments

  • Bosox1976Bosox1976 Posts: 8,551 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There are maybe two guys with charisma either playing of coaching in this series - LBJ and maybe Tony Parker (sorry Tim). Good hoops, but non-compelling television. Two small market teams too. Ratings will only get worse unless this goes 6 or 7 games (doubtful). Not exactly Showtime.
    Mike
    Bosox1976
  • stockergreenstockergreen Posts: 483 ✭✭
    Fans have lost interest.
    The season is too long.
    Why do they have game 1
    on Thu. and the next game
    not until Sun.Its June get
    it over with.People are not
    interested in basketball this
    time of year.
  • MichiganMichigan Posts: 4,942 ✭


    << <i>There are maybe two guys with charisma either playing of coaching in this series - LBJ and maybe Tony Parker (sorry Tim). Good hoops, but non-compelling television. Two small market teams too. Ratings will only get worse unless this goes 6 or 7 games (doubtful). Not exactly Showtime. >>




    I would have thought that interest in LeBron would have overcome the handicap of having two smaller market teams. I guess not.
  • onlyanumberonlyanumber Posts: 2,433
    You think that was bad, wait until Sunday when the finals go up against the finale of the Sopranos.
    Next MONTH? So he's saying that if he wins, the best-case scenario is that he'll be paying for it two weeks after the auction ends?

    Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12



    image


    Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)
  • yankeeno7yankeeno7 Posts: 9,248 ✭✭✭
    There is still an NBA???? Go figure.
  • BobaFett72BobaFett72 Posts: 7,304
    "You think that was bad, wait until Sunday when the finals go up against the finale of the Sopranos."

    arent the numbers way way down this season for the Soprano's?

    Plus you have to have HBO to watch the show.

  • bigdcardsbigdcards Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭
    I'm not watching because two defensive teams make for very boring basketball IMO. I also don't think the Cavs have any chance at all. Not much for me there. I'm sure others have different reasons.
    To bigdcards: "you are right" - cpamike "That is correct" -grote15
  • mkg809mkg809 Posts: 1,320 ✭✭
    The NBA and NHL should start their own channel.
    Then the few fans that watch can have their own.
    Call it NBL, National Boring League channel.
  • BobaFett72BobaFett72 Posts: 7,304
    "National Boring League channel."

    can they also show soccer on that channel image and Golf?
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    This just goes to show that regardless of how much one gets force-fed "The Next Great One", it doesn't mean they're interested.
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • jamesgotpoormanjamesgotpoorman Posts: 1,682
    Nba is still on ??
    succesful deals :richtree, Bosox1976, Bkritz, mknez, SOM, cardcounter2, ddfamf, cougar701, mrG, Griffins : thanks All

    Go Phillies
  • interchangesinterchanges Posts: 864 ✭


    << <i>Lowest ever TV ratings for an opening game in NBA finals >>



    hasn't that been said for the last 5 years in a row?
  • MichiganMichigan Posts: 4,942 ✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Lowest ever TV ratings for an opening game in NBA finals >>



    hasn't that been said for the last 5 years in a row? >>




    Yes, a rather troubling trend I would say.
  • stockergreenstockergreen Posts: 483 ✭✭
    Watching Paris Hilton leaving her house to go to court is more exciting than the NBA finalsimage
  • dirtmonkeydirtmonkey Posts: 3,048 ✭✭


    << <i>The NBA and NHL should start their own channel.
    Then the few fans that watch can have their own.
    Call it NBL, National Boring League channel. >>




    Then this new channel could compete with ESPN, WGN & FOX when they are showing MLB games.

    Please, these games may be boring but lets not try to convince anyone that anything is more boring to watch than baseball other than possibly golf. Soccer may be, but I don't follow or even really understand the game so I cannot say for sure. Baseball is a friggin' yawnfest. I still watch parts of the game, but usually it's when whatever else I'm watching went to a commercial.
    image
  • BobaFett72BobaFett72 Posts: 7,304
    Looks like the trend is continuing this evening. another snoozer and the Cavs are down by 25 at the half. geez!

    p.s.

    I would only consider watching Soccer if they guaranteed rioting in the stands.
  • ctsoxfanctsoxfan Posts: 6,246 ✭✭
    Yep - another blowout. The ratings will be awful for tonight's game, especially with the Sopranos on against it.
    image
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