ABC Scores Big With Celtics-Lakers Finals, But Couldn't Beat The 2004 Finals
Thursday, June 19, 2008
I was reading through all of the ratings numbers after Game Six and something weird stuck out. The 2008 Finals obviously handily took out most of the years past, including last years worst total rating ever of 6.2, but for some reason couldn't beat the 2004 matchup of the Pistons and Lakers.
The Celtics-Lakers Finals pulled in an ending average of 9.3 over the six game series and Game Six itself finished with 10.7 rating (12,085,000 households). Game Six also beat 2005's Heat-Mavs Game Six by 7% (there wasn't one last year) and won the night for ABC. In fact all six games won each night they aired for the network, which is huge for a Finals series.
Of course the late 90s had the Bulls and 1998 had the highest average number during the Bulls-Jazz Series (18.7), but the Pistons-Lakers in 2000 (11.5)? I know that series featured some pretty great players, and it was a huge upset, but three of those five games were blowouts and Boston is definitely a bigger market than Detroit (although not by much). In the end, I don't know if the 80s and 90s numbers will ever be touched but this Finals matchup at least gave the NBA and ABC some life in regards to ratings. Especially when last year's numbers were so dreadful.
(Numbers via ESPN PR)
6 Comments:
I was referring to market size. Boston is #7 and Detroit is about #11.
I think the ugly nature of the series turned off a lot of casual viewers. More people were watching the 2004 series because there was a lot of off court drama, such as the rape case, and the Kobe/Shaq feud. Also, it was the classic David vs. Goliath battle, and nothing gets Americans more interested in sports than a nice upset.
Maybe because the games are all on so f_____g late?!
One big reason: Kobe Bryant. His egotistical sneer and contemptous attitudes along with his history have truly angered and alienated Americans from the NBA. His behavior resulting in his arrest some years back and his actions and moves to destroy the criminal justice system and then end all investigation and discussion of his crime through payoffs and blackmail is one of the most pathetic and sorry moments in American legal history.
The Eagle County Sheriff's Department & Mark Hurlbert didn't need any of Kobe's help to "destroy the criminal justice system," Anonymous 11:48, unless Kobe had those Hangman T-Shirts printed himself.
Maybe I'm not taking suburbs into play enough here, but Detroit is MUCH bigger than Boston.