Thrilling NBA Finals Game 4 Sparks ABC to Win the Night

The 2009 NBA Finals continue to fuel ABC to prime-time dominance, with Game 4 – a thrilling overtime duel in which the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 99-91 – being the most-viewed program of the night in prime time and leading the network to win the night.  Through four games, The Finals on ABC have posted the No. 1 program on television each night.

Last night’s Game 4 averaged 15,957,000 viewers (P2+), a 16 percent increase over last year’s Game 4 between Boston and Los Angeles (13,762,000) and a 61 percent improvement over 2007’s Game 4 (Cleveland/San Antonio, 9,908,000 viewers).  This year’s Game 4 averaged a 9.4 HH rating, up 8 percent over last year’s Game 4 (8.7 rating) and 45 percent over 2007’s Game 4 (6.5 rating).  This year’s corresponding 10,764,000 household impressions were up 9 percent over last year’s Game 4 (9,851,000 households) and 48 percent over 2007’s Game 4 (7,276,000 households).

The 2009 NBA Finals account for the top four broadcasts since the end of the television season in May (May 20, 2009).  Tuesday’s broadcast was ABC’s most-viewed Game 4 since 2004 (Los Angeles/Detroit – 20,285,000 viewers).

Additionally, Game 4 was the top program of the night across all key male and adult demos:

The 2009 Finals are averaging 14,386,000 viewers through four games, up 4 percent over last year’s Finals (Boston/Los Angeles – 13,784,000 viewers).

The game registered a 27.3 rating in Los Angeles, the highest-rated NBA broadcast locally since Game 5 of the 2008 Finals.  In Orlando, the game earned a 26.7 rating.

The Lakers hold a 3-1 series lead.  Game 5 of The Finals, an elimination game for the Magic, will be broadcast Sunday, June 14, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ABC HD and ESPN Radio.

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