The Miami Heat have become such a remarkable TV draw, viewers will tune in en masse to watch them play a weak-market opponent in a non-competitive series.
2013 NBA playoff ratings: Game 4 of Heat-Bucks series draws strong numbers
Despite a lower-quality game and lesser TV draw of their opponent opponent, the Heat stay hot.
USA TODAY Sports
Game 4 of the Heat-Bucks series, which was a snoozer even by that series’ standards, drew a 4.8 overnight rating. While that’s down 9 percent from the comparable telecast last year (5.3 for Heat-Knicks Game 4) and down four percent from 2011 (5.0 for Celtics-Knicks Game 4), it’s still one of the 10-highest rated first-round games ever for the NBA on ABC, placing eighth. Considering you went from teams like the Celtics and Knicks ... to the Bucks, I think ABC and ESPN will take that.
The game drew a titanic 17.4 in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, which ties a record for highest-rated first-round game in the market. The game scored a pedestrian 6.3 in Milwaukee.
The thrilling overtime Game 4 of Knicks-Celtics, in the early slot, drew a 4.3 overnight rating. That’s up 23 percent from last year (3.5 for Bulls-Sixers) and up 8 percent from Heat-Sixers, Game 4 in 2011.
2013 NBA Playoff overnights on ABC
Boston vs. New York, Game 1 (4/20/13): 3.7
LA Lakers vs. San Antonio, Game 1 (4/21/13): 4.6
New York vs. Boston, Game 4 (4/28/13): 4.3
Miami vs. Milwaukee, Game 4 (4/28/13): 4.8
More from SB Nation:
See More:
