ATL/CLE "the most-watched Game 3 of an NBA conference final since 2011"

[J Shuttlesworth]

Viewership hit a multi-year high for Game 3 between the Hawks and Cavaliers.

nbaplayoffsGame 3 of the Hawks/Cavaliers NBA Eastern Conference Finals earned a 4.7 rating and 7.8 million viewers on TNT Sunday night, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 21% in ratings and 16% in viewership from Spurs/Thunder last year (3.9, 6.7M) and up 4% and 7%, respectively, from Heat/Pacers in 2013 (4.5, 7.3M).

Compared to last year’s Pacers/Heat Game 3 on ESPN, which aired on a Saturday night, ratings and viewership each increased by 15% over a 4.1 and 6.8 million.

The Cavaliers’ overtime win ranks as the most-watched Game 3 of an NBA conference final in four years — since Bulls/Heat in 2011 (10.9M). It is tied as the highest rated since that 2011 game (6.4), matching Spurs/Thunder in 2012.

The game also ranks as easily the most-watched of the postseason on any network, topping the previous high of 6.9 million for Cavaliers/Bulls Game 4 on ABC in the second round. The Cavaliers have played in seven of the 11 most-watched games this postseason.

Sunday’s strong performance was a major turnaround from Friday’s Game 2, which was the lowest rated Eastern Conference Finals game in eight years and the least-watched in seven.

Ratings and viewership peaked at a 6.3 and 10.5 million from 11:15-11:30 PM ET.

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2015...ince-2011-tnt/
(Sun. numbers from Turner Sports)

LeRatings

[Lebron23]

Most Popular player in the NBA.

[Foster5k]

LeBron is polarizing. Actually, without the headband, I think people tend to like him better. Does that make any sense? Maybe not. I think without the headband he is a more cable friendly guy. Before, he kind of looked like a clown with that big ass headband.

But, besides all that which most of you probably think is hogwash, LeBron is slowly becoming a ratings beast. He's impact will be felt way after he has retired. Just as Jordan brought in new fans, so too will LeBron.

All hail the king.

[Fallen Angel]

So we not finna act like the NBA didn't overpromote Lebron's 1st Quarter, the records he broke and didn't overreact on the Al Horford elbow just to get people to watch the game. I swear every sporting media outlet went crazy for a game that the casual NBA fan would perceive as meaningless.