Latest in NBA Finals

Tuesday night was a win for both the Milwaukee Bucks and ABC as the clinching Game 6 of the NBA Finals dominated ratings and viewers. Per Nielsen Live + Same Day fast affiliate data, the game drew 8.78 million viewers and a 2.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic during primetime. The Bucks’ 105-98 victory over the…

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points on Tuesday night to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA Championship in 50 years. Only six other players have scored 50 points or more in the NBA Finals. Only one other player has done it to clinch the title: Bob Petit had 50 in 1958 to win it all for the (then) St. Louis…

In a memo sent to ESPN employees on Friday, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro addressed what he called “nuanced and complicated personnel matters” related to “recent events.” Those events revolve around leaked comments made by one of the the network’s highest-profile female hosts Rachel Nichols, who is white, and another of…

Shortly before tip off of the first game of the 2021 NBA Finals, league commissioner addressed the turmoil at one of the league’s premiere TV partners, ESPN, surrounding hosts Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor. Asked by reporters about the controversy over Nichols leaked comments regarding ESPN and Taylor, Silver called…

On the day of the start of the NBA Finals, ESPN’s premiere daily NBA show was missing from the network’s schedule. Instead, according to the New York Post, viewers who tuned in on Tuesday found the two-man team of Jalen & Jacoby, who are usually The Jump‘s lead-in. A subsequent Jump schedule spot was filled by the…

If you were in Los Angeles on Sunday night there was plenty of reason to celebrate as the Lakers beat the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to win the franchise’s 17th championship. The game on ABC delivered a 2.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic while 5.60 million viewers watched the Lakers’ 106-93 victory in the…

Game 5 of the National Basketball Association championships was like the rest of the league’s pandemic-plagued season – it didn’t follow the script. Instead of the Los Angeles Lakers capturing their 17th world championship, the Miami Heat spoiled their party, winning 111-108, to set up a Game 6 on Sunday. While the…

Game 4 of the NBA Finals on ABC dominated Tuesday night in the primetime ratings, delivering a 1.9 in the adults 18-49 demographic and 5.27 million viewers — both numbers rising from Sunday’s Game 3. Last night saw the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Miami Heat to take a 3-1 series lead and can clinch the title…

With TV ratings for the NBA Finals down about 20% from last year after three games, Sen. Ted Cruz and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban have been feuding on Twitter over the cause of the downturn. See their exchange below. The Texas Republican, replying to a tweet from Fox News host Sean Hannity about the ratings…

NBC’s Sunday Night Football and ABC’s coverage of the NBA Finals dominated primetime programming Sunday, though both SNF and the Miami Heat’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 dipped from their most recently outings as they likely split sports fans’ allegiances. On NBC, its Football Night In…

The National Basketball Association finals usually end in June. But given the pandemic, it’s taken until now for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat to reach the league’s ultimate circle. Game 2 of the NBA Finals was the night’s biggest ratings draw, starting with Jimmy Kimmel’s special Friday edition of his…

It was nothing but net for the NBA Finals on ABC on Wednesday, as Game 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers-Miami Heat  championship series left everyone in the dust. The game delivered a 2.2 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic to go along with 5.31 million viewers who watched the Lakers’ 116-98 victory in the bubble in…