• by Wayne Friedman , June 12, 2008

This summer may be a drag on some networks' original-scripted, rerun and reality programming, but sports--at least top-tier games--score.

ABC again dunked the competition with the third game of the NBA finals--up 38% to a Nielsen preliminary 4.4 adults 18-49 rating. Last year, the number was a 3.2 rating. Much of the rise is thanks to watching two of the most storied basketball franchises playing each other: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.

Such hoop dreams gave ABC a Tuesday night win, averaging a 4.0/12 among 18-49 viewers.

Fox was second at a 3.3/10, in which "Hell's Kitchen"--one of the few steady summer performers--averaged a 4.2 rating, which actually tied ABC for its first hour of the NBA game. Overall, Fox continues to lead all networks in the summer in the 18-49 demo.

CBS was next at a 1.9/6--virtually consistent with a 1.9 for a "NCIS" rerun, a 1.9 for a "48 Hours Mystery" and a 1.8 for a "Without a Trace" rerun.

NBC was right behind with a 1.8/5--with its best coming from its summer reality show "Most Outrageous Moments," which earned a 1.8/5.

Univision was in fifth place at a 1.6/5. Its best of the night was a 1.8 for "Fuego en la Sangre." CW only posted less than half Univision's numbers, at 0.5/2.

ABC is not the only network seeing positive results from sports programming. Recently, NBC's NHL Stanley Cup Finals between Detroit and Pittsburgh had a 3.2 household rating/6 share--the highest since Carolina-Detroit in 2002, which averaged a 3.6. The average rating this year doubled last year's record low of 1.6.