NBC has gotten off to a surprisingly strong ratings start with the NBA Finals. According to Nielsen, the opening-game upset victory by the Philadelphia 76ers over the Los Angeles Lakers attracted an
average of 18.58 million viewers and an 8.8 rating/26 share among the key demographic of adults 18-49. Those numbers amounted to gains of 21% and 33%, respectively, over last year's Game 1 between the
Lakers and Indiana Pacers (15.34 million, 6.6/19). In adult male demographics, the year-to-year improvements ranged from 34% to 38%.
It's the highest-rated NBA Finals opener since another overtime
contest in 1998 (Chicago vs. Utah in Michael Jordan's final season).
The network won't begin to show a profit on the best-of-seven series until a sixth game, but that's something that looks much
more likely after Wednesday's surprising result. Game 2 of the series will be played Friday night in Los Angeles, with action moving to Philadelphia on Sunday night.
