ABC's 2013 NBA Finals Game Coverage Sweeps Adults 18-49

With coverage of the 2013 NBA Finals Game 1 between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs, ABC dominated Thursday night, outrunning its nearest competitor by 3.7 million viewers (10.5 million vs. 6.8 million - CBS) and beating the other nets' combined delivery among Adults 18-49 (4.1/12 vs. 3.9/12 - CBS, NBC, FOX and CW combined). The Net also took full control of the evening with Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54 and across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

Among Adults 18-49, the Net turned in its highest-rated Thursday in nearly 1 year - since 6/21/12.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night 1" (Various Time Periods)
Airing around the NBA Finals in various time periods across the country, "Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night 1" produced broad exposure for the ABC late-night talker in primetime. On average, "JKL Game Night" was up by 58% in Total Viewers (4.1 million vs. 2.6 million) and by 71% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/5 vs. 0.7/3) over the show's 2012-13 season averages in late-night. Posting its 3rd consecutive season of growth in late-night, ABC's "JKL" just wrapped its most-watched season ever.

ABC's "JKL Game Night 1" spiked over last year's start by 28% in viewers and by 20% in young adults (3.2 million and 1.0/3 on 6/12/12) to deliver the "Game Night" specials' 2nd-most-watched telecast ever (on any night).

"NBA Finals on ABC Game 1" (9:00 - 11:39 p.m. E.T.)
Featuring the San Antonio Spurs at the Miami Heat, ABC's 2013 NBA Finals Game 1 towered over its Primetime competition and finished as Thursday's definitive No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (14.2 million) and across each of the key Adult demographics: A18-34 (5.8/21), A18-49 (5.7/18) and A25-54 (5.9/16). San Antonio won the opening game of the series by a score of 92-88 to lead the best-of-seven series 1-0. Among Adults 18-49, the 2013 NBA Finals Game 1 stands as TV's No. 1 telecast since the early April - since 04/08/13.

In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (tie), it was the 3rd biggest start since 2004 for the NBA Finals and ABC's best-ever Game 1 featuring a San Antonio series (this is the 4th appearance by the team since ABC began carriage in 2003). It was also the most-watched-ever Thursday opener for The Finals on ABC and tied its best young adult number, out of 7 occasions in 11 years of broadcasting the series. In viewers and young adults, the first game of the San Antonio-Miami NBA Finals shot up by 54% over Game 1 the last time the Spurs played in the championship series (9.2 million and a 3.7/12 on 06/07/07).

Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Finals delivered a 34.0 Household rating in Miami (highest-ever Game 1 rating in that market) and a 35.3 rating in San Antonio.

Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live + Same Day Program Ratings), 06/06/13. Metered Market averages based on Local People Meter data for 06/06/13.

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