NBA finals wrap up on a high note

The series wrapped up a lot quicker than ABC had hoped, but the NBA finals delivered strong ratings for the network while they lasted.

Last night the Miami Heat won the title with a 121-106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, lifting ABC to an easy win on the night.

The game averaged a 12.6 household rating, according to Nielsen metered-market numbers, equaling last year's game five between the Heat and the Dallas Mavericks.

It was the highest-rated game during the series.

That boosted the five-game series to an 11.8 average overnight rating. Final numbers out later today will put that in historical perspective, but obviously this series will be at a bit of a disadvantage when compared to longer ones because it only went five games.

Viewership tends to skyrocket during games six and seven of a series, when there's a closer matchup.

Opposite ABC's pregame and finals coverage, the other networks had generally limp ratings, though Fox's "Take Me Out" did rise 9 percent over last week, to a still-low 1.2 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m.
 
ABC finished first for the night among 18-49s with a 5.3 average overnight rating and a 16 share. CBS was second at 1.5/5, Fox and Univision tied for third at 1.3/4, NBC was fifth at 0.7/2, Telemundo sixth at 0.4/1 and CW seventh at 0.3/1.
 
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won't be available for several weeks. Forty-four percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
 
Also, ratings for ABC's NBA Finals coverage are approximate as fast nationals measure timeslot and not actual program data.
 
At 8 p.m. ABC was first with a 3.0 for "Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night" (2.4) and "NBA Countdown" (3.5), followed by CBS with a 2.1 for repeats of "The Big Bang Theory" and "2 Broke Girls." Fox was third with a 1.2 for "Out," Univision fourth with a 1.1 for "Un Refugio para el Amor," NBC fifth with a 0.8 for "Justin Bieber: All Around the World," Telemundo sixth with a 0.5 for "Una Maid en Manhattan" and CW seventh with a 0.3 for "Breaking Pointe."
 
ABC extended its lead at 9 p.m. with a 6.1 for basketball, while Fox jumped to second with a 1.5 for "The Choice."  CBS was third with a 1.4 for a repeat of "Person of Interest," Univision fourth with a 1.3 for "Abismo de Pasion," NBC fifth with a 0.5 for "Saving Hope," Telemundo sixth with a 0.4 for "Corazon Valiente" and CW seventh with a 0.2 for a repeat of "The Vampire Diaries."
 
At 10 p.m. ABC led again with a 6.7 for basketball, with Univision second with a 1.6 for "La Que No Podia Amar." CBS was third with a 1.1 for a repeat of "The Mentalist," NBC fourth with a 0.8 for "Rock Center with Brian Williams" and Telemundo fifth with a 0.4 for "Relaciones Peligrosas."
 
ABC was also first for the night among households with a 7.8 average overnight rating and a 14 share. CBS was second at 4.5/8, Fox third at 2.3/4, NBC fourth at 2.2/4, Univision fifth at 1.9/3, Telemundo sixth at 0.7/1 and CW seventh at 0.5/1.
 

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