Ratings Roundup: ESPN Closes Out NBA Eastern Conference Finals With Most-Watched Game 7 in Four Years; CBS Sports Celebrates Most-Watched U.S. Coverage of UEFA Champions League Final

Ratings Roundup: ESPN Closes Out NBA Eastern Conference Finals With Most-Watched Game 7 in Four Years; CBS Sports Celebrates Most-Watched U.S. Coverage of UEFA Champions League Final By SVG Staff

Friday, June 3, 2022 - 7:00 am

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Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, Celtics-Heat in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on ESPN becomes the most-watched Game 7 in four years, CBS Sports scored the most-watched UEFA Champions League Final ever for English-language coverage in the U.S, and more.

Boston Celtics-Miami Heat Game 7 Is Most-Watched Conference Finals Game on ESPN in Four Years The Boston Celtics victory over the Miami Heat in Game 7 on Sunday was the most-watched Conference Finals game on ESPN in four years, according to Nielsen. The telecast averaged 9,875,000 viewers, peaking with 12,171,000 viewers at 11 p.m. ET.

The Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat series was the most-watched NBA Eastern Conference Finals since 2018, averaging nearly seven million viewers across the seven games (6,978,000). This is up 40% from last year's Eastern Conference Finals.

Game 7 on ESPN was the most-watched program of the day across all of television, including in every key demographic: P18-34; P18-49; P25-54; M18-34; M18-49; M25-54.

Earlier in the series, ABC's coverage of Game 3 was the most-watched Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 since 2018. The ABC broadcast averaged 6,805,000 viewers, up 19% from last year's Eastern Conference Finals Game 3, and up 71% from 2020, according to Nielsen. The broadcast peaked with 8,773,000 viewers at 11 p.m. ET.

Game 3 was the most-watched program across all of television for May 21 and the most-watched program across all key demos, including P18-34; P18-49; P25-54; M18-34; M18-49 and M25-54.

In the Miami market, Game 3 averaged an 8.9 rating, making it the highest-rated Heat game of the 2022 NBA Playoffs thus far. In the Boston market, Game 3 averaged a 12.1 rating.

The NBA Countdown pregame show for Game 3 averaged 2,414,000 viewers, making it the second-most watched episode of the show during the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

Game 2 was the most-watched Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 since 2018, according to Nielsen. The ESPN telecast averaged 6,049,000 viewers, peaking with 6,878,000 viewers at 9:30 p.m. ET.

ESPN's coverage of Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 was up 59% from last year's Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. The game propelled ESPN to win the night across all of television and in all key demos: P18-34; P18-49; P25-54; M18-34; M18-49; M25-54.

Game 2 generated a 12.6 rating in the Boston market and a 7.5 rating in the Miami market.

In addition, Thursday's edition of the NBA Countdown pregame show was the most-watched in four years on ESPN. The show generated an average audience of 1,873,000 viewers, the most since the pregame show for the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.

NBA on TNT's Warriors/Mavericks Series Delivers Network's Most-Watched NBA Conference Finals Coverage Since 2018 TNT's exclusive presentation of the 2022 NBA Western Conference Finals - won by the Golden State Warriors over the Dallas Mavericks (4-1) - delivered the network its most watched Conference Finals coverage since 2018, averaging 6.7 million viewers.

Viewership for this year's five-game series finished up 35% over TNT's 2021 NBA Eastern Conference Finals coverage (Hawks/Bucks, 5.0 million viewers, six games) and up 23% when compared with last year's Western Conference Finals (Clippers/Suns, 5.5 million viewers, six games).

Thursday's WCF coverage garnered the top program of the night across all of television (broadcast and cable) for the third straight time during the series, and together with the iconic Inside the NBA post-game show, delivered cable's top two programs on Thursday.

The Warriors' series-clinching win averaged 6.8 million viewers - peaking with an average of 7.7 million viewers from 11-11:15 p.m. ET - to rank as the most-viewed WCF Game 5 since 2018.

Overall, the network delivered its most watched NBA Playoffs coverage since 2018, averaging 4.1 million viewers (42 telecasts), up 11% vs. last year, while winning the night on cable in primetime 22 times. Additionally, Inside the NBA's postgame coverage averaged 1.9 million viewers, up 6% vs. last year (23 telecasts).

CBS Sports Scores Most-Watched UEFA Champions League Final Ever for English-Language Coverage in U.S. CBS Sports' coverage of the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final delivered record-breaking viewership across multiple platforms.

Real Madrid's 1-0 victory over Liverpool was the most-watched UEFA Champions League Final in history for English-language coverage in the U.S., averaging 2.761 million viewers on CBS, according to Nielsen national ratings. The match generated a viewership increase of 23% versus last year's Final.

Saturday's match peaked with 3.238 million viewers from 5:15 to 5:30 PM, ET.

Paramount registered its most-streamed soccer match ever, scoring triple-digit year-over-year growth in average minute audience, streaming minutes and households versus the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final.

TelevisaUnivision's Coverage of 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League Delivers No. 1 Rated Season in Competition's History TelevisaUnivision successfully concluded its comprehensive, multiplatform coverage of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2021-2022 season, bringing fans all the thrill and action from the championship, as the most prestigious European teams battled for the crown and title, breaking record audiences for the network in the U.S. and deliver

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/06/03/ratings-roundup-espn-closes-out...
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