NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC Delivers Highest Overnight Rating Since 2004

The NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC - in which Miami defeated Dallas 92-84 - generated a 10.7 overnight rating, the highest for a Game 1 of The Finals since 2004 (Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Lakers, 11.5 overnight rating), according to Nielsen.

The 10.7 overnight rating is up 15 percent compared to Game 1 of the 2006 NBA Finals (9.3 overnight rating), when these same two teams played. Additionally, last night's overnight rating is up three percent compared to a 10.4 overnight rating for last year's Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

In Miami, the top-rated metered market, the game delivered a 31.9 rating, an increase of 28 percent compared to a 24.9 rating locally for Game 1 in 2006. Dallas, ranked second among the metered markets, netted a 29.9 rating, the highest-rated game locally since the 2006 Finals.

The Finals on ABC continue with Game 2 tomorrow, Thursday, June 2, at 9 p.m. ET. Mike Breen calls The Finals on ABC with analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Doris Burke. The Finals are also available on ESPN Radio (Mike Tirico and Hall of Famers Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown) and ESPN 3D (Mark Jones and Bruce Bowen for Game 2). Coverage will begin with the Buick Regal NBA Countdown pregame show at 8:30 p.m., hosted by Stuart Scott with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and analysts Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon.

Quick Take for Tuesday, May 31, 2011 (National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

With Coverage of the 2011 NBA Finals Game 1, ABC Ranks No. 1 On Tuesday in Young Adults and Across All Key Men Demographics

ABC Scores its Best-Ever Primetime Results with the Opening Night of The Finals

ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Generates Broad Primetime Exposure, Up by 106% In Viewers and by 120% in Adults 18-49 Over its Late-Night Season Averages

Miami-Dallas 2011 NBA Finals Game 1 Tops the Primetime Landscape, Standing as Tuesday's No. 1 TV Program Among All Key Adult Demographics

Game 1 of 2011 Qualifies as the Strongest Start to the NBA Finals in 7 Years with Viewers and Adults 18-49, and ABC's Highest-Ever with Adults 18-34 and Men 18-34

Tuesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

With coverage of the 2011 NBA Finals Game 1 between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks, ABC finished No. 1 on Tuesday night among Adults 18-49 (4.5/13-tie). The Net also led the night with Adults 18-34 and across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54), beating NBC with its 2-hour season premiere of "America's Got Talent" leading into "The Voice."

· Building over last year's numbers with the opening night of the high-rated 2010 Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals (Lakers-Celtics on 6/3/10) in Total Viewers (10.9 million vs. 10.7 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.5/13 vs. 4.1/14), ABC posted its best-ever primetime results with Game 1 of The Finals - ABC began carriage of the NBA Finals in 2003.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night 1" (Various Time Periods)

Airing around the NBA Finals in various time periods across the country, the "Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night" special generated broad exposure for the ABC late-night talker in primetime. On average, "JKL Game Night" shot up by 106% in Total Viewers (3.5 million vs. 1.7 million) and by 120% in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4 vs. 0.5/3) over the show's 2010-11 TV Season average in late night.

"2011 NBA Finals Game 1" (8:59 - 11:51 p.m. E.T.)

Featuring the Dallas Mavericks at the Miami Heat, ABC's 2011 NBA Finals Game 1 beat out its primetime competition and finished as Tuesday's definitive No. 1 TV program across each of the key Adult demographics: A18-34 (6.8/21), A18-49 (6.5/18) and A25-54 (6.5/16). Miami won the opening game of the series by a score of 92-84 to lead the best-of-seven series 1-0.

· Game 1 of the 2011 Finals was up solidly over the first game of last year's Lakers-Celtics matchup in viewers (+8% - 15.2 million vs. 14.1 million) and young adults (+14% - 6.5/18 vs. 5.7/18). In addition, the 2011 opener surged by wide margins from the last time the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks met in The Finals, jumping 32% in Total Viewers and 35% in Adults 18-49 over the opening game of 2006 (11.5 million and 4.8/15 on 6/8/06).

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals qualified as the strongest start to the series in 7 years - since 2004 (Lakers-Pistons). In addition, ABC marked its highest-ever Game 1 numbers with Adults 18-34 (6.8/21) and Men 18-34 (9.0/28) - since beginning carriage in 2003.

· Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals delivered a 31.9 Household rating in Miami and a 29.9 rating in Dallas.

Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live + Same Day Program Ratings), 5/31/11. Metered Market averages based on Local People Meter data for 5/31/11.