NBA Finals Generates Best Game 2 Overnight Rating Since 2004

The NBA Finals Game 2 on ABC - Miami Heat defeated Oklahoma City to even the series at 1-1 - generated an 11.8 overnight rating, the best overnight rating for a Game 2 since 2004 and second highest ever on ABC, according to Nielsen. The 11.8 rating is up 12 percent compared to last year's Finals Game 2 (Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks), which earned a 10.5.

The two-game NBA Finals overnight ratings average for 2012 is an 11.8, up 11 percent from last year. Game 2 peaked with a 15.1 rating from 11:30 to 11:45 p.m. ET.

In Oklahoma City, the game generated a 44.4 rating, the highest for an NBA game ever in the market (Game 1 of this series was the previous high with a 44.3). In Miami, the game generated a 30.3 rating.

The only other Game 2 telecast with a higher overnight on ABC was the 12.3 rating for the 2004 NBA Finals (Detroit Pistons vs. L.A. Lakers).

The Kia NBA Countdown pregame show averaged a 3.8 overnight rating, up 9 percent from a 3.5 for last year's Game 2 pregame show. The two-game overnight average for the program is a 4.2, up 20 percent.

The 2012 NBA Finals will continue with Game 3 on Sunday, June 17, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN Radio and ESPN3.

Quick Take for Thursday, June 14, 2012 (National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC Outdelivers CBS, NBC and Fox Combined on Thursday Night By 21% in Adults 18-49 with Coverage of the 2012 NBA Finals Game 2

In Viewers and Young Adults, the Net Marks its Top Thursday in More Than 1 Year

ABC's "JKL Game Night" Continues to Garner Broad Primetime Exposure, Up Sharply from its Late-Night 2011-12 Season Averages in Viewers and Young Adults

2012 NBA Finals Qualify as the Dominant No. 1 TV Show for the 2nd Night in a Row

Miami-Oklahoma City NBA Finals Registers the Biggest Game 2 in More than a Decade

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

With its continuing coverage of the 2012 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder, ABC towered over Thursday night, leading its closest competitor by 4.3 million viewers (11.4 million vs. 7.1 million - CBS) and beating the combined delivery of CBS, NBC and Fox by 21% among Adults 18-49 (4.7/15 vs. 3.9/12). In fact, the Network finished No. 1 for the 2nd consecutive evening with its broadcast of the 2012 NBA Finals in Total Viewers and across all key Adult demos (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

· In viewers and young adults, ABC scored its strongest Thursday in more than 1 year - since 6/9/11 with Game 5 of the 2011 Dallas-Miami NBA Finals.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night 2" (Various Time Periods)

Airing around the NBA Finals in various time periods across the country, "Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night" continued to garner broad exposure for the ABC late-night talker in prime. On average, "JKL Game Night" surged by 61% in Total Viewers (2.9 million vs. 1.8 million) and by 80% in Adults 18-49 (0.9/3 vs. 0.5/2) over the show's 2011-12 season averages in late night.

"NBA Finals on ABC Game 2" (9:04 - 11:55 p.m. E.T.)

Featuring the Miami Heat at the Oklahoma City Thunder, ABC's 2012 NBA Finals Game 2 shot to the top of primetime to stand as Thursday's dominant No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers (16.7 million) and across each of the key Adult demographics: A18-34 (7.5/26), A18-49 (7.1/22) and A25-54 (7.1/19). It was the 2nd night in a row for the 2012 NBA Finals to register as the No. 1 TV program in viewers and key adults. The Heat held off the Thunder by a score of 100-96 to tie the best-of-seven series 1-1.

· Game 2 of the 2012 Finals posted solid gains over the second game of last year's Miami-Dallas matchup in viewers (+8% - 16.7 million vs. 15.5 million) and young adults (+9% - 7.1/22 vs. 6.5/19). In Viewers and all key Adult demographics, it was the biggest NBA Finals Game 2 ever on ABC (the net began carriage in 2003), going back 11 years - since 2001 with LA-Philadelphia. Additionally, ABC delivered the highest-rated Game 2 in 14 years with Men 18-34 (9.8/35) - since 1998 with Chicago-Utah.

· On average through two games, the 2012 NBA Finals is up year to year by 7% in Total Viewers (16.4 million vs. 15.3 million) and by 8% in Adults 18-49 (7.0/21 vs. 6.5/19).

· Among Adults 18-49, the first two games of the 2012 NBA Finals qualify as the Top 2 highest-rated TV telecasts since the beginning of April - since 4/2/12.

Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live + Same Day Program Ratings), 06/14/12.