The ratings for Game 1 of the NBA Finals were some of the lowest in history. The first game between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors is still expected to win the night and there are some logical explanations for why ratings are down, but Disney executives still are likely disappointed.
Sports Media Watch noted that Thursday’s game was the lowest rated Game 1 of an NBA Finals since 2009 and the single lowest rated Finals game since 2013.
Part of the problem is that ABC is only getting half the local market numbers it usually does. While Toronto is expected to provide the series with a huge television audience, ABC does not hold the Canadian broadcast rights to the NBA, so those viewers will not help ABC’s ratings.
Austin Karp of the Sports Business Journal notes that Warriors fatigue may also be playing a role. Even in the Bay Area, this was the lowest rated first game of the last five NBA Finals, which all included Golden State.
Add to that the injury to Kevin Durant and the total absence of LeBron James for the first time in nine years, and the ratings dip makes some sense.
It is a good bet though that ABC executives were happy to see Toronto win game one. A more competitive series is more likely to draw casual viewers to future games.
