NBA Finals on ABC: Highest Five-Game Ratings Average Since 2004

Record 40.3 Rating in Miami

The 2012 NBA Finals, in which the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder to become NBA Champions, averaged an 11.8 overnight rating, the highest five-game ratings average since 2004 and second-highest ever on ABC, according to Nielsen. It is up five percent from an 11.2 rating through five games last year (Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat).

NBA Finals Game 5 delivered a 12.6 overnight rating, matching last year's Game 5 number. In Miami, the game delivered a record 40.3 rating, which is the highest for an NBA game ever in the market. In Oklahoma City, the game delivered a 39.8.

Thursday night's Kia NBA Countdown averaged a 4.6 rating, up 12 percent from last year's Game 5 pregame show, which earned a 4.1. Overall, Countdown averaged a 3.9 during The Finals, up eight percent from a 3.6 in 2011.

Full NBA Finals ratings and viewership information will be released later today.

Quick Take for Thursday, June 21, 2012 (National Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

Featuring Coverage of the Series-Clinching Game for the 2012 NBA Finals, ABC Dominates the Night with its Strongest Thursday Performance in 2 Years

Gaining Broad Primetime Exposure During its Run, "Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night" Jumps Over its Late-Night Averages by 72% in Viewers and by 100% in Young Adults

ABC's 2012 NBA Finals Qualifies as the Night's No. 1 TV Program on All 5 Telecasts

Game 5 of the NBA Finals Ties as TV's Top Telecast Since February in Adults 18-49

In Viewers and Young Adults, ABC's Broadcast of the 2012 NBA Finals Scores the Series' Strongest 5-Game Averages in 8 Years and the 2nd-Highest-Ever on the Net

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

Featuring coverage of the series-clinching game for the 2012 NBA Finals between Miami and Oklahoma City, ABC outdrew its closest competitor by 6.0 million viewers (13.0 million vs. 7.0 million - CBS) and beat its combined network competition for its 4th straight telecast with the series among Adults 18-49 (+41% - 5.2/17 vs. 3.7/11 - CBS, NBC and Fox combined). The Network won all five nights with its 2012 NBA Finals coverage among viewers and all key adult demographics (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

· In viewers and young adults, ABC marked its strongest Thursday in 2 years - since 6/17/10 with Game 7 of the 2010 Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night 5" (Various Time Periods)

Airing around the NBA Finals in various time periods across the country during its 5-night run, "Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night" drew broad exposure for the ABC late-night talker in primetime. On average, "JKL Game Night" wrapped with a 72% increase in Viewers (3.1 million vs. 1.8 million) and a 100% gain in Adults 18-49 (1.0/4 vs. 0.5/2) over the show's 2011-12 season averages in late night.

"NBA Finals on ABC Game 5" (9:04 - 11:53 p.m. E.T.)

As the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the 2012 NBA Finals, ABC's broadcast of Game 5 shot to the top of Thursday's primetime to stand as the evening's dominant No. 1 TV program with Total Viewers (18.5 million) and across each of the key Adult demographics: A18-34 (7.8/27), A18-49 (7.6/23) and A25-54 (7.7/21). In fact, the 2012 NBA Finals registered as the No. 1 TV program of the night on all 5 telecasts.

· On average, ABC's 2012 NBA Finals built over the first five games of last year's high-rated Miami-Dallas matchup by 5% in Total Viewers (16.9 million vs. 16.1 million) and by 8% in Adults 18-49 (7.1/20 vs. 6.6/19). In viewers and young adults, the 2012 NBA Finals scored the series' biggest 5-game averages in 8 years (since 2004) and the 2nd-highest-ever on ABC (since beginning carriage in 2003).

· In Adults 18-49, ABC's Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals tied as TV's top-rated telecast since February - since the Net's "Academy Awards" broadcast on 2/26/12.

Source: The Nielsen Company (National, Live + Same Day Program Ratings), 06/21/12.