Ratings Roundup: NBA Finals Game 5 Nearly Even With 2010; NHL Continues Downtrend

Game 5 of the NBA Finals on ABC last night delivered a 12.6 overnight rating, down 2% from last year (Lakers-Celtics G5: 12.8). Game 5 was the highest-rated program of the night in prime time, the 24th consecutive time the Finals have generated the highest-rated program of the night. The 12.6 overnight rating was the second-highest-rated Game 5 in seven years, trailing only last year’s 12.8 overnight rating for Game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

Wednesday’s Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final was the third straight game of the series to suffer a decline in both ratings and viewership. Game 4 between the Canucks and Bruins earned a 1.6 U.S. rating and 2.714 million viewers on Versus Wednesday night, down 6% in rating and 13% in viewership from last year (Blackhawks-Flyers G4: 1.7, 3.126 million). The game ranks as the lowest-rated Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final since at least 1998 (ratings prior to 1999 were not available). Game 4 aired on broadcast each year from 2000 to 2008. Ratings and viewership have now declined for Games 2, 3, and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, with Games 2 and 3 suffering double-digit declines.

Univision scored a 1.8/3 with 4.2 million viewers for Sunday night’s Mexico-El Salvador matchup of the Gold Cup and drew a 3.2 among M18-34.