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The 2009 NBA Playoffs got off to a rough start on ABC.

Two NBA Playoff games last weekend averaged a 2.7 rating on ABC, down 21% from a
3.4 for two comparable games last year.

Saturday's Pistons/Cavaliers Game 1 drew a 2.2 final rating on ABC, down 31%
from a 3.2 for last year's comparable Suns/Spurs Game 1, but even with
Heat/Bulls Game 1 in '07. The 2.2 is tied as the second-lowest rating for any
NBA Playoff game on broadcast since at least 1999, ahead of only 76ers/Pistons
Game 1 '05.

Meanwhile, Jazz/Lakers Game 1 drew a 3.2 final rating on Sunday, down 9% from a
3.5 for Nuggets/Lakers Game 1 in '08, but up 7% from a 3.0 for Lakers/Suns Game
1 in '07. The 3.2 rating is the second-lowest for a Laker playoff game on
broadcast since at least '99.

Overall, ABC's 2.7 average is the lowest for the opening weekend of the NBA
Playoffs on broadcast since '07 (2.6), and the second-lowest of the past ten
years.

Meanwhile, over on ESPN, a Saturday tripleheader also saw declining ratings.
Three games averaged a 2.2 cable rating, down 8% from a 2.4 last year, but up
38% from a 1.6 in '07. In particular, Bulls/Celtics Game 1 drew a 2.3, flat from
last year's Wizards/Cavaliers game, Mavericks/Spurs drew a 2.0, down 20% from
Mavericks/Hornets in '08, and Rockets/Blazers drew a 2.4, down 4% from
Jazz/Rockets in '08.

Source: ESPN

Ratings for opening weekend of NBA Playoffs on broadcast since '99.




Year
Net
# of games
Avg. rtg
Highest rated game



2009
ABC
2
2.7
Jazz/Lakers Game 1
3.2



2008
ABC
2
3.4
Nuggets/Lakers Game 1
3.5



2007
ABC
2
2.6
Lakers/Suns Game 1
3.0



2006
ABC
2
2.9
Lakers/Suns Game 1
3.4



2005
ABC
2
2.6
Nets/Heat Game 1
3.1



2004
ABC
1
3.0
Mavericks/Kings Game 1
3.0



2003
ABC
1
4.1
Lakers/T'Wolves Game 1
4.1



2002
NBC
6
3.8
Blazers/Lakers Game 1
5.9



2001
NBC
6
3.7
Blazers/Lakers Game 1
5.5



2000
NBC
6
4.6
Kings/Lakers Game 1
6.2



1999
NBC
6
4.6
Rockets/Lakers Game 1
6.2