TV Ratings: ABC's NBA action trumps CBS' Tony Awards on Sunday

ABC takes Sunday with Lakers-Magic Game Two, as the Tonys draw an old audience

By Daniel Fienberg Monday, Jun 8, 2009 12:18 PM

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers

Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP

Fast National ratings for Sunday, June 7, 2009.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic played a competitive overtime thriller in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, helping ABC rout CBS and the Tony Awards.

Among adults 18-49, ABC averaged a 4.2 rating, far ahead of the 1.7 rating for second place FOX. CBS was third in the key demographic with a 1.3 rating, followed by the 1.0 rating for NBC and The CW's 0.3 rating.

Overall, ABC averaged an estimated 10.26 million viewers to go with a 6.1 rating/11 share. CBS was second with a 5.1/9. NBC's 3.2/6 and the 2.2/4 for FOX stayed ahead of the 0.6/1 for The CW.

CBS started the night in first with a 5.8/12 for "60 Minutes." ABC's NBA pregame topped the 3.0/6 for "Dateline NBC." FOX's "King of the Hill" and "American Dad" averaged a 1.4/3 between them, better than the 0.4/1 for The CW's "Jericho" airing.

ABC grabbed first at 8 p.m. with a 5.9/11 for the start of the NBA Finals game. CBS' coverage of the Tony Awards was a close second with a 5.1/9, though the basketball had a 4.2 demo rating compared to the 1.3 rating for the Tonys. A second hour of "Dateline" improved for NBC. FOX's animated comedies had a 2.4/4, better than the 0.6/1 for The CW's Random Movie Of The Night, "Kiss the Bride."

At 9 p.m. the basketball game improved to a 6.4/11 for ABC, as the Tonys dropped to a 4.9/8. FOX's "Family Guy" and "American Dad" had a 2.9/5, nipping the 2.8/5 for NBC's reairing of "The Last Templar." The CW's movie trailed.

In its final primetime hour, the NBA Finals game improved to a 7.8/14 for ABC. CBS' Tony coverage dwindled to a 4.6/8, still far better than the tally for NBC's telefilm.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change, particularly in the case of live events.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.