TV Ratings: NBA Finals give Thursday win to ABC

FOX's 'So You Think You Can Dance' is solid, while NBC's 'Listener' premiere is soft

By Daniel Fienberg Friday, Jun 5, 2009 12:30 PM

Kobe Bryant and Rafer Alston

Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP

Fast National ratings for Thursday, June 4, 2009.

The opening game of the NBA Finals, which saw the Los Angeles Lakers putting a smackdown on the Orlando Magic, helped ABC win Thursday night in most key measures.

Among adults 18-49, ABC averaged a 3.8 rating, beating the 2.4 rating for second place FOX. CBS and NBC tired for third in the key demographic with a 1.6 rating, followed by the 0.4 rating for The CW.

Overall, ABC averaged an estimated 9.41 million viewers to go with a 5.7 rating/10 share. CBS was second with a 4.9/8, followed closely by the 4.6/8 for FOX and NBC's 3.6/6. The CW was last with a 0.9/2.

ABC began the night in first with a variety of pregame showcases averaging a 4.4/8 for the 8 p.m. hour. FOX's "Bones" was a very close second, beating the 3.7/7 for CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine," while NBC's "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here" had a 3.5/6 and improved on Wednesday's viewership and demo numbers. The CW's "Smallville" had a 1.0/2 for fifth.

The NBA Finals game delivered a 6.4/11 for ABC in the 9 p.m. hour. CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" took second, nipping the 5.1/9 for the Top 20 reveal episode of FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance." NBC's "The Listener" had a 3.6/6 in its premiere. The CW trailed with "Supernatural."

ABC stayed in first at 10 p.m. with a 6.5/11 for the NBA action. CBS' "The Mentalist" was second with a 5.7/10. NBC's "The Listener" had a 3.7/6 in its second original airing.

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

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.