By Lynn Elber, Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --There was a hint of viewer fatigue for the latest chapter of the NBA’s Cleveland-Golden State rivalry.
Viewership was down from the comparable 2017 matchups but not by much, according to Nielsen figures released Tuesday.
The two teams, competing in basketball’s finals for the fourth consecutive year, saw the first two Finals games on ABC score as last week’s most-watched programs.
Last Thursday’s game one was watched by 17.4 million versus 18.7 million in 2017, while Sunday’s game two drew 18.5 million viewers compared to last year’s 19.7 million.
That’s a 7 percent decline for the first game and 6 percent for the second.
The teams meet again Wednesday, with Golden State up two games over the Cleveland Cavaliers as the Warriors defend the title.
Hoops powered ABC to a primetime victory with an average of 6.2 million viewers. NBC had 4.9 million, CBS had 4.6 million, Fox had 2 million, Univision had 1.45 million, ION Television had 1.4 million, Telemundo had 970,000 and CW had 730,000.
ABC enjoyed its most-watched week since the Academy Awards aired in March.
TNT was the week’s most popular cable network, averaging 2.3 million viewers. Fox News Channel had 2.2 million, HGTV had 1.5 million, MSNBC had 1.4 million and USA had 1.3 million.
ABC’s “World News Tonight” topped the evening newscasts with an average of 8.2 million viewers. NBC’s “Nightly News” was second with 7.6 million and the “CBS Evening News” had 5.7 million viewers.
Below are primetime viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for May 28-June 3. Listings include the week’s ranking and viewership.
1. NBA Finals: Cleveland at Golden State, Game 2, ABC, 18.5 million.
2. NBA Finals: Cleveland at Golden State, Game 1, ABC, 17.4 million.
3. NBA Conference Finals: Golden State at Houston, TNT, 14.9 million.
4. “America’s Got Talent” (Tuesday), NBC, 12.2 million.
5. NBA Finals: Game 2 Post-game,” ABC, 11.4 million.
6. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 7.6 million.
7. “World of Dance,” NBC, 7 million.
8. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 6.7 million.
9. “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 6.6 million.
10. “Code Black,” CBS, 6.4 million.
11. “Instinct,” CBS, 6.37 million.
12. “Code Black,” CBS, 6.3 million.
13. “NCIS,” CBS, 6.04 million.
14. “Blue Bloods,” CBS, 5.57 million.
15. “The Bachelorette,” ABC, 5.5 million.
16. “American Ninja Warrior,” NBC, 5.4 million.
17. “Mom,” CBS, 5.26 million.
18. NHL Stanley Cup Final, NBC, 5.2 million.
19. NBA Countdown, Game 1, ABC, 5.13 million.
20. “America’s Got Talent,” NBC, 5.1 million.
ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.; CBS is a division of CBS Corp.; Fox is owned by 21st Century Fox; NBC is owned by NBC Universal.
“Dune: Part Two” and “House of the Dragon” Win 2 HPA Awards Apiece
Dune: Part Two and House of the Dragon each scored two HPA Awards during a gala ceremony at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday night (11/7). The HPA Awards honor trailblazing talent in the postproduction industry, celebrating standout achievements in color grading, sound, editing, restoration, and visual effects across theatrical features, commercials, and episodics.
Dune: Part Two topped the Outstanding Color Grading--Live Action Theatrical Feature and the Outstanding Sound--Theatrical Feature categories.
House of the Dragon’s two wins were for “The Red Dragon and the Gold” episode which scored for Outstanding Visual Effects--Live Action Episode or Series Season, and Outstanding Editing--Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 Minutes). In the latter HPA Creative Category, House of the Dragon tied with the “Part Six: Far,l Far Away” episode of Ahsoka.
The HPA’s Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation honored Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. This recognition celebrates the profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment that defined The Eras Tour, underscoring its exceptional impact on audiences and the industry. The jury issued a statement outlining their choice: “Celebrated as the cultural phenomenon of 2023, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour set new records in box office sales, tour revenues, and attendance. The tour showcased exceptional artistry and innovation, making a profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment.”
This year, FotoKem was awarded the Charles S. Swartz Award for its role in supporting filmmakers, studios, cinematographers, and artists across diverse film and media landscapes. Also celebrated... Read More