Based on fast national primetime ratings numbers, Game 7 of the NBA Finals series between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday was the most-watched NBA game since 1998, when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls took on the Utah Jazz.
SLAM DUNK With so many people glued to the game, ABC easily won Thursday night with an average 7.5 rating/22 share in the key adults 18-49 demographic. ABC got more than three times as many viewers as any other network. After earning a win each night of the Lakers/Celtics matchup, it's a safe bet the execs at the alphabet network are pretty sorry to see this series end.
DEAD LAST The Celtics weren't the only ones who had an ugly loss Thursday night. NBC had an abysmal 0.8/3 average, coming in last among the major broadcast networks in every primetime time slot. It lost out to an all-rerun lineup on CBS — and even to a night of telenovelas on Univision. The Spanish-language network got 62 percent more viewers than the peacock with an average 1.3/4 average for the night. NBC only aired one new show, and the half-hour comedy "100 Questions" actually posted their lowest numbers of the night. "100 Questions" premiered on May 27, and its future on air is already looking quite bleak.
DANCE IS DOWN Second place for the night went to Fox. The network had a 1.9/6 average with a new episode of "So You Think You Can Dance" and repeats of "Glee." Though Fox's lineup held up better than most against the NBA juggernaut, the game took a big bite out of the ratings for "Dance." The reality talent competition was down 15 percent versus last Thursday
