Friday night’s Cleveland Cavaliers victory over the Boston Celtics was ESPN’s most-watched NBA Conference Finals Game 6 since 2012, averaging 8,089,000 viewers, and peaking with 10,336,000 viewers from 10:30-11 p.m. ET.
The game was up 42 percent from the last time ESPN televised a Conference Finals Game 6 – Cleveland vs. Toronto – in 2016.
ESPN won the night across all of television (broadcast and cable) for Friday, May 25.
Through six games, ESPN’s coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals is averaging 7.64 million viewers, up 21 percent from last year’s Eastern Conference Finals on TNT between Cleveland and Boston. It is up 16 percent from last year’s Western Conference Finals – the Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs – on ESPN.
(Source: ESPN)
What follows are the Live + Same Day rating results for the night’s broadcast network telecasts on Friday, May 25:
Quantico (P) (ABC, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 2.622 million viewers
– 1.8/4 HH
– 0.4/2 A18-49 (0.5/3 F18-49, 0.3/2 M18-49)
– 0.3/2 A18-34 (0.3/3 F18-34, 0.2/2 M18-34)
– 0.6/3 A25-54 (0.7/3 F25-54, 0.4/2 M25-54)
Shark Tank (RS) (ABC, 9:00 PM, 61 min.)
– 2.181 million viewers
– 1.4/3 HH
– 0.4/2 A18-49 (0.5/2 F18-49, 0.4/2 M18-49)
– 0.3/2 A18-34 (0.3/2 F18-34, 0.3/2 M18-34)
– 0.6/2 A25-54 (0.7/3 F25-54, 0.5/2 M25-54)
20/20 (ABC, 10:01 PM, 59 min.)
– 2.951 million viewers
– 2.0/4 HH
– 0.6/3 A18-49 (0.7/3 F18-49, 0.5/2 M18-49)
– 0.3/2 A18-34 (0.3/2 F18-34, 0.3/2 M18-34)
– 0.8/3 A25-54 (1.0/4 F25-54, 0.6/2 M25-54)
Undercover Boss (CBS, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 3.357 million viewers
– 2.2/5 HH
– 0.5/3 A18-49 (0.6/3 F18-49, 0.4/3 M18-49)
– 0.3/3 A18-34 (0.3/2 F18-34, 0.3/3 M18-34)
– 0.7/3 A25-54 (0.9/4 F25-54, 0.6/3 M25-54)
Hawaii Five-0 (R) (CBS, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 3.879 million viewers
– 2.6/5 HH
– 0.4/2 A18-49 (0.6/3 F18-49, 0.3/2 M18-49)
– 0.2/2 A18-34 (0.3/2 F18-34, 0.2/1 M18-34)
– 0.6/3 A25-54 (0.8/3 F25-54, 0.5/2 M25-54)
Blue Bloods (R) (CBS, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 4.555 million viewers
– 3.0/6 HH
– 0.4/2 A18-49 (0.6/3 F18-49, 0.3/1 M18-49)
– 0.2/1 A18-34 (0.3/2 F18-34, 0.2/1 M18-34)
– 0.7/3 A25-54 (0.8/3 F25-54, 0.5/2 M25-54)
Champions (S) (NBC, 8:00 PM, 30 min.)
– 1.902 million viewers
– 1.3/3 HH
– 0.4/2 A18-49 (0.5/3 F18-49, 0.3/2 M18-49)
– 0.2/1 A18-34 (0.2/1 F18-34, 0.2/1 M18-34)
– 0.5/2 A25-54 (0.7/3 F25-54, 0.4/2 M25-54)
Champions (S) (NBC, 8:30 PM, 30 min.)
– 1.340 million viewers
– 0.9/2 HH
– 0.3/2 A18-49 (0.4/2 F18-49, 0.2/1 M18-49)
– 0.1/1 A18-34 (0.2/1 F18-34, 0.1/1 M18-34)
– 0.4/2 A25-54 (0.5/2 F25-54, 0.3/1 M25-54)
Dateline Classic-Friday (R) (NBC, 9:00 PM, 120 min.)
– 3.860 million viewers
– 2.6/6 HH
– 0.6/3 A18-49 (0.8/4 F18-49, 0.4/2 M18-49)
– 0.3/2 A18-34 (0.3/2 F18-34, 0.2/1 M18-34)
– 0.9/4 A25-54 (1.2/5 F25-54, 0.6/3 M25-54)
Phenoms – Episode 1 (S) (Fox, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.792 million viewers
– 0.5/1 HH
– 0.2/1 A18-49 (0.2/1 F18-49, 0.2/1 M18-49)
– 0.1/1 A18-34 (0.1/1 F18-34, 0.1/1 M18-34)
– 0.3/1 A25-54 (0.3/1 F25-54, 0.3/1 M25-54)
Phenoms – Episode 2 (S) (Fox, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.493 million viewers
– 0.3/1 HH
– 0.2/1 A18-49 (0.1/1 F18-49, 0.2/1 M18-49)
– 0.1/1 A18-34 (0.1/0 F18-34, 0.2/1 M18-34)
– 0.2/1 A25-54 (0.2/1 F25-54, 0.2/1 M25-54)
My Last Days: Marinda & Anthony (S) (CW, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.467 million viewers
– 0.3/1 HH
– 0.1/1 A18-49 (0.2/1 F18-49, 0.1/0 M18-49)
– 0.1/1 A18-34 (0.1/1 F18-34, 0.1/0 M18-34)
– 0.2/1 A25-54 (0.2/1 F25-54, 0.1/1 M25-54)
Life Sentence (CW, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.355 million viewers
– 0.2/1 HH
– 0.1/1 A18-49 (0.2/1 F18-49, 0.1/0 M18-49)
– 0.1/0 A18-34 (0.1/1 F18-34, 0.0/0 M18-34)
– 0.1/1 A25-54 (0.2/1 F25-54, 0.1/0 M25-54)
La Rosa de Guadalupe (Univision, 7:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.308 million viewers
– 0.7/2 HH
– 0.4/3 A18-49
El Rico y Lazaro (Univision, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.452 million viewers
– 0.9/2 HH
– 0.4/2 A18-49
Papa a Toda Madre (Univision, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.324 million viewers
– 0.8/2 HH
– 0.5/2 A18-49
Por Amar Sin Ley (Univision, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.337 million viewers
– 0.8/2 HH
– 0.4/2 A18-49
Reto 4 Elementos: Naturaleza Extrema (UniMás, 6:55 PM, 120 min.)
– 0.347 million viewers
– 0.2/0 HH
– 0.1/1 A18-49
Futbol MLS Houston vs. NYCFC (UniMás, 8:55 PM, 130 min.)
– 0.281 million viewers
– 0.2/0 HH
– 0.1/1 A18-49
Caso Cerrado: Edición Estelar (Telemundo, 7:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.234 million viewers
– 0.7/2 HH
– 0.3/2 A18-49
– 0.2/2 A18-34
Mi Familia Perfecta (Telemundo, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.830 million viewers
– 0.5/1 HH
– 0.3/2 A18-49
– 0.2/2 A18-34
Al Otro Lado Del Muro (Telemundo, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.986 million viewers
– 0.6/1 HH
– 0.3/2 A18-49
– 0.3/2 A18-34
El Señor de Los Cielos V (Telemundo, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.363 million viewers
– 0.8/2 HH
– 0.6/3 A18-49
– 0.5/4 A18-34
What follows are the Live + Same Day rating results for the night’s select cable telecasts on Friday, May 25 (with the night’s cable ranks according to total viewers and adults 18-49 in parentheses):
Tanked (APL, 9:00 PM, 63 min.)
– 0.497 million viewers (#68)
– 0.32 HH (#66)
– 0.16 A18-49 (#49)
– 0.12 A18-34 (#55)
– 0.17 A25-54 (#64)
Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.638 million viewers (#47)
– 0.46 HH (#43)
– 0.12 A18-49 (#73)
– 0.05 A18-34 (#94)
– 0.17 A25-54 (#64)
Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.675 million viewers (#42)
– 0.48 HH (#41)
– 0.14 A18-49 (#64)
– 0.08 A18-34 (#77)
– 0.17 A25-54 (#64)
Battlebots (DISC, 8:00 PM, 61 min.)
– 0.939 million viewers (#29)
– 0.55 HH (#33)
– 0.22 A18-49 (#24)
– 0.14 A18-34 (#45)
– 0.33 A25-54 (#17)
Bering Sea Gold (DISC, 9:01 PM, 61 min.)
– 1.076 million viewers (#20)
– 0.68 HH (#18)
– 0.22 A18-49 (#24)
– 0.11 A18-34 (#63)
– 0.33 A25-54 (#17)
Ducktales (2017) (DSNY, 8:00 PM, 30 min.)
– 0.777 million viewers (#38)
– 0.52 HH (#36)
– 0.14 A18-49 (#64)
– 0.14 A18-34 (#45)
– 0.15 A25-54 (#73)
NBA Pre-Game (ESPN, 7:30 PM, 64 min.)
– 1.536 million viewers (#5)
– 1.02 HH (#5)
– 0.57 A18-49 (#2)
– 0.44 A18-34 (#3)
– 0.63 A25-54 (#2)
NBA Playoffs-Conference Finals Eastern Conference Game 6: Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers (ESPN, 8:34 PM, 154 min.)
– 8.089 million viewers (#1)
– 4.86 HH (#1)
– 2.94 A18-49 (#1)
– 2.64 A18-34 (#1)
– 3.19 A25-54 (#1)
Diners, Drive Ins & Dives (FOOD, 9:00 PM, 30 min.)
– 1.049 million viewers (#21)
– 0.66 HH (#21)
– 0.33 A18-49 (#5)
– 0.24 A18-34 (#11)
– 0.44 A25-54 (#4)
Tucker Carlson Special (FOXNC, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 2.300 million viewers (#2)
– 1.51 HH (#2)
– 0.22 A18-49 (#24)
– 0.12 A18-34 (#55)
– 0.34 A25-54 (#16)
Hannity Special (FOXNC, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 2.244 million viewers (#3)
– 1.50 HH (#3)
– 0.16 A18-49 (#49)
– 0.07 A18-34 (#84)
– 0.29 A25-54 (#25)
The Ingraham Angle Special (FOXNC, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.865 million viewers (#4)
– 1.24 HH (#4)
– 0.17 A18-49 (#43)
– 0.10 A18-34 (#68)
– 0.29 A25-54 (#25)
The Fate of the Furious (HBO, 9:10 PM, 136 min.)
– 0.357 million viewers (#83)
– 0.22 HH (#82)
– 0.12 A18-49 (#73)
– 0.06 A18-34 (#91)
– 0.16 A25-54 (#69)
House Hunters (HGTV, 10:00 PM, 30 min.)
– 1.368 million viewers (#10)
– 0.92 HH (#9)
– 0.25 A18-49 (#18)
– 0.15 A18-34 (#37)
– 0.35 A25-54 (#15)
House Hunters International (HGTV, 10:30 PM, 30 min.)
– 1.427 million viewers (#6)
– 0.98 HH (#7)
– 0.22 A18-49 (#24)
– 0.13 A18-34 (#52)
– 0.36 A25-54 (#12)
Ancient Aliens (HIST, 9:00 PM, 63 min.)
– 1.104 million viewers (#18)
– 0.73 HH (#15)
– 0.20 A18-49 (#35)
– 0.09 A18-34 (#72)
– 0.32 A25-54 (#20)
The Tesla Files (HIST, 10:03 PM, 62 min.)
– 0.883 million viewers (#32)
– 0.59 HH (#29)
– 0.16 A18-49 (#49)
– 0.08 A18-34 (#77)
– 0.24 A25-54 (#33)
The Last 24 (ID, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.701 million viewers (#40)
– 0.52 HH (#36)
– 0.14 A18-49 (#64)
– 0.08 A18-34 (#77)
– 0.21 A25-54 (#41)
The Last 24 (ID, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.780 million viewers (#37)
– 0.56 HH (#32)
– 0.16 A18-49 (#49)
– 0.07 A18-34 (#84)
– 0.25 A25-54 (#32)
All In with Chris Hayes (MSNBC, 8:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.372 million viewers (#9)
– 0.99 HH (#6)
– 0.12 A18-49 (#73)
– 0.05 A18-34 (#94)
– 0.18 A25-54 (#56)
Richard Engel on Assignment (MSNBC, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.362 million viewers (#11)
– 0.92 HH (#9)
– 0.11 A18-49 (#83)
– 0.05 A18-34 (#94)
– 0.18 A25-54 (#56)
Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (MSNBC, 10:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 1.406 million viewers (#8)
– 0.95 HH (#8)
– 0.13 A18-49 (#70)
– 0.06 A18-34 (#91)
– 0.20 A25-54 (#45)
Thundermans (NAN, 8:00 PM, 30 min.)
– 1.407 million viewers (#7)
– 0.81 HH (#12)
– 0.28 A18-49 (#14)
– 0.25 A18-34 (#9)
– 0.30 A25-54 (#22)
Knight Squad (NAN, 8:30 PM, 30 min.)
– 0.976 million viewers (#24)
– 0.61 HH (#23)
– 0.18 A18-49 (#40)
– 0.14 A18-34 (#45)
– 0.20 A25-54 (#45)
Drugs, Inc.: The Fix (NGC, 9:00 PM, 60 min.)
– 0.390 million viewers (#80)
– 0.24 HH (#79)
– 0.12 A18-49 (#73)
– 0.07 A18-34 (#84)
– 0.16 A25-54 (#69)
Bellator MMA Live 200: Carvalho vs. Mousasi (PAR, 9:00 PM, 179 min.)
– 0.421 million viewers (#75)
– 0.26 HH (#77)
– 0.15 A18-49 (#57)
– 0.11 A18-34 (#63)
– 0.20 A25-54 (#45)
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
