Overview

• Game 1 averaged a 4.7 Nielsen rating and 8.91 million viewers on ABC, marking the lowest non-COVID opener in the people meter era.
• Indiana and Oklahoma City rank 25th and 47th among U.S. TV markets, and their Finals matchup has suppressed traditional linear viewership.
• An 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal signed last July with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will expand nationally televised and streamed games next season.
• Commissioner Adam Silver has emphasized the league’s global distribution and digital engagement metrics as primary indicators of success.
• Advertisers have committed to 80 percent of Finals inventory, with 85 brands signed for Game 1–4 slots and bespoke in-game integrations planned.