WNBA playoffs viewership way up

From WNBA HQ:

WNBA Finals 2014 presented by Boost Mobile Up 92% In Viewership

The WNBA Finals 2014 presented by Boost Mobile are averaging 688,000 viewers per game across all networks, up +92% versus last season’s Finals to-date (358,000 viewers) through two games. The games are averaging a 0.50 HH US rating, up 92% versus last season’s Finals to-date (0.26 HH US rating).

Viewership for Game 1 of the 2014 WNBA Finals was up +60% versus Game 1 of the 2013 WNBA Finals which aired 10/6/13 on ESPN (Dream vs. Lynx -- 391,000 viewers / 0.35 HH coverage rating). The game was up +39% in viewership versus the last WNBA Finals game to air on ABC (Game 1 of the 2010 WNBA Finals aired 9/12/10 and featured Dream vs. Storm -- 450,000 viewers / 0.3 HH US rating). Game 1 was the most viewed WNBA Finals Game 1 since 2000.

WNBA Finals 2014 presented by Boost Mobile Game 2 Highest Rated Postseason Game on ESPN since 1999

Game 2 of the WNBA Finals 2014 presented by Boost Mobile on Tuesday, Sept. 9 – a 97-68 win for the Phoenix over the Chicago – averaged a 0.5 rating on ESPN, matching the network’s best for the postseason in 15 years. This game, along with the WNBA Finals Game 2 on October 17, 2012 – are the highest rated postseason games on ESPN since August 30, 1999, when the Los Angeles Sparks faced the Houston Comets (0.9).

Phoenix led all markets for the telecast with a 1.9 rating, followed by Atlanta (1.7); New Orleans and Las Vegas (1.4); Hartford-New Haven (1.3); Greenville, Columbus and Greensboro (1.2); Nashville and Memphis (1.1); and Minneapolis-St. Paul (1.0).

The WNBA Conference Semifinal Game 3 - the Phoenix Mercury’s 96-78 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, Sept. 7 - was the most-viewed on ABC since 2007 (828,000 viewers, 0.5 rating). The Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 between the Detroit Shock and Indiana Fever on September 2, 2007, averaged 839,000 viewers based on a 0.7 rating.

The six WNBA Playoffs 2014 conference semifinal games on ESPN2 posted a 100 percent ratings increase over last season (0.2 HH US rating vs. 0.1), and a 31 percent increase in viewership (262,000 viewers vs. 200,000 viewers).