NEW YORK -- The NBA is leaving NBC with a fizzle, not a bang.
The network's coverage of the NBA finals were enough to give the network a prime-time ratings victory last week. But through the first three games, it's stacking up to be the lowest-rated NBA championship since 1981, Nielsen Media Research said Tuesday.
Ratings for the Los Angeles Lakers-New Jersey Nets series are down 19 percent from last year, when the Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers.
Before the finals, NBC had been doing well. Playoff ratings had been up 14 percent over last year, culminating in the exciting seven-game series between the Lakers and Sacramento Kings, and the six-game series between the Nets and Boston Celtics.
"We haven't had the benefit of that with the finals," NBC Sports spokeswoman Cameron Blanchard said. "It's been a one-team show."
The Lakers won the first three games of the series. NBC's contract to show the NBA ends after the finals, with ABC and ESPN taking over next year.
The network's coverage of the NBA finals were enough to give the network a prime-time ratings victory last week. But through the first three games, it's stacking up to be the lowest-rated NBA championship since 1981, Nielsen Media Research said Tuesday.
Ratings for the Los Angeles Lakers-New Jersey Nets series are down 19 percent from last year, when the Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers.
Before the finals, NBC had been doing well. Playoff ratings had been up 14 percent over last year, culminating in the exciting seven-game series between the Lakers and Sacramento Kings, and the six-game series between the Nets and Boston Celtics.
"We haven't had the benefit of that with the finals," NBC Sports spokeswoman Cameron Blanchard said. "It's been a one-team show."
The Lakers won the first three games of the series. NBC's contract to show the NBA ends after the finals, with ABC and ESPN taking over next year.