NBC released its final regular-season ratings for the NBA,
the highest in eight seasons. The "NBA on NBC" finished with a
5.3 rating and 14 share for 26 telecasts, up 2% from last
season's 5.2/14. The mark is the highest since CBS' 5.8/15 in
'88-89. Year-by-year breakdown (NBC Sports):
YEAR NETWORK TELECASTS RATING SHARE
1989 CBS 16 5.8 15
1990 CBS 16 5.2 15
1991 NBC 22 4.7 12
1992 NBC 24 4.8 12
1993 NBC 25 4.9 12
1994 NBC 24 4.6 12
1995 NBC 26 5.2 14
1996 NBC 26 5.3 14
LIGHTNING STRIKES TAMPA: Noting that one year ago Tampa's
Channel 13 cut away from NHL playoff hockey to go to local news,
the TAMPA TRIBUNE's Doug Carlson reports "Lightning fever" has
hit this year. Sunday's Fox game gave the network its highest
rating in the Tampa Bay area since the start of the NHL's five-
year deal. Tampa was the third highest rated Fox market on
Sunday, behind Detroit and Philadelphia. Lightning local ratings
have ranged from 4.0 to 5.1, topped only by Gator football (TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 4/26).
PHOENIX GOES PPV: All Suns games not carried by NBC will
only be available on pay-per-view. Away games not on NBC will be
carried by TNT and Channel 45. Suns VP/Public Relations Tom
Ambrose explains the team's allotment of free cable TV games,
under their deal with Cox Cable, had been used up during the
regular season (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/25).
HOT TEAMS: Tuesday's Game 4 telecast of the Red Wings-Jets
series on Detroit's Channel 50 was watched by one-third of the
viewers in the area and was the top-rated prime-time show. The
game got a 22.1/33 (DETROIT NEWS, 4/26). In Canada, "Hockey
Night in Canada" draws a million more viewers when the Maple
Leafs are playing. Exec Producer John Shannon: "If we were able
to squeeze another game or two out of Toronto, we'd feel like
we'd died and gone to heaven" (Rob Longley, TORONTO SUN, 4/26).
FOX RATINGS: Last Sunday's "NHL on FOX" action drew a 2.1
rating and a 6 share, up 11% from last year's opening playoff
weekend, a 1.9/4 (Fox Sports).
VIVA ESPN RADIO! ESPN Radio has become the first NBA
rightsholder for national Spanish-language broadcasts in the
U.S., and the network has also obtained the rights to air NBA
games outside the U.S. and Canada (NBA).
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Today, HTS replays the four overtime
periods of Wednesday night's Capitals-Penguins playoff game (Home
Team Sports).
