Sunday's Bulls-Knicks telecast on NBC attracted around 45
million viewers, making it the most watched conference semi-final
game in NBA history. The third game of NBC's triple header had a
12.8/28, the second highest NBA rating all time for a non-Final
or Conference Final telecast (NBC). BROADCASTING & CABLE notes
NBA playoff games on TNT were down 10% compared with last year.
TNT's overall ratings for 24 telecasts between April 23 and May 2
dropped from a 2.9 to a 2.6, according to Turner spokesperson
Greg Hughes. Hughes notes that Orlando, Chicago and New York all
swept their first round series in '96, while in '95 each team
went to four games. Turner Sports VP Kevin O'Malley says Turner
ad sales for the '95-96 NBA season are up around 15% over '94-95
(Jim McConville, BROADCASTING & CABLE, 5/13 issue).
REVIEWS: In Charlotte, David Poole writes the NBA "seems to
be no longer leading the charmed life it has enjoyed for much of
the past decade." He adds the NHL playoffs "has offered far more
compelling storylines than the NBA" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/15).
In Boston, Jim Baker writes the NHL "dramas are far more
entertaining than the NBA postseason" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/14). But
the BOSTON GLOBE's Jack Craig says there "are interpretations
aplenty of the meaning" on the rise in NHL ratings and the slight
drop in NBA numbers, adding that it has been easier for the NHL
to rise "because it has started at such a low base" (BOSTON
GLOBE, 5/14)....In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers notes the Panthers-
Flyers game Sunday drew an "almost nonexistent" 0.8 in the
opening minutes and an overall 1.5. Rogers: "If Atlanta craves
an NHL team, you wouldn't know it" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
5/15)....In St. Lake, Scott Pierce writes on NBC covering of the
Jazz, "It's understandable that Karl Malone might want the
national exposure -- it could help him get an endorsement deal or
two -- but hearing fans grumble about it is just plain bizarre"
(DESERET NEWS, 5/14).
