Recently "rescinded" in Phoenix and Seattle, pay-per-
view (PPV) broadcasts of NBA playoff games will be offered
this season in just three markets -- Houston, San Antonio
and Portland, according to David Barron of the HOUSTON
CHRONICLE. Barron writes that while Portland's PPV network
"is the most well-established," the Rockets' Rocketvision
"could be the most financially lucrative" post-season
package. Last year, the Rockets' four PPV playoff games
grossed an estimated $4.3M, with the Rockets keeping 40%,
about $1.7M, with 40% going to Fox Sports Southwest and 20%
to cable carriers such as Time Warner and TCI. Barron
reports that Games Three and Four of the Rockets-Jazz
series, which will cost $19.95 on PPV within 35 miles of
Houston, could earn the team "as much as" $500,000 per game.
The Rockets' suggested price of $19.95 per game is the
lowest of the teams offering PPV, with the Blazers at $21.95
for the first round (climbing $5 per round) and the Spurs at
$24.95 (David Barron, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/27).
IN THE NBA BOOTH: In reviewing the weekend's NBA
playoff coverage, USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand calls NBC's
Doug Collins "the NBA's best TV analyst" (USA TODAY, 4/27).
...In Richmond, Jerry Lindquist writes that Collins is "the
best game analyst on pro hoops," and that NBC's Isiah Thomas
"has gotten better and better" (RICH. TIMES-DISPATCH, 4/27).
OTHER NBA NOTES: Final TV ratings for the Bucks on WVTV
in Milwaukee "were exactly the same as last season," as the
team averaged a 3.7 both years (Bob Wolfley, MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/24)....In Toronto, Rob Longley writes
that the NBA's "struggle to make a dent on Canadian TV
audiences continues." With CTV's NBA contract set to
expire, a source says that the network "is lukewarm toward
renewing. That prompted the NBA to shop the product to CBC,
which flatly rejected it" (Rob Longley, TORONTO SUN, 4/27).
CLICK TO SCORE: Grant Hill will chat online today from
4:00-5:00pm EDT at www.granthill.com, his personal Web site
hosted by Total Sports (THE DAILY)....In Fort Lauderdale,
Sharon Robb reported that the new playoff section on the
NBA's official Web site, www.nba.com, includes lives stats
of every game, box scores, previews and analysis, live audio
and same-night multimedia. Surfing the site "is almost as
good as being at the game" (SUN-SENTINEL, 4/26).
