The Stanley Cup Playoffs in Canada last week posted
"unexceptional ratings on both the CBC and TSN," according
to William Houston of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. The CBC
opener, Senators-Devils last Wednesday, failed to hit the
one million mark, pulling in 920,000 viewers. This was up
"marginally from the seasonal average" of about 900,000.
Houston writes that TSN's opener was "disappointing,"
drawing 370,000 for the Sabres-Flyers, a "slight increase"
over TSN's regular-season average of 350,000. For the year,
CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada" was down 19% for its early
game on Saturday nights and down 9% for its second game.
TSN's season ratings were "flat," averaging 350,000 a game,
"virtually no change" from '96-97. Houston adds that the
poor play of the Maple Leafs contributed to "HNIC"'s
audience slide and also caused a 20% audience drop for games
carried locally by Global TV (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/29).
DETROIT ROCK CITY: In Detroit, UPN-50 drew the highest
prime-time ratings in the Detroit market on the nights of
Games One and Two of the Red Wings-Coyotes series, though
ratings were down from the same games last season. Game One
drew a 15.1/21, compared to a 15.4/22 for Game One in '97.
Friday night's Game Two drew an 11.6/19, down from 16.6/28
last year (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/29).
ON THE HARDWOOD: USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke reports that
through Sunday, Turner Broadcasting was averaging a 2.5 for
its NBA playoff coverage, up 19% from last year's 2.1.
Turner Sports President Harvey Schiller said that the
"cross-promotion with NBC has helped people know where the
games are" (USA TODAY, 4/29). In Toronto, William Houston
reports that for the season, TNT's Friday night NBA package
on TSN averaged fewer than 100,000 viewers. In addition,
CTV's nationally televised Sunday NBA ratings fell 28%, from
an average of 263,000 viewers in '96-97 to 189,000 in '97-98
(William Houston, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/29).
REGGIE, REGGIE: SI's John Walters writes that Turner
NBA commentator Reggie Theus "is turning heads with his
commentary during the NBA playoffs." Theus is "always
willing to take shots," but Walters questions whether he
"wants to be a broadcaster or a matinee idol." Theus will
not return to the NBC Saturday morning show "Hang Time."
Theus: "I want to evolve as an actor. But I always want to
be involved with basketball. Ultimately, I see myself as a
play-by-play guy" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 5/4 issue).
