Ratings for last month's X Games on ESPN averaged a .8,
down from the 1.0 average the event posted in '97, according
to Scott Hettrick of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. X Games
telecasts on ESPN2 dropped from a .7 rating in '97 to a .6
this year, but the number of viewers for the ESPN2
broadcasts increased from 323,000 to 330,500 because the
channel is available in more homes this year. ESPN
announced that the "cumulative number of households" reached
by X Games broadcasts on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC was 19 million
for this year's event, up from 14 million last year. But
Hettrick wrote that "some of that increase is due to the
increased distribution of ESPN2 as well as two additional
hours of programming on ABC and numerous repeats and reviews
on the cable networks" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/20).
"SEE" A GAME THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY: In N.Y., Bob
Raissman reports that ratings for WFAN-AM's Mets broadcasts
are up in the men 25-54 demo from a 4.2 in spring '97 to a
6.2 this year. Yankees' games on WABC-AM are averaging a
6.0 in the same demo up from a 2.4 in '97. Cumulatively,
the two N.Y. teams' average radio ratings have risen among
men 25-54 from a 6.6 to 12.2, and Raissman writes that the
jump indicates "fans are tuning in -- big time -- to
baseball on the radio" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/21).
