FSN's "Fox Sports News" "continues to make gains"
against ESPN's "SportsCenter," though both programs "have
seen double- and triple-digit ratings and viewership
growth," according to Scott Hettrick of the HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER. Nielsen data shows that FSN's two-hour post-game
block has had household (HH) increases in every quarter
since '97's fourth-quarter, jumping 92% overall to 546,000
HHs from 284,000. Gross ratings have risen 62% overall to
0.94 in '98's third quarter. ESPN's 11:00pm ET
"SportsCenter" is up 55% in HHs from the same month last
year, from 812,437 to 1.26 million, which "helped boost
third-quarter viewership" to 962,000 from 832,000 during
'97's third quarter (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/13).
MIXED MESSAGE: After the first five weeks of the
season, the NFL "continues to be on a downward ratings slide
-- but still remains the king of televised sports,"
according to Don Kaplan of the N.Y. POST, who writes under
the header "Football Ratings Sacked." Kaplan adds that
Nielsen figures show that about 130 million people watch the
NFL "week after week," and that 140 million will watch the
Super Bowl (N.Y. POST, 10/13). For overnights, see (#32).
