NBC's NBA playoff coverage on Saturday averaged a
5.7/15 overnight Nielsen rating, up 6% over last year.
Sunday's two Game Fives averaged an 8.3/18, which is flat
with last year's three games average of an 8.4/20 (NBC).
For more weekend ratings, see story (#29).
REVIEWS: USA TODAY's Rudy Martkze writes that "while
teams sometimes have struggled in the NBA playoffs, not so
with the TV presentation" (USA TODAY, 5/17). In Atlanta,
Prentis Rogers writes that both Turner and NBC "had another
strong weekend" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/17). In San
Antonio, Arthur Garcia calls Turner's production "quite
good," but one "complaint with the overall coverage during
the week is Turner's knack of missing live coverage for
replays." Garcia also calls NBC's report on the unveiling
of the Salt Lake City 2002 Games' mascots during Sunday's
pre-game show "shameful and tacky" (EXPRESS-NEWS, 5/17).
LOCAL RATINGS: Comcast SportsNet's (CSN) coverage of
Game Three of the Magic-76ers series scored a 9.4 HH rating,
peaking at a 14.3. The two figures are the highest Nielsen
figures ever recorded for the 76ers on cable and make the
broadcast the most-watched program in CSN's history (CSN).
