BATTLE BREWING? In Toronto, Marty York writes that
Canadian pro sports teams are "collaborating in
unprecedented fashion in a determined effort to prevent TSN
and CTV SportsNet from merging" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/18).
NBA RATINGS: Friday's broadcast of Game Three of the
Jazz-Kings series earned KMAX-UPN in Sacramento an all-time
King's rating high of a 22.4. The game had a 30.7/47 for
the final 15 minutes (SACRAMENTO BEE, 5/14). Sunday's game
on KCRA-NBC peaked at a 29.8/52 (SACRAMENTO BEE, 5/18)....In
Miami, Sunday's Knicks-Heat Game Five earned a 17.2 local
rating, the highest local rating since the Heat-Bulls Game
Five in '97 earned a 23.6 (MIAMI HERALD, 5/18).
NHL RATINGS: In Boston, Jim Baker reports that WSBK-UPN
drew "only" an 8.3 for Friday's Bruins-Sabres Game Four,
while WFXT-Fox drew "just a" 6.3 for Sunday's Game Five.
Meanwhile, Sunday's Red Sox-Blue Jays game on WLVI-WB earned
a 5.9 (BOSTON HERALD, 5/18)....ESPN is averaging a 1.1
Nielsen rating for its coverage of the second round of NHL
playoffs, up 34% from last year. Overall, ratings for the
playoffs are up from a .70 to a .86, or 21%. Second round
playoff viewership is up on ESPN2 as well, with a 52%
increase from 206,000 to 312,250 HH. Overall, ESPN2's
playoff ratings are up from a .48 to a .56, or 17% (NHL).
ONLINE NOTES: BROADCASTING & CABLE lists NBA.com as its
Site of the Week, and writes that the site "could be dubbed
'Playoffs Central'" with its video clips from the previous
night's games (BROADCASTING & CABLE, 5/17 issue)....The
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Langdon Brockinton writes that
NASCAR has signed a 3-year agreement with Buena Vista
Internet Group to create an online "mall" that will offer
users the chance to order NASCAR merchandise online.
Sources say that the "mall" is expected to open some time
this fall (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/17 issue).
NOTE: Fox Sports Net VP/Media Relations Michael
Lewellen says that the net has "seen some public comment
from state associations reacting negatively" to the net's
attempt to create a national high school football
championship, which would be televised by FSN in 2000, but
FSN believes it is "building support for the project."
Lewellen: "At this point, we have more than 30 football
powerhouses on board" (USA TODAY, 5/18).
