TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN's
"SportsCenter" led with Braves-Expos followed by Phillies-
Pirates. FSN's "Fox Sports News Primetime" (Fox Sports
South) led with Tigers-Yankees followed by D'Backs-Reds.
CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" led with D'Backs-Reds followed by
Tigers-Yankees. Meanwhile, ESPN filed a 1:56 report on the
X Games about 21 minutes into its 6:30pm ET "SportsCenter."
During 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter," a 44 second report was
aired about 40 minutes into the broadcast (THE DAILY).
NBA: In Toronto, William Houston reports CTV's ratings
for the NBA playoffs were "down more than" 40% from last
year, averaging 295,000 viewers a game. Houston writes
CTV's "shockingly poor numbers ... pack an extra kick -- the
network is inescapably locked into a deal with the league
for three more years" (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/30). In Milwaukee,
Bob Wolfley, on NBA Finals ratings: "This is not 'erosion,'
as some analysis has suggested, this is pestilence. This is
wreckage. This is calamity. The Lords of Basketball better
be paying attention" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/30).
NOTE: FL High School Activities Assoc. Commissioner Bob
Hughes said that FHSAA "will not amend its rules to
facilitate state schools' participation" in Fox Sports Net's
proposed high school football national championship game.
Hughes: "No states will approve this. This idea is out of
touch with high school athletics" (ST. PETE TIMES, 6/30).
