The following lists final national and cable Nielsen
ratings from recent sports events (THE DAILY).
EVENT DATE NET TIME RAT/SHR
PGA Tour: Compaq - 3rd Rd. 5/6 ABC 3:00-4:30pm 1.6/5
Kentucky Derby 5/6 ABC 4:30-6:00pm 5.8/17
"NBA On NBC" (76ers-Pacers) 5/6 NBC 3:30-6:00pm 3.5/11
NHL Playoffs (Penguins-Flyers)5/7 ABC 12:00-3:00pm 1.3/4
PGA Tour: Compaq - 4th Rd. 5/7 ABC 3:00-6:30pm 2.5/6
"NBA On NBC" (Knicks-Heat) 5/7 NBC 12:30-3:00pm 5.1/16
"NBA On NBC" (Jazz-Blazers) 5/7 NBC 3:00-5:45pm 5.7/15
"NBA On NBC" (Suns-Lakers) 5/7 NBC 5:45-8:15pm 6.4/14
US COV
EVENT DATE NET AREA AREA SHR 000
"NBA On TNT": (Raptors-Knicks)4/26 TNT 2.1 2.7 4 2077
"NBA On TNT": (Wolves-Blazers)4/26 TNT 1.9 2.4 6 1896
"NBA On TNT": (Bucks-Pacers) 4/27 TNT 1.8 2.3 4 1780
"NBA On TNT": (Kings-Lakers) 4/27 TNT 2.1 2.7 6 2078
"NBA On TNT": (Hornets-76ers) 4/28 TNT 1.5 2.0 4 1516
"NBA On TNT": (Pacers-Bucks) 4/29 TNT 1.4 1.9 4 1450
MLB: (Braves-Padres) 4/30 ESPN 1.9 2.4 4 1896
For broadcast numbers, one ratings point = 1,008,000
homes. For cable, "COV AREA" = % of homes tuned in to that
program in that network's universe of subscribers.
NBA: NBC's NBA playoff coverage is averaging a 4.6/13
through 16 games, down 19% from last season's 5.7/16. All
16 games on NBC this year have been either Games One or
Three, while seven of last year's first 16 games were Games
Four or Five. Saturday's rating was down 30% from the
comparable 5.0/15 in '99. Sunday's triple header earned a
5.7/15, down 19% from last year's 7.0/17. Game One of the
Suns-Lakers was the highest-rated playoff game for NBC so
far this season (NBC). TNT's two games on Tuesday brings
Turner's combined postseason average to a 2.4, which is even
with last year (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/12).
NHL: SI's Kostya Kennedy writes, "ABC's increased focus
on the NHL -- it announced the starting lineups for the All-
Star Game during the NFL's wild-card weekend, for example --
has helped in many non-NHL markets." In Charlotte (1.9) and
Seattle (1.4), post-season viewership "had jumped by more
than" 200% (SI, 5/15 issue). Comcast SportsNet (CSN) set a
Flyers' regional cable rating record for Tuesday's Game Six
against the Penguins, which became the highest-rated program
for the net since its inception in October '97. The game
averaged a 9.7/(252,200), peaking at 17.8/(462,800). The
previous high CSN rating was a 9.5 for Game Three of the
76ers-Pacers series in '99 (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 5/12).
Fox Sports Net averaged a 14 rating with Avalanche-Red
Wings. The last quarter hour of the game gave the net an
FSN record 19 rating, helping to beat the old record of
10.3, set during the '97 Avalanche-Oilers semifinal.
Overall, Avalanche ratings for Round Two of the playoffs
averaged a 13.5 (Fox Sports Net). "Hockey Night in Canada"
Producer John Shannon said that he was "not too worried
about ratings despite" the Maple Leafs' second-round loss in
the playoffs. Shannon: "I think the ratings will go down a
bit because some people will be going through Leaf
withdrawal, but they'll be back in a week or so. Hockey is
hockey" (Josh Rubin, TORONTO STAR, 5/12).
TIGER EFFECT: CBS will cover this weekend's GTE Byron
Nelson Classic, the first event in which Tiger Woods has
played since The Masters. In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers writes
that if Woods "manages to bounce back" from his "lackluster"
round yesterday it will "surely affect viewership" for NBC's
NBA coverage and ABC's NHL coverage (ATL CONST. 5/12).
