NBC's coverage of the second-round of the NBA playoffs
averaged a 5.8/15 preliminary overnight Nielsen rating for
four games, down 13% from last year's 6.7/17 for two games
on the comparable weekend. For more ratings, see (#27).
L.A. VIEWERS GET A LATE START: In L.A., Larry Stewart
questions why NBC stayed with post-game coverage of Sunday's
Trail Blazers-Jazz Game Four and didn't switch to Sunday's
Lakers-Suns Game Four "immediately, at least in Los Angeles
and Phoenix." NBC Sports VP/Communications Kevin Sullivan:
"L.A. is too big of a market, we have to fulfill our
commercial obligations. If it was, say, Salt Lake and
Phoenix, then switching to the local markets right away
might have been a possibility." Sullivan, on staying with
postgame interviews: "We felt the interviews with [Jazz G
Jeff] Hornacek, who may be retiring, and [Jazz F Karl]
Malone to be significant and newsworthy" (L.A. TIMES, 5/15).
MARKET ENVY: ESPN's Mike Lupica: "Imagine how excited
[NBA Commissioner David] Stern must be that if the Pacers
knock off the 76ers [tonight], that the Knicks and Heat
might be the only game in town to get us to next weekend"
("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 5/14). CNN/SI's Stephen Smith,
on the NBA's TV schedule: "Clearly, this is a situation
where the NBA has screwed up. ... You look at L.A. and
Portland. If those series end this weekend, you're talking
about another week, who knows, maybe two weeks before
another series is played, for crying out loud. I don't know
what the NBA was thinking" ("This Week in the NBA," 5/14).
NBC's Sullivan told BRIDGE NEWS "the real evaluation" of NBA
ratings "will be made as we get into the conference finals."
BRIDGE's Jennifer Allen noted "although a Laker/Knick title
series would pit two tradition-rich teams from the two
largest media markets," Sullivan said that NBC "really cares
little about who reaches the finals" (BRIDGE NEWS, 5/12).
TURNER REVIEWS: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wrote that TNT
"would be well-advised to toughen up its NBA announcer
teams" following some incidents last week. Among those:
analyst Reggie Theus thanking Lakers C Shaquille O'Neal in a
postgame interview for autographing his book, and John
Thompson working the Knicks-Heat series which features a
matchup of his "basketball sons," Patrick Ewing and Alonzo
Mourning (N.Y. POST, 5/14). In Houston, Michael Murphy,
noting Ewing's nine-point, nine-rebound effort during
Friday's Heat-Knicks Game Three, wrote, "Of course, Turner
Sports 'broadcast journalist' John Thompson gave the cryptic
'explanation' that Ewing's injury -- back spasms -- is
'worse than people think,' leading to his poor shooting.
Well, if Mr. Thompson has some inside information, perhaps
he should justify his position ... by letting everyone in on
the supposed 'injury' and its severity. ... Instead of
providing insight into what's going on, Thompson comes off
as an apologist for the player" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/14).
NOT MILLER TIME: In Daytona, Ken Hornack wrote on TNT's
Cheryl Miller's coverage of the Pacers and her brother, G
Reggie Miller: "For the most part, you almost wouldn't know
they were brother and sister. Cheryl's interviews of Reggie
... have been entertaining and informative without being
mushy or gushy" (NEWS-JOURNAL, 5/14). But in Atlanta,
Prentis Rogers reports that Craig Sager will "handle the
[sideline] reporting duties" for tonight's 76ers-Pacers Game
Five on TBS. Cheryl Miller "may still work the game
itself." Turner Sports VP Greg Hughes: "It's no reflection
on Cheryl. We know she can handle it. But the viewers'
perception could be different than what's there and we want
to take that away" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/15).
RUDY'S RAVE FOR NBC: USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke praises
NBC's coverage of the NBA and writes that while CBS "forged
the NBA's popularity" in the 80s, NBC's "candid approach to
issues and events such as the suspensions" of Reggie Miller
and 76ers C Matt Geiger "has taken coverage to a higher
level." Martzke calls the announcing team of Tom Hammond,
Steve Jones and Bill Walton a "terrific trio" that has
"exceeded NBC's hopes" (USA TODAY, 5/15).
