NBC's coverage of Game Seven of the Knicks-Heat series
yesterday earned a 8.7/19 overnight Nielsen rating, up 16%
from last year's comparable Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference
Finals Game One, which earned a 7.5/18. For the weekend,
NBC averaged a 7.5/17 overnight for two playoff games, up
12% from last year's 6.7/17 for two conference finals Game
Ones on the comparable weekend (#29). In N.Y., Bob Raissman
writes that NBC's broadcast team of Tom Hammond, Bill Walton
and Steve Jones yesterday "displayed the kind of balance you
needed" in a Game Seven. Raissman: "They did not sacrifice
the humorous aspect that has become a big part of their
style, but they knew exactly when to can the shtick and
focus on the game" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/22). NEWSDAY's Steve
Zipay writes that Walton "saved his best game of the
playoffs for yesterday" (NEWSDAY, 5/22). Also in N.Y., Phil
Mushnick writes that NBC's NBA telecasts "are so much
cleaner, so much easier on the senses, when needless and
mindless graphics don't appear over live play." Yesterday's
Game Seven "was a particularly good watch, primarily because
NBC eliminated its obstructed views" (N.Y. POST, 5/22).
LAKERS THE SAVIORS? In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski wrote
that NBA "ratings are down, interest is down, quality is
down. ... How bad has it gotten? So bad, this is the latest
question: Can the Lakers save the NBA? ... As uninteresting
as the Spurs were [last year], NBC's playoff ratings this
year are down an astonishing 21 percent. That could change
if the Lakers and Knicks meet in the finals, but it's
further evidence the NBA is wallowing, in dire need of
something different" (DETROIT NEWS, 5/21).
