76ers Draw Highest CSN Rating Ever; Bucks Ratings Up 17%

Comcast SportsNet (CSN) set a 76ers regional cable rating record Tuesday with an 11.4 Nielsen rating for the 76ers' home win over the Pacers in Game Two of their playoff series. The game became the highest-rated game for CSN since its October '97 launch, beating the previous high of 9.7 for the Flyers' series-clinching NHL Eastern Conference Semifinal game against the Penguins last May. In the Philadelphia DMA, one ratings point equals more than 26,000 HHs (CSN). The game peaked in the 10:30pm ET quarter-hour with a 13.1 and had a 17 share (PHIL. DAILY NEWS, 4/26).

SEXY AT 17: In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley writes ratings for the 35 Bucks' over-the-air regular-season games on WCGV-UPN this season averaged a 5.5, up 17% from last year's 4.7. Also, the local network ratings for Bucks games "are the best they have been in at least the last seven seasons." Meanwhile, the first playoff game in the Bucks-Magic series produced a 13.8/19, making it the most-watched Bucks game in seven years (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/26).

TV RIGHTS: One media director at a major ad agency, on NBA TV rights: "NBC doesn't want to lose it. [But] I think ABC and ESPN are going to be very aggressive, and they'll probably get it, unless NBC completely shocks us and really pulls out the checkbook. That plays right into the NBA's hands. It's frustrating to have leagues continue to demand these high prices when it's not reflected in the ratings." GSD&M Senior VP & Dir of National Broadcast Betty Pat McCoy, on NBC's NBA ad inventory: "A month ago, NBC said it would be tight in the playoffs. It certainly isn't tight. They're trying to include it (NBA) in every package they sell. And they're going to have a tough time selling it, because the ratings just aren't there" (MEDIA LIFE, 4/25).