TV Ratings Increase Upon MLB's Return; ESPN Coverage Praised

The return of MLB Monday drew viewership on TBS and ESPN that was "higher than the season average," according to Prentis Rogers of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. But with a 1.9/ (1.6 million HHs) and 1.2/ (1.02 million HHs) for TBS and ESPN respectively, Rogers adds, "We're not talking huge numbers." TBS' rating for Monday's Braves-Phillies telecast was up 36% over the net's 1.4 season average. ESPN's rating for Brewers-Cardinals Monday was 30% above the net's weekday average of 0.93. Turner Sports Senior VP Greg Hughes said of the increases, "I think people were looking for a diversion"
(ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 9/19). USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke writes, "It should be no surprise that ESPN slugged a home run" during Monday's MLB coverage. Martzke notes from "Baseball Tonight" showing the national anthems of the early games to the "touching closing segment splicing coverage of the anthems, ESPN scored" (USA TODAY, 9/19).