Media Notes

Bulls-Celtics Contest Ranks As Highest-Rated  Regular-Season Game On CSN New England

Comcast SportsNet New England earned a 7.5 HH rating for the December 19 Bulls-Celtics game, marking the net's highest rating for a regular-season Celtics telecast. The net is seeing a 36% increase in HHs for Celtics telecasts in December from the same period last year (CSN). Meanwhile, the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE's John Manasso reports FSN South averaged a 1.5 rating for Hawks telecasts in November, up 70.5% from a 0.88 for the same period last year. SportSouth averaged a 2.1 rating for Hawks telecasts, up 110% over a 1.0 last year on the strength of a 3.9 rating for the November 12 Hawks-Celtics game (ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE, 12/19 issue).

INT'L GROWTH: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Tripp Mickle reports SUM and ESPN have "sold international broadcast rights for all [MLS] games to MP & Silva in an eight-figure agreement that extends through 2013." The deal "represents a shift in strategy for SUM and ESPN," as SUM had sold ESPN "international syndication rights for MLS games in its 2006 rights agreement" with the net. SUM included broadcast rights for several other properties, including the SuperLiga and InterLiga, in the deal (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/22 issue).

INTERACTIVE DISPLAY: AD AGE’s Andrew Hampp reports beginning next summer, ESPN “will offer three new iTV products, tentatively titled ESPN My Vote, ESPN In Game Extra and My Bottom Line.” Cable distribution partners “have yet to be determined.” ESPN Exec VP/Sales & Marketing Sean Bratches said that the products “mark the first time ESPN has been able to offer a national interactive-TV solution to advertisers.” Each interactive product “will offer advertisers logo placement and access to product microsites” (ADAGE.com, 12/23).

NOTES: The D-League will hold its annual Showcase from January 5-8, and all 16 Showcase games will be streamed via NBA Futurecast, a platform that provides live, online video streaming to fans, on NBA.com and NBADLeague.com (Turner)....Rays radio announcers Dave Wills and Andy Freed will remain with the club, as Wills agreed to a new three-year deal and Freed accepted a one-year deal. The Rays are still seeking a TV analyst to replace Joe Magrane, who signed with MLB Net (TAMPABAY.com, 12/22)....The Bobcats are likely "searching for a radio flagship station, with WOLS-FM going to an Hispanic format at the start of the year" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/20).