Numbers Game

NBC Sees 4.9 Rating For Tiger; NCAAs Get 6.8

The final weekend in March is typically reserved for the college crowd, with CBS airing the last few games of the NCAA Tournament. However, an uninvited guest showed up this year -- and we are not talking about Cinderella. Tiger Woods’ dramatic victory at Bay Hill last night earns NBC a 4.9/10 overnight Nielsen rating, the highest rating for a PGA Tour event outside of the majors in more than two years. That certainly is not to say CBS was left empty-handed, though. The net, which has seen healthy ratings increases throughout the tourney from a year ago, earns a 6.8 overnight for the final two regional finals, including a 7.7 for North Carolina-Oklahoma in the late-afternoon window. While Tiger’s theatrics cause a ratings dip for NCAA action compared to ’08, the cumulative eight-day ratings average for the tournament is up 7% for a solid 5.9 mark. And with two very appealing games set for the Final Four next weekend, the numbers figure to stay on their upward trend.

Bang For Your Buckeyes
Ohio State hands marketing, media rights to IMG College in record $110M deal.

Apple Of My Eye 
Citi Field opens gates to near-unanimous praise, but will ballpark size limit the Mets' revenue?

Paternal Instincts
Jeff Moorad wastes no time in trying to repair and unify the Padres' front-office.

Extra Credit 
ESPN may boost ESPNU by allowing distributors to carry it instead of ESPN Classic.

Synchronized Swimming
USOC, IOC reach early compromise in ongoing revenue-sharing dispute, which could greatly aid the Chicago 2016 bid.

Brief Case
Roy Williams, Bob Knight, Rick Pitino and Coach K shed their clothes for Guitar Hero spot.

Gangs Of New York
N.Y. TIMES profiles Randy Levine as a "tough, short-tempered and smart protector of the Steinbrenner family and the Yankees."

National Pride
Stan Kasten reportedly turns down Blue Jays' advance about team's CEO vacancy.