Lakers game ratings on Time Warner Cable SportsNet in the L.A. market "are at an all-time low, dipping below a 2.00 rating for the first time" amid a season where they are on pace for the worst winning percentage in franchise history, according to Ben Bolch of the L.A. TIMES. The Lakers' 1.95 rating on the RSN "is down 25% from this point last season and puts the team on pace to break the record low 2.11 figure it posted" last season. The team's ratings "have declined in each of the three seasons they have partnered with TWC," which is paying the team $5B over 25 years. The team's ratings "are down 57% from only two years ago, when it posted" a 4.63 local rating. On a national level, TNT, ABC and ESPN "have dropped one Lakers game each from their broadcast schedule this season," though ESPN picked up the March 1 Lakers-Thunder game that had been discarded by ABC. Meanwhile, the Clippers are averaging a 1.10 local rating in L.A. on FS Prime Ticket, "a drop of 13% from the same point last season." The ratings gap between the Lakers and Clippers "is the lowest on record." The Clippers "are in the next-to-last season of their contract with Prime Ticket." FS Prime Ticket Senior VP & GM Steve Simpson: "The schedule has presented several challenges thus far, including fewer prime-time games and multiple matchups versus marquee events such as Monday Night Football" (L.A. TIMES, 2/18).
A GOLDEN STATE: In S.F., Ron Leuty noted ratings for Warriors games on CSN Bay Area through the first half of the season are up 18%. Ratings also are 20% higher for the team's "Warriors Pregame Live" and up 16% for "Warriors Postgame Live" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/12).
