RDS Sets Net Record For Bruins-Canadiens Game Six, Tops CBC
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Bruins-Canadiens Game Six Sets
Viewership Record At RDS |
French-language net RDS for Saturday night's Game Six of the Bruins-Canadiens first round Stanley Cup playoff series drew an average audience of 1.882 million viewers, setting a "network record" over the 1.737 million viewers for last Thursday's Bruins-Canadiens Game Five, according to William Houston of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. The CBC drew 1.68 million for Game Six, giving the Canadiens a combined Canadian audience of 3.562 million (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/22). On Saturday, the GLOBE & MAIL's Houston reported RDS for the first five games of the Bruins-Canadiens series averaged 1.591 million viewers, compared to 1.343 million for the CBC. RDS' numbers are "remarkable because RDS has a modest reach," as the net is in only 2.6 million HHs. NHL Senior VP/Broadcasting John Shannon called RDS' performance "one of the great success stories of the season" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/19). Meanwhile, the CP's James Keller noted CBC announcer Jason Wang has been calling the Bruins-Canadiens series in Mandarin, the first time the net has offered the language. Wang will "call one series in each of the four playoff rounds, with the Mandarin broadcasts streaming on the CBC Sports website." Wang said that the games also are "being shown on several satellite and specialty TV stations" (CP, 4/21).
DUMBING DOWN: The GLOBE & MAIL's Houston writes the CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada" is "not as smart and professionally produced as it used to be." "HNIC" host Ron MacLean last week "used damn and hell in the same breath," and while "they're minor expletives ... CBC Sports is the only place we know where a host is allowed to swear on the air." Houston: "MacLean's swearing, [analyst Garry] Galley's bad grammar, [reporter Cassie] Campbell's inexperience and [reporter P.J.] Stock are consistent with the theory that ["HNIC"] has been dumbed down." However, analyst Don Cherry's game instincts are "terrific," as he "continues to be entertaining and incites controversy, even when there isn't much there" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/22).
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Oilers, Canucks Missing Playoffs
May Drag Down CBC's Ratings |
RATINGS MAY FALL: The NATIONAL POST's Allison Hanes reports while the net "isn't giving up hope," questions are "being raised about whether the CBC's post season will end up paying off." Univ. of Ottawa professor Pierre Belanger: "The fact that the [Maple Leafs] are out, [the Oilers] as well and the Canucks never made it -- this year is a double whammy for the CBC." CBC Head of Media Relations Jeff Keay said, "The playoffs are an important time for us, revenue-wise -- always have been. Any Canadian team in the playoffs is a good thing for us" (NATIONAL POST, 4/19). In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich wrote the CBC "could be facing its lowest playoff ratings" in several seasons with the "prospect of the NHL playoffs continuing without Canadian content" (TORONTO STAR, 4/21).
LOUD AND CLEAR: On Long Island, Neil Best wrote NBC's Mike Milbury, who this season also has provided analysis for NESN and TSN, was "blunt and opinionated before, but instead of cringing, his employers now mostly cheer him on." Best: "Running a team is about winning. Running your mouth on TV is show biz. ... Milbury has been a lightning rod in each of those roles, so much so that many viewers can't watch him without eyes and ears clouded by the back story." Best added Milbury has "been an upgrade over Brett Hull, NBC's previous attempt to add edginess" (NEWSDAY, 4/20).
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