Media Notes
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNEWS each posted its best April ever, averaging more HHs on a total-day basis. ESPN averaged 746,000 HHs on a 24-hour basis, up 21% from 617,000 in the same month in '07. ESPN also set viewership marks in men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. ESPN2 averaged 255,000 HHs, up 9% from 233,000 in the year-ago period, and set marks in men 18-49 and 25-54. ESPNEWS averaged 62,000 homes, up 11% from 56,000 last year (ESPN).
HIGH MARKS: FSN Pittsburgh, for Tuesday's coverage of Penguins-Rangers Game Three, drew an 18.56 rating, its second-highest-rated Penguins game in the history of the net. The game also earned the highest network rating in Pittsburgh during primetime Tuesday night with a 14.9 rating. FSN Pittsburgh continues to lead all FSN RSNs in NHL ratings for both the '07-08 Penguins regular season and playoffs (FSN Pittsburgh)....In Philadelphia, Tim Panaccio reports the Philadelphia TV ratings for Monday's Canadiens-Flyers Game Three on Versus were 30% higher than the ratings for Game Two. Versus was the second-ranked net in Philadelphia for the time period on Monday, behind only ABC, which was airing "Dancing With The Stars" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/1).
PITT STOP? New ESPN Radio 1250 Pittsburgh GM Mike Thompson indicated that the station "might become involved in bidding for the play-by-play rights" of the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and Univ. of Pittsburgh. All of the teams are currently under contract with Clear Channel. Meanwhile, FSN has "stopped sending a reporter on the road with the Pirates, as it has done for most of the past several years." Instead, announcers Lanny Frattare and Greg Brown are "handling interviews for the pregame shows" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/1).
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