ABC Earns 9.2 Rating For Celtics-Lakers Game Three, Up 43.8%

ABC Earns 9.2 Rating For Celtics-Lakers Game Three

WILL DONAGHY DRAG DOWN RATINGS? A network exec said of the potential impact of the latest headlines from the Tim Donaghy scandal on NBA viewership, "The sensitivity of the advertiser is often greater than the average fan. If advertisers perceive the sport has a credibility problem, if they are spooked by even the chance, or smell, of scandal and don't want their products associated with the NBA, well, that's a major problem." The exec added, "There's precedent here. Boxing did well on network TV (in terms of ratings), but Madison Avenue wanted nothing to do with it. There was too much chicanery -- perceived or otherwise -- attached to the sport" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/12). AD AGE's John Rash wrote, "The league can ill afford to let this year's ratings rebound slip away. ... Indeed, to date, the gambling scandal ... hasn't hurt the league" (ADAGE.com, 6/11). In Portland, Ryan White writes of the impact of the scandal, "Maybe it doesn't matter. Viewership is up for the Finals. ... Maybe the fix is something the rest of the folks at the bar roll eyes and shrug shoulders about, and then go about watching another game" (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/12).

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