SportsBusiness Daily — Sports Business Resources — your sports business news and information source. Learn More
Advanced
Home About Us Advertise With Us Marketplace/Classifieds College & University Program Subscribe/Trial My Account

Monday
May 18, 2009
Print This Issue


 
MOST VIEWED STORIES
View the top 20 stories
 
Recent Issues
Sports Media

Staples Singers: ABC Sees 5.6 Overnight Rating For Lakers' Rout

Lakers' Win Down 12.5%
From Comparable '08 Game
The Lakers' 89-70 win over the Rockets in Game Seven of their Western Conference Semifinals series earned a 5.6 overnight Nielsen rating on ABC from 3:30-6:00pm ET, down 12.5% compared to a 6.4 for Game Seven of the Celtics-Cavaliers Eastern Conference Semifinals on the same weekend last year (THE DAILY). In N.Y., Bob Raismann wrote, "Finding out what outlet is televising an NBA playoff game is as hard as finding a fanny to fill one of those Legend Suite seats at the new Yankee Stadium." Yesterday's LakersComparative-Rockets game aired on ABC because the NBA "wants the ratings magnet -- the Lakers and Kobe Bryant -- for its network telecast." But if ABC/ESPN and NBA Commissioner David Stern "had true faith in the NBA product," Lakers-Rockets Game Seven "would air Sunday night on ABC in prime time when maximum eyeballs are available." However, Raissman noted ABC execs likely decided airing the season finale of "Desperate Housewives" was "far more important" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/17).

CABLE GUYS: ESPN earned a 5.4 cable rating and 7.352 million viewers for Lakers-Rockets Game Six last Thursday, marking the net's most-viewed basketball game ever. The previous record was held by Game Six of the Heat-Pistons Eastern Conference Finals in '06, which drew 6.602 million viewers. Lakers-Rockets Game Six earned a 13.0 local rating in L.A., and a 16.0 rating in Houston, marking the net's highest-rated NBA game in the Houston DMA (ESPN).


Get A Free Trial To SportsBusiness Daily

Reader Comments

To post comments on this article, log in or register for a free trial.

Related Stories By Company Related Stories By Sport
Gruden Committed To Improving On "MNF"
November 20, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

NBPA Says Total Player Compensation Down
November 20, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

NBC, Fox See Ratings Gains For NFL Week 10
November 19, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Ohlmeyer Addresses Steve Phillips Story
November 19, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

St. Peter's, Monmouth Benefit From ESPN
November 18, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Ticket Package Offered For Flyers, 76ers
November 20, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

NBPA Says Total Player Compensation Down
November 20, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Magic Johnson, Cisco Team For Initiative
November 19, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Nets Finding Unique Ways To Draw Fans
November 19, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Grizzlies Optimistic Despite AI Departure
November 18, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

ALSO IN THIS SECTION


A Publication of Street & Smith's Sports Group.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (REVISED 2009-06-23) and Privacy Policy (REVISED 2009-06-23).

© 2009 Street & Smith's Sports Group and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Street & Smith's Sports Group.