AFTER DIP IN RATINGS, TNT, TBS MOVE NBA GAMES TO MID WEEK
TNT is "revamping" its schedule in the fall, with the
"biggest change" involving the shift of NBA games from
Friday nights to Wednesday and Thursday nights, according to
Steven Stark of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. TNT Exec VP & GM
Steve Koonin, on the new schedule: "It's very simple now:
Weekends are TNT for movies; the middle of the week, it's
TNT and the NBA; and Tuesday night, TNT is debuting its
original series. It's a very quick way for the viewer to
understand what we'll be doing" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/10).
In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers writes that TBS will carry NBA
games Tuesday, a change from Monday and Wednesday, while TNT
games will air games Wednesday and Thursday, a change from a
Tuesday and Friday schedule (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/10).
DAILY VARIETY's John Dempsey writes the move is meant to
give TNT "the most bang for its promotional buck." Koonin:
"There's no better reminder to viewers than a promo that
says, 'Tune in tomorrow night.'" The network will now be
able to do this, as TBS' Tuesday game will "heavily promote"
TNT's Wednesday and Thursday night games (DAILY VARIETY,
7/10). With last year's TNT ratings down 24%, Turner Sports
President Mark Lazarus said, "We believe the continuity of
three nights in a row will give us a promotional platform to
raise our ratings" (USA TODAY, 7/10).
MONDAY, MONDAY -- CAN'T TRUST THAT DAY? In Denver, Sam
Adams wrote the "best rumor" he's heard "that no one will
confirm or deny" is that the NFL "offered money" to WCW and
WWF execs to move "Monday Night Raw" and "Monday Nitro"
wrestling shows "to another night so 'Monday Night Football'
can regain some viewers" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/8).
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