IS THE NHL SHOWING RATINGS STRENGTH AT THE LOCAL LEVEL?

          THE DAILY presents Nielsen over-the-air and cable
     ratings of U.S.-based NHL teams through March 1.  In an
     effort to gauge the impact of a team's on-ice success on TV
     ratings, THE DAILY has listed each franchise in order of
     '98-99 points-per-game as of March 1, which is total points
     accumulated divided by games played.  Of the seven teams
     that have higher PPG ratios this season than last, all but
     the Rangers have seen ratings increase.  Of the 11 teams
     that have lower PPG ratios this season, eight have seen a
     ratings decrease, while one has seen an increase.  The
     Lightning has seen an increase in over-the-air ratings, but
     a drop in cable ratings.  The Red Wings have seen an
     increase in cable ratings, but a decrease in over-the-air
     numbers.  NOTES: ^ = ratings as of March 14.  ^^ = an
     estimate of ratings provided by team.  Ratings for the six
     Canadian franchises were unavailable (THE DAILY).
          
                      '97-98              '98-99 (as of 3/1)
TEAM   NET       GMS AVG. RAT  PPG    GMS AVG. RAT  PPG     %+/-
DAL    FSSW      40    0.7    1.33     30    1.6    1.47   +129%
       KDFI/DFW  35    2.2^^   --      28    3.4^^   --     +55%
NJD    FSNY      76    0.3    1.31     61    0.2    1.21    -33% 
PIT    FSPT      54    5.4    1.20     47    4.1    1.20    -24% 
       WCWB     n/a    n/a     --       8    4.1     --      n/a
PHI    CSN       47    2.8    1.16     49    3.0    1.20    + 7% 
       WPSG     n/a    n/a     --      18    3.4^    --      n/a
PHO    FSAZ      40    0.8    1.00     28    1.2    1.17    +50%
       KVTK      25    1.9     --      18    2.5     --     +32%
BUF    EMPIRE    n/a   n/a    1.09     n/a   n/a    1.13     n/a
COL    FSRM      50    2.8    1.16     41    2.0    1.12    -29%
       KPXC      n/a   n/a     --      11    1.6     --      n/a 
DET    FSDT      41    3.9    1.26     33    4.2    1.10    + 8%
       WKBD      31    8.1     --      28    6.6     --     -19%
CAR    FSS       19    0.2     .90     34    0.3    1.07    +50%
ANA    FSW2      40    0.3     .79     29    0.5    1.03    +67%
       KCAL      20    1.2     --      14    1.1     --     - 8%
BOS    NESN      36    1.7    1.11     27    1.0    1.02    -41%
       WSBK      37    3.2     --      30    2.1     --     -34%
STL    FSMW      21    2.6    1.20     27    2.0    1.02    -23%
       KPLR      16    6.3     --      21    5.3     --     -16%
FLA    SC FL     82    1.0     .77     60    1.4    1.00    +40%
NYR    MSG       68    1.1     .83     53    0.8     .95    -27%
WAS    HTS(DC)   42    0.4    1.12     41    0.6     .92    +50%
       HTS(Balt) --    0.3     --      --    0.4      --    +33%
       WBDC      10    0.8     --      12    0.9      --    +13%
SJS    FSBA      27    0.8     .95     21    0.7     .90    -13%
       KICU      29    1.0     --      22    1.0      --      0%
LAK    FSW       46    1.0    1.06     43    0.9     .84    -10%
       KCAL       9    1.8     --       9    1.6      --    -11%
NSH    FSS       --     --     --      21    n/a     .80     --
       WNAB      --     --     --      12    1.0      --     --
NYI    FSNY      70    0.3     .87     42    0.2     .74    -33%
CHI    FSCH      43    0.9     .89     34    0.6     .68    -33%
TAM    SUNSHINE  40    0.7     .54     41    0.6     .53    -14%
       WTTA      10    0.7     --       9    1.0      --    +43%

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