The NBA Finals' Game One received a 14.7 rating and a 26
share, making it the third highest rated Game One in NBA Finals
history, according to NBC Sports. The mark represents a 17% gain
over last year's Knicks-Rockets opener. Highest rated Game
One's: '93 Bulls-Suns (16.8) and '71 Bucks-Bullets (15.3) (NBC).
In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers writes that "history suggests" that
ratings will fall tonight, but these teams have already topped
expectations (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/9). NBC Sports President
reportedly told analyst Matt Guokas that he will be back with
Marv Albert on NBC's No. 1 team for '95-96. Bill Walton, who has
joined the top team for the Finals, will rejoin Greg Gumbel and
Steve Jones on the No. 2 group next season (Rudy Martzke, USA
TODAY, 6/9).
NON-CABLED WINGS FANS UP IN ARMS: With the Ontario
provincial elections airing on CBC last night, Detroit fans were
left with no over-the-air option for Game Four of the semifinal
series against the Blackhawks. ESPN spokesperson Diane Lamb:
"Exclusivity is something we're always looking for in any event
we carry. I certainly realize that people in Detroit are rabid
hockey fans, for which we're grateful. And we wish they could
all see it. But an exclusive event is much more valuable than a
non-exclusive one, especially in a hockey-nuts town like Detroit.
... You know, you could mention that those people might want to
think about getting cable" (Steve Crowe, DETROIT FREE PRESS,
6/8). CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS estimates that by being prevented
from carrying the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals,
Detroit's WKBD-TV could lose up to $7.7M (assuming two seven-game
series). One local media buyer says WKBD was getting $5,000 per
30-second for the second round of the playoffs, and estimates
that the last two rounds would have drawn $10,000 per :30
(CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS, 6/5 issue).
