The Baseball Network's coverage of Game 2 of the MLB
divisional playoffs drew a 10.7 national rating, up from
Tuesday's 10.3 (THE DAILY). The two-night 10.5 average is off
15% from CBS' coverage of the first two nights of the '93 LCS and
equals the dip in NFL ratings when they went to the wild-card in
'78, according to Rudy Martzke. With the markets of the eight
teams averaging a 24.2, NBC research figures that if only one
game were played in the 8-11pm time slot, the average would have
been only an 8.2. BBDO's Steve Grubbs: "If you televise all
four games separately, you'll have a dilution of audience levels
and advertising dollars. At an 8 rating, would baseball remain a
special event for advertisers? Probably not" (USA TODAY, 10/6).
HAPPY NETWORKS: In Washington, Leonard Shapiro writes
regionalization "is achieving one of its primary objectives" -- a
"healthy national rating" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/6). In Ft.
Lauderdale, Rachel Alexander writes, "You may be suffering, but
for the networks, things couldn't be better." ABC Sports
spokesperson Mark Mandel: "This situation keeps the ratings
high, keeps advertising coming in and we have an exclusive
product" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN SENTINEL, 10/6).
NOT-SO-HAPPY: Barry Frank, MLB's chief TV negotiator, on an
NBC promo last night (probably from NBC's entertainment division)
that took a shot at ABC: "It was a terribly low blow, a cheap
shot and I told NBC so. You won't see it again" (Richard
Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 10/6). MEDIA WRITERS KEEP SLASHING:
"The only good thing about The Baseball Network is the fact MLB
is pulling the plug" (Carlton Thompson, HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
10/6).... "Regionalization ... is an affront to the very people
baseball needs to win back" (Prentis Rogers, ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 10/6)...."The drama of the first two nights of
baseball's postseason has been overshadowed by the outrage over
the regionalized coverage" (Barry Jackson, MIAMI HERALD, 10/6).
...."We can look forward to next year, when The Baseball Network
is history" (Randy Covitz, K.C. STAR, 10/6)...."Not only is
regionalization an artisic failure, but a financial flop" (Jack
Craig, BOSTON GLOBE, 10/6).... "Before we bury The Baseball
Network, we should praise it ... for its productions" (Steve
Nidetz, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/6)....Front page headline in
Burlington, VT, where the Yankees-Mariners is coming over
Plattsburgh's WPTZ: "Red Sox Fans Cursed by Coverage"
(BURLINGTON FREE PRESS, 10/3).
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: "Then again, at least people are
talkin' baseball, and when was the last time this many people
cared?" (Leonard Shapiro, WASHINGTON POST, 10/6).
