CBS' ratings for men's college basketball games are up
17% in HHs for the first seven weekends of the season
compared to last year, according to Consoli & Cooper of
MEDIAWEEK, who attribute the increase "in part to some
marquee matchups." For its weekend games on December 4-5,
1999 through January 15-16, 2000, CBS earned a 2.1/5 average
rating, compared to last year's 1.8/4 through the same
period. Consoli & Cooper write the HH performance is CBS'
"highest season-to-date since" the '96-97 season. CBS' demo
ratings for college hoops "are even better," up 25% among
men 18-34 and 27% among men 18-49, giving the network its
best numbers in those demos since the '93-94 season. CBS
Sports VP/Programming Mike Aresco: "This has been one of our
best schedules ever. The ACC presence has helped, and an
emphasis on games involving Big Ten teams has also had an
impact." On cable, ESPN's weeknight ratings for men's
college hoops are down 14% in HHs and 7% among men 18-34.
But ratings for FSN's first seven nationally televised games
this season are up 42% in HHs (MEDIAWEEK, 1/24 issue). In
Boston, Jim Baker reports CBS' men's college basketball
tripleheader on Saturday drew a 1.3 local rating, despite an
OH State Univ.- St. John's Univ. "thriller with both coaches
having Hub ties" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/26)
RATINGS NOTE: In Toronto, William Houston reports that
last weekend's Game One of "Hockey Night In Canada" pulled
in the "second largest audience of the season -- 1.44
million for a split telecast" (Red Wings-Senators
nationally, Maple Leafs-Capitals in Southern Ontario). Game
Two, featuring Canucks-Oilers, drew 780,000, the "highest
Game 2 rating of the season" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/26).
