TNT averaged a 5.2 fast-national Nielsen rating and 9.093 million viewers for its coverage of Sunday night's NBA All-Star Game. The 5.2 rating marks the event’s highest-rated and most-watched telecast since '03, Michael Jordan's last All-Star appearance as a player. This year’s figures are up 36.8% and 32.8%, respectively, from a 3.8 rating and 6.846 million viewers last year. TNT also saw double-digit percentage gains across all key adult and male demos. San Antonio topped all U.S. markets with a 13.5 local rating. Host market L.A. finished second with an 11.6 local rating (TNT).
HELPING OF TUNA: In N.Y., Bob Raissman reported former Dolphins consultant and ESPN analyst Bill Parcells is "not likely to be seeking full-time TV employment next season," but he is "expected to be seen on ESPN prior to its coverage of the NFL Draft." NFL sources said that ESPN is "planning an unusual pre-draft show," and as part of the show "a number of NFL scholars, including Parcells, will take viewers through the entire draft process going back to when a player is first scouted." The panel will "detail not just the players abilities and personal makeup, but also explore why he fits a team's overall philosophy" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/20).
LOOK WHO'S TALKING: In Charlotte, Ken Tysiac noted live interviews during timeouts "have crept into ESPN's broadcasts" of SEC men's basketball games after coaches "agreed to do them during the conference's spring meetings." Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said, "That stinks. That shouldn't be. Are you kidding me? That's horrible. ... You shouldn't be distracted. You don't owe anything to anyone else." Tysiac noted Boston College Assistant AD for Media Relations Chris Cameron, an Univ. of Kentucky alum, "started a Facebook page appealing to 'Sports Viewers Against In-Game Coaching Interviews'" after watching a UK game on TV (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/19).
FINDING THEIR VOICE: Vancouver's CKPK-FM host Peter Schaad has signed a two-year contract to be the "official play-by-play voice" of the MLS Whitecaps on CTFE-AM (VANCOUVER SUN, 2/19).
