TNT earned a 3.7 overnight rating for last night’s Warriors-Clippers NBA Western Conference First Round Game 5, which was the first game for the Clippers following the lifetime ban and $2.5M fine handed down by the NBA to Owner Donald Sterling. That figure marks the best overnight for any NBA playoff game on cable TV for ’14 to date, as well as the best overnight for a first-round NBA playoff game since Lakers-Nuggets Game 7 in ’12. The game also earned an 8.1 local rating in L.A., marking the best Clippers game in the market since Spurs-Clippers Western Conference Semifinals Game 1 in '12 earned an 8.2 rating (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
BETTER TO BE RIGHT THAN FIRST: NBC News on its Twitter feed prior to the start of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s announcement inaccurately reported Sterling would receive an indefinite suspension and a $5M fine. That obviously was different from the actual ban and fine that was handed down. NBC News later took down the original tweet and issued a correction with the updated info (THE DAILY).
MEDIA MONITOR: This morning's editions of ABC's "GMA" and "CBS This Morning" both led with the severe weather affecting the country, followed by Sterling’s lifetime ban. NBC's "Today" led with the weather issues and the botched execution in Oklahoma before getting to the Sterling news. All three programs had live reports from Staples Center, as well as in-studio guests to discuss the punishment. ABC featured Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive, while CBS talked to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who is serving as a special assistant to the NBPA. NBC Sports’ Bob Costas discussed the matter in the “Today” studios. All three network news programs last night led their broadcasts with live reports from Staples Center (THE DAILY).
