The Raptors shattered the NBA's Canadian television audience record for their decisive Game 6 winNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The Raptors' presence in the NBA Finals means that ABC for the first time will not have the benefit of two home markets as Toronto is not counted by Nieslen, and that "could have a big impact on all of the constituent shareholders that are around the NBA and sponsors and advertisers," according to CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin. The N.Y. Times' Ed Lee said just because Nielsen does not count the Toronto market "doesn't mean that people aren't watching it." Lee: "People in Canada are watching these things. Your brand message ultimately gets across" ("Squawk Box," CNBC, 5/28). The CP reported the Raptors "shattered the NBA's Canadian television audience record" during the decisive Eastern Conference Finals Game 6. Sportsnet said that an "average of 3.1 million viewers tuned in" for Raptors-Bucks on Saturday night. That is "well above the previous mark" of 2.2 million set during Raptors-76ers Game 7 in the second round. Sportsnet's three games shown during the Eastern Conference Finals had a "series average of 2.1 million viewers," a 77% increase from the Raptors' conference finals appearance in '16 (CP, 5/27).
THE NATURAL: In Boston, Gary Washburn wrote it should "serve as no surprise" that former NBAer Kendrick Perkins' "straight-shooting and deadpan style would fit naturally in television." For the past few months, Perkins has been "making the television tours, offering his takes on all things NBA, taking his first transition step after retirement." Perkins "never bites his tongue" and he "gives the kind of advice that many players need, even though it's not something they may want to hear" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/26).
