Rogers Media said that Sportsnet "sold out or mostly sold out advertising spots for Raptors playoff games." The GLOBE & MAIL's Christine Dobby noted sign-ups "spiked for digital streaming services (Rogers has Sportsnet Now and Bell offers TSN Direct), with some customers choosing one-day or one-week packages to watch a game or two and others taking longer-term options." The ratings were "undoubtedly a relief for Rogers." The Maple Leafs made the NHL playoffs this year, but "lost in the first round, and with few Canadian teams in the running, ratings were down sharply" (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/15).
LOCAL SUPPORT: In St. Louis, Dan Caesar notes TV coverage of the Blues' championship parade on Saturday got a 24.6 local rating on the "five outlets that carried the festivities" from noon-3:00pm CT. The number "surpassed the rating in St. Louis for not only every Blues game in the regular season and first three rounds of the playoffs, but even two contests in the Stanley Cup Final" (STLTODAY.com, 6/18).
MOVING ON: THE RINGER's Bryan Curtis noted nonprofit PEN America's annual prizes for lifetime achievement in sports writing and nonfiction sports book of the year have "been eliminated" after ESPN decided to no longer sponsor the awards. PEN America in a statement said, "After 10 years of generous support, ESPN’s decision at this time is to pause its funding." The two awards were the "most prestigious in sportswriting" and cost ESPN "only $10,000 per year in prize money." PEN America "won’t give out sportswriting awards" in '20. A PEN America spokesperson said that the organization "hasn’t determined whether the awards will be rebooted" (THERINGER.com, 6/17).
