Archive for April 17th, 2009

John Madden‘s successor on NBC’s Sunday Night Football is giving up his gig on NFL Network. Cris Collinsworth, named the new lead analyst for NBC NFL broadcasts on Thursday, will not return as the lead [...]

In the midst of an economic downturn, both the NBA and NHL saw increased attendance during their respective 2008-09 seasons. The NBA averaged 17,520 fans per game during the now-completed 2008-09 season, up 1% from [...]

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a big hit in several big markets. Several NHL teams have seen big increases and record ratings for coverage of the ongoing 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Boston, the Bruins’ [...]

The Boston Bruins’ first game of the postseason attracted a massive audience in Boston. The Bruins’ Game 1 win over the Canadiens drew a 9.4 rating on NESN in Boston Thursday night, the third-highest rated [...]

One of the more divisive voices in sports media is leaving ESPN. Stephen A. Smith has confirmed a report by the website The Big Lead that he will leave ESPN. In an article on his [...]

After twelve straight years of declines on broadcast, the NBA has seen its ratings on ABC rise for the second straight season. NBA telecasts on ABC averaged a 2.3 rating and 3.68 million viewers during [...]

ESPN has its most viewed NBA season for the second straight year. NBA telecasts on ESPN averaged a 1.13 U.S. rating (1.3 cable) and 1.68 million viewers during the 2008-09 season, up 6% and 14% [...]

Stephen A. Smith: The Big Lead reports that the ESPN NBA analyst “will be actively looking for work this summer” after he and ESPN could not come to an agreement on a new contract. According [...]

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are off to a good start on Versus. Coverage of the first night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged a 0.25 U.S. rating (0.38 cable rating) and 392,384 viewers on Versus [...]

The 2009 NBA Playoffs begin in Boston for what may be a short-lived title defense. The NBA Playoff schedule was released early Thursday morning. The postseason tips off with the Bulls taking on the defending-champion [...]