- Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals drew 6.4 million viewers on ESPN Friday night, down 7% from 6.9 million viewers for Pistons/Cavaliers Game 6 last year, which aired on TNT. For the series, ESPN averaged 6.0 million viewers, up 51% from last year’s Spurs/Jazz series and the best average ever for a Conference Final on the network.
- The Lakers/Spurs Western Conference Finals on TNT were the highest rated and most watched Conference Final series since 2004. The Lakers’ five game series victory averaged a 4.2 national rating (4.8 cable rating) with 6.3 million viewers, up 24% and 25%, respectively, from last year. For the playoffs, TNT averaged a 2.6 national rating (3.0 cable rating) with 3.8 million viewers.
- WNBA ratings may be miniscule, but they are heading in the right direction. Saturday’s Sparks/Mystics game drew a 0.7 overnight on ABC, up 17% from a 0.6 for Mercury/Sun last year. Through three games, ABC is averaging a 0.7 overnight for WNBA coverage, up 17% from last year.
Ted Turner, whose cable business transformed TV sports, dies
Ted Turner, the media mogul and team owner whose TBS "SuperStation" helped pave the way the era of cable...
