- The Ratings Game: Thursday’s World Cup Kickoff Concert drew a 1.0 rating and 1.7 million viewers on Univision, topping ESPN2’s telecast of the same event by 233% and 310%, respectively (0.3, 424,000 viewers). Univision outdrew ESPN2 among adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 and teens 12-17. (TV By The Numbers)
- Idle Note: ESPN is planning to close five ESPN Zones — including the Times Square ESPN Zone, where The Sports Reporters is taped each week. As a result, the show will move to ESPN’s Bristol studios at a yet-to-be-announced date. (St. Petersburg Times; Washington Post)
- Idle Note II: SportsCenter and local television stations devoted 1.6% of airtime to women’s sports in 2009, according to a study by researchers at USC and Purdue. That is the lowest percentage of the past 20 years. According to the study, 72% of all coverage focused on “men?s basketball, football and baseball.” (sportsjournalism.org)
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...
