- Early in the 2008-09 NBA season, several teams have seen big increases in ratings. In New Orleans, Hornets telecasts are up 163% from a year ago, the highest increase in the league. The Hornets are followed by the Cavaliers, whose telecasts are up 109%, and the surprising Hawks, whose ratings have increased by 97%. At least seven other NBA cities have seen double-digit increases in ratings, including Portland (44%), Orlando (26%), New York (17%) and Los Angeles (14% for Laker games). Spurs telecasts still average the highest ratings in the league (6.6), followed by the Cavaliers (6.2) and Trail Blazers (5.0).
- ABC drew a 2.9/5 rating and 4.7 million viewers for Saturday Night Football last week, down 12% and 3%, respectively, from a 3.3 with 4.8 million for comparable coverage in ’07. So far this season, Saturday Night Football is averaging a 4.6 rating, up 27% from a 3.6 through the same point last year. The 2.9 is the second lowest rating of the year for ABC’s SNF, ahead of a 2.7 for Georgia/Arizona State in September.
- On the cable front, ESPN drew a 2.8 U.S. rating and 5 million viewers for Mississippi State/Alabama last Saturday night, making the game the third-most watched television program of the week on cable. Meanwhile, Versus drew its best college football rating ever on the strength of USC/Stanford. The game drew a 1.0 cable rating and 1 million viewers, putting Versus among the top 5 rated cable networks during its timeslot.
