Bold predictions for the year 2009 in sports media.
- Without big draws like the Cowboys, Patriots and Packers, ratings drop during the NFL Playoffs. The NFC title game between the Panthers and Eagles draws a 23.5 rating, down 19% from a 29.0 last year. In the AFC, Steelers/Titans draws a 25.2, down slightly from a 25.7 for Patriots/Chargers last season. The Eagles/Steelers Super Bowl is a big hit in Pennsylvania, but viewership falls short of the 97.5 million for last year’s Giants/Patriots game.
- Ratings for the BCS increase slightly from last year. Florida/Oklahoma draws a 15.3 rating, up from a 14.4 for LSU/Ohio State last season.
- NBA ratings hold steady from last year, with regular season ratings up slightly on ABC and flat on ESPN and TNT. Ratings dip during the playoffs, but perk up again during the Conference Finals, as Lakers/Spurs and Cavaliers/Celtics draw record ratings on ESPN/ABC and TNT. While most expect a rematch of the ’08 Finals, ABC ends up with a rematch of the ’07 Finals — when the Cavaliers and Spurs meet again. Unlike 2007, ratings are relatively decent for this go-round, averaging a 8.3 rating for the seven-game series.
- Ratings for the Stanley Cup Finals fall back to earth, as the series between the Sharks and Bruins averages a 2.5 rating on NBC — down 19% from last year. On the bright side, Versus continues to draw record ratings for its NHL coverage.
- Regular season MLB ratings increase to a 2.2 on FOX. Meanwhile, with the Yankees making the World Series for the first time since 2000, ratings for the Fall Classic are way up from Rays/Phillies. Unfortunately for FOX, the 10.5 average rating for the Yankees’ four-game sweep of the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates is still one of the lowest ever for the World Series.
- Tiger Woods‘ return results in higher ratings for golf events. However, ratings drop for The Masters and the U.S. Open — both of which Woods played in last year.
- David Stern will announce plans to retire as NBA Commissioner.
- Charles Barkley will finally do something so outrageous that TNT is forced to fire him. Meanwhile, Kenny Smith leaves for a job in an NBA team’s front office. Your Inside the NBA team at the start of the ’09-’10 season: EJ, Gary Payton and Chris Webber.
- NBC boots Keith Olbermann and Jerome Bettis from Football Night in America.
- Jeff Van Gundy returns to coaching after the 2009 NBA Finals. ABC decides to make a splash by replacing him with Doris Burke.
- Brett Favre retires; ESPN hires him for Sunday NFL Countdown.
- FOX is not the only network to cancel a sports pregame show. Before the end of the year, ABC cuts College Football Countdown.
- ESPN cancels ESPN First Take.
