- The Orlando Magic are drawing solid numbers locally. Through four games, the Magic/Celtics series is averaging an 8.5 rating in the Orlando market. Sunday night’s Game 4 drew a 9.8 in Orlando, surpassing Game 1 (9.4) as the highest rated game of the series. Still, the Magic are not blowing out their sports competition. The final round of The Players’ Championship drew a 7.8 in Orlando, topping Games 2 and 3 of Magic/Celtics.
- Fans in Dallas are tuning out of the Mavericks’ series against the Nuggets. Game 1 drew a 12.5 rating in Dallas, which was followed by a 10.5 for Game 2 and a mere 7.8 for Saturday’s Game 3. Keep in mind that Game 1 aired on ABC, while Games 2 and 3 aired on cable — “in a market in which about 20 percent of homes have neither [cable nor satellite].” Meanwhile, in Denver, Game 3 drew a “relatively low” 9.3 rating.
- Pittsburgh is not the only red hot hockey market. The Red Wings’ Game 5 win over the Ducks on Sunday night drew a whopping 17.1/35 rating in Detroit, the highest rating ever for a Red Wings telecast on FS Detroit. So far this postseason, FS Detroit has averaged an 11.8 rating for six Red Wings telecasts, up 30% for five telecasts last year.
ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen passes away at 93
Bill Rasmussen, who founded ESPN and in the process forever changed sports media, passed away Tuesday at 93. He...
