Well, after watching the Artie Lange Show with special guest Joe Buck on HBO tonight, then Weeds and Nurse Jackie on Showtime, I can now post the press releases that came in during the day that I could not get to. Quite a busy Monday.
First, NBC says Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals was the most watched NHL game in the United States in 36 years. That’s a very long time.
MOST WATCHED NHL GAME IN 36 YEARS
8 Million Watch Game 7
Game 7 Handily Beats Competition in Every Ratings Category & Wins Key Adults 18-49 By 191%
NEW YORK – June 15, 2009 – Friday night's deciding Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on NBC Sports was the most-watched NHL game in 36 years with an average of 8 million viewers (5/10/73, Stanley Cup Final Game 6 on NBC, Montreal-Chicago, 9.4 million). Overall, the series averaged 5.6 million viewers for the five games on NBC, the best since 2002 on ABC (three telecasts, Detroit-Carolina, 5.8 million).
Friday's Game 7 earned a 4.3 rating and an 8 share, the best for a series-ending game in six years (6/9/03, Game 7, Anaheim-New Jersey, 4.6/8).
NBC Sports' Game 7 broadcast finished No. 1 for the night in every category including viewership and household ratings.
Competitive Notes:
· NBC won Friday night by a margin of 191 percent in Adults 18-49 (3.2 vs. 1.1 for second-place CBS) and by 41 percent in total viewers (7.7 million vs. CBS's 5.5 million).
· The broadcast of Game 7 beat the ABC-CBS-Fox competition combined in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Men 18-34, Women 18-34, Men 18-49 and Men 25-54.
· The 3.2 rating in Adults 18-49 makes this NBC's top-rated Friday night since the Beijing Olympics last August.
ESPN points out that Game 5 of the NBA Finals on ABC beat the primetime competition, albeit it was rather weak.
NBA Finals Game 5 Dominates Night in Prime Time2009 Finals Deliver the Top Broadcast Each Night
The NBA Finals Game 5 – which saw the Los Angeles Lakers win the world championship, defeating the Orlando Magic 99-86 – dominated the night for ABC in prime time. The broadcast averaged 13,992,000 viewers (P2+), according to fast national ratings, to become the No. 1 program of the night for the second consecutive Sunday evening. All five Finals broadcasts ranked No. 1 each night for ABC.
Final ratings for The Finals will be available Tuesday, June 16. If the fast national rating is maintained, ABC’s five Finals broadcasts averaged an 8.4 HH rating, 9,624,000 households and 14,315,000 viewers.
The 2009 Finals qualify as television’s top five broadcasts since May 20, 2009, among viewers and young adults, and as the top five programs among Men 18-34 since February.
Additional Game 5 Ratings InformationGame 5 was the most-viewed Sunday night program in the coveted adults 18-49 demographic (5.6), along with all other key male and adult demos:
- M18-34 (6.7)
- M18-49 (7.0)
- M25-54 (7.2)
- P18-34 (5.6)
- P25-54 (5.8)
Based on fast nationals, Game 5 averaged a 7.9 HH rating and 9,004,000 household impressions.
This is the final quotage of the season for TNT’s Inside the NBA on NBA TV from Sunday.
Notes from NBA TV’s Coverage of The NBA Finals Game #5 – Sunday, June 14, 2009
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TNT NBA Tip-off
Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith with NBA TV host Ahmad Rashad joining the show.
Barkley on Orlando Magic going into Game #5: They’re not going to win tonight. It’s over. I don’t think from a psychological stand-point they can overcome losing (game #4). The only thing the Lakers have to worry about is who is going to be holding the trophy on their flight back to L.A.”
NBA TV host Ahmad Rashad on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant “So, we can all agree that Kobe Bryant is the best basketball player in the world?”
Barkley: “No, Lebron James is the best basketball player.”
Rashad: “We all agree that Kobe Bryant is arguably the best basketball player in the world.”
Barkley: “Yes.”
Smith: “I agree”
NBA TV host Ahmad Rashad interviewed Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.
Bryant on the current Laker team: “We all get along really well. I think the talent we have on this team gives us a great chance to win the Championship.”
Bryant on his trust in his teammates: “The trust comes from deliverance. The more and more they started to deliver, the more my trust picked up in them. That’s the evolution of our team.”
Bryant on how the Lakers can win the 2009 NBA Finals: “The Championship is going to be won on the defensive end. We have to figure out how to stop this high-motor basketball team. If we do that, we’ll be Champions.”
Rashad on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant’s improvements in the 2008-09 Season: The biggest stride Kobe Bryant has made this year is that he orchestrates the game a lot better. It used to be all about Kobe, but this year he is getting everyone involved.”
Barkley on Lakers head coach Phil Jackson winning another Championship:
“I believe after this Championship, Phil Jackson is going to retire.”Smith on how the Magic’s strengths against Cleveland are their weaknesses against the Lakers: “The advantages the Magic had against Cleveland, their length and size, are the same advantages the Lakers have against the Magic.”
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Inside the NBA
Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith
Barkley on the Lakers winning Game #5, making them 2009 NBA Champions: “This was a game you knew the Lakers were going to win, from beginning to end. They came out with great energy and Orlando didn’t want to fight. The Lakers were the best team and they proved that throughout the entire season.”
Smith on the Lakers winning the Championship: “From the start, I thought the Lakers were the best team in basketball. They’ve been the team we’ve expected them to be.”
Smith on the Magic’s performance in The Finals: “The NBA Finals exposes a team’s weaknesses. It exposed things that Orlando needs to address in the off-season, because other teams will pick up on it and realize that is how they should attack them next year.”
Smith on the Magic in Game #5: “Stan Van Gundy could not find an answer to the Los Angeles Lakers.”
Smith on Kobe Bryant’s place in history: “In my opinion, Kobe is one of the top ten players of all time.”
L.A. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant joined the NBA TV set after the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic to win The Finals.
Barkley to Bryant: “When are you going to stop smiling?”
Bryant: “Never. This has been an incredible year.”
Bryant on when the Lakers knew they would win the series: “After the third quarter of game #4, we knew what we had to do defensively.”
NBA TV’s David Aldridge interviewed Magic forward Rashard Lewis.
Lewis on the Magic’s performance in the 2008-09 Season: “I think we did a great job of getting to The Finals. Nobody thought we would get here. We need to hold our heads high and try again next year.”
Monday Night Football becomes the first sports series to be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.
“MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” BECOMES FIRST SPORTS FRANCHISE TO BE HONORED BY BROADCASTING & CABLE HALL OF FAME
19th Annual Awards Dinner Set for New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Tuesday, October 20
NEW YORK, June 15 2009 – The Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame – the premier industry event paying tribute to the pioneers, innovators and stars of the electronic arts – will honor “Monday Night Football” at its 19th Annual Awards Dinner, marking the first time a sports franchise has received this prestigious award.
“With its wonderful history of great moments and dynamic personalities all the way up to its current position as the biggest player in cable television, ‘Monday Night Football’ is one of the most storied franchises in American television history,” said Bill McGorry, Chairman of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. “As it prepares to celebrate four decades of greatness, we are thrilled to announce ‘Monday Night Football’ as the first-ever sports property inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.”
“”Monday Night Football’ has become an American institution, thrilling fans of the National Football League for four decades with exciting moments and memorable achievements that our dedicated team at ABC Sports and now ESPN have been honored and privileged to document,” said ESPN and ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer. “As we celebrate the 40th season of sports television’s signature series, we thank Broadcasting & Cable for this distinguished Hall of Fame honor.”
“Monday Night Football,” now in its 40th year, will be honored at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria, Tuesday, October 20, 2009. The 2009 Hall of Fame class takes its plac
e alongside the over 300 luminaries who have been recognized in previous years by Broadcasting & Cable Magazine. Other new Hall of Fame inductees will include:
· Richard Beaven – CEO, Initiative Worldwide
· Linda Bell Blue – Executive Producer, “Entertainment Tonight” and “The Insider”
· Pat Esser – President, Cox Communications
· Jorge Ramos – Anchor, Noticiero Univision
· Abby Raven – President and CEO, A&E Television Networks
· Johnathan Rogers – President and CEO, TV One
· Jack Sander – Senior Advisor, Belo Corporation
· David Verklin – CEO, Canoe Ventures
· Tony Vinciquerra – Chairman and CEO, Fox Networks Group
· Jeff Zucker – President & CEO, NBC Universal
Sirius XM Radio will have extensive coverage of the U.S. Open this week.
SIRIUS XM RADIO ANNOUNCES LIVE BROADCAST COVERAGE OF U.S. OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Hole-by-hole coverage airs June 18-21 from Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, NY
SIRIUS XM offers 28 hours of on-course coverage Thursday-Sunday; More live coverage than any other TV or radio broadcaster
NEW YORK – June 15, 2009 – SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that it w
ill offer live coverage of the U.S. Open Golf Championship Thursday, June 18, through Sunday, June 21, on XM channel 146 and on SIRIUS channel 209 with the “Best of XM” programming package. SIRIUS XM’s coverage, available nationwide, will include live play-by-play from the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, NY, plus comprehensive analysis by SIRIUS XM’s on-site hosts and reporters.
Live coverage will start Thursday and Friday at 12:00 pm ET and Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 pm ET and will continue until the conclusion of each day’s play. On-course coverage will be immediately followed by a wrap-up of the day’s action on U.S. Open Replay.
Brian Katrek will host the SIRIUS XM’s live championship coverage alongside lead analyst and former PGA TOUR member John Maginnes. From inside the ropes, listeners will hear hole-by-hole updates from on-course reporters Mark Carnevale, the 1992 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, PGA TOUR professional Dennis Paulson, and veteran broadcasters Fred Albers, T.J. Rives and John Tautges.
The U.S. Open Championship is considered by many to be the most difficult and complete test in golf. The Black Course, with its length and exceptionally high rough putting a premium on both distance and accuracy, also hosted the 2002 U.S. Open, becoming the first public course ever to host the championship. Tiger Woods won that year’s event with a performance that left him as the sole player under par after four days.
In addition to the live play-by-play, listeners will hear daily talk and analysis by SIRIUS XM’s lineup of expert hosts.
Playing Thru, hosted by T.J. Rives, will air live from the grounds at Bethpage Black Wednesday through Friday (8:00-10:00 am ET) and on Saturday and Sunday (12:00-1:00 pm ET). Making The Turn, with Peter Kessler, will air live from Bethpage on Thursday and Friday (10:00-11:00 am ET) and on Saturday and Sunday (11:00 am-noon ET).
Both shows will feature in-depth analysis of the Open, plus one-on-one interviews with some of the sport’s biggest personalities.
Tuesday morning (7:00 am ET) will feature a new edition of oPINionated, the weekly talk show hosted by popular PGA TOUR member Chris DiMarco and broadcaster Greg Warmoth. The show replays several times throughout the week.
On Tuesday afternoon (2:00-4:00 pm ET) SIRIUS XM will broadcast the pre-championship press conferences featuring some of the field’s biggest names including Woods, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Geoff Ogilvy.
On Wednesday (2:00-4:00 pm ET), Katrek and Maginnes will host The U.S. Open Preview Show, offering listeners a look at the championship field teeing off the following day.
Mad Dog Radio, SIRIUS XM’s all-sports talk channel, will broadcast live from Bethpage on Tuesday and Wednesday of Open week. Tuesday’s broadcast will feature Bruce Murray and Bill Pidto hosting their daily show, The B Team, live (10:00 am-2:00 pm ET). On Wednesday, Gary Williams will be at the course to host the morning show, The First Word, live (6:00-10:00 am ET). Mad Dog Radio airs nationwide on SIRIUS channel 123 and XM channel 144.
Awards this year. This release is for something good. The Arthur Ashe Courage Award goes to former South African President Nelson Mandela. Interesting timing since ESPN will be in South Africa next year for the World Cup.
Nelson Mandela to Be Honored with theArthur Ashe Courage Award at The 2009 ESPYs
The 2009 ESPYs to Be Televised Sunday, July 19 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN HD.
The 1995 Rugby Worl
d Cup was hosted in South Africa for the first time. Following the victory of the host national team, The Springboks, and in a pivotal moment for South Africa, President Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springbok rugby shirt and cap, presented the William Webb Ellis Cup to South African captain Francois Pienaar to the delight of black and white sports fans across the country. This iconic gesture helped to unite a previously divided nation through a shared passion for sport, and further cemented the transition from apartheid to democracy.Accepted on his behalf by his daughter Zindzi Mandela and grandson Zondwa Mandela, President Mandela will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at The 2009 ESPYs. Presented annually to individuals whose contributions transcend sports, the Ashe Award is the emotional pinnacle of the industry-wide sports celebration, which is being taped on Wednesday, July 15 from the Nokia Theatre at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles and televised Sunday, July 19 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN HD. The 2009 ESPYs will be hosted this year by Samuel L. Jackson.
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award coincides with Mandela Day, which will fall on July 18th, Nelson Mandela’s birthday. Mandela Day will act as a global call to action for people to recognize their individual power to make an imprint and help change the world around them for the better. The Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664 are calling upon people around the world to commit 67 minutes (Nelson Mandela has been making an imprint on the world for 67 years) of their time to make an imprint and help change the world around them.
President Mandela said, “We are honored to be awarded by the institute representing the work and life of our fellow humanitarian Arthur Ashe. We accept the award on behalf of all the people in South Africa and indeed across the globe who have dedicated their lives and efforts to the interests of others. Arthur Ashe is one such person and we are honored to be associated with this prestigious award.”
“We’re honored that President Mandela accepts The 2009 ESPYs’ Arthur Ashe Courage Award,” John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president added. “His action at the 1995 Rugby World Cup was an iconic moment in sports history. The image – of the previously divided nation, now united under South African colors – shows the importance of sport to society.”
ESPN Inc. will provide unprecedented multimedia coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, June 11 — July 11, 2010. All 64 matches of the FIFA World Cup will be aired live and in high definition on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. ESPN360.com will also feature all matches on the ESPN networks.
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is presented each year to individuals whose contributions transcend sports. In 2008, it was given to U.S. Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos who stunned the world after winning gold and bronze medals, by bowing their heads and raising their black-gloved fists toward the sky as the national anthem played. In 2007, it was given to Trevor Ringland and Dave Cullen for their work with PeacePlayers, an organization founded to bring enemies together through basketball.
Additional past recipients include: Jim Valvano (1993), Steve Palermo (1994), Howard Cosell (1995), Loretta Claiborne (1996), Muhammad Ali (1997), Dean Smith (1998), Billie Jean King (1999), Dave Sanders (2000), Olympian Cathy Freeman (2001), Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett and Jeremy Glick, four passengers who lost their lives September 11 on United Flight 93 (2002), Pat and Kevin Tillman (2003), Liberian-born soccer legend George Weah (2004), disabled athletes Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah and Jim MacLaren (2005) and Afghan female athletes (2006).
The ESPYs
The ESPYs gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances. The 2009 ESPYs will recognize both sport-specific achievements, such as “Best MLB Player” and “Best WNBA Player,” and best-in-sport winners, such as “Best Team” or “Best Female Athlete” that pit nominees from different sports against each other. The ESPYs honor ESPN’s commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a partnership launched with the late Jim Valvano at the inaugural ESPYs in 1993.
Fans will determine the winners in all categories (except the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and other special awards) by voting online at www.espys.tv starting June 25 through July 11.
* The show will be taped Wednesday, July 15 from the Nokia Theatre at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles
* For the second time in several years, a limited amount of ESPYs tickets are available for public purchase through www.ticketmaster.com.
This from my friend Joe Favorito. This is a release from the International Baseball Federation and its pitch to the International Olympic Committee to reinstate baseball into the 2016 Olympics.
BASEBALL MAKES EFFECTIVE PITCH FOR 2016 OLYMPIC REINSTATEMENT WITH FIVE DAY PLAN, COMMITMENT TO USE BEST PLAYERS Year-round co-marketing plan, grassroots growth and leadership position in anti-doping, potential women’s event all included in presentation(LAUSANNE, Switzerland) – The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and leaders from baseball around the world today presented their outline for baseball’s re-instatement to the Olympic programme in 2016. The presentation, which included IBAF President Dr. Harvey Schiller, Secretary General John Ostermeyer, Major League Baseball President and Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Donald Fehr, IBAF Anti-Doping Manager Jean-Pierre Moser and professional player Sidney de Jong of the Netherlands, outlined the best possible partnership between baseball and the Olympic programme. Sandra Monteiro, president of the Portuguese Baseball Federation, and Ricardo Fraccari, president of the Italian Baseball Federation, are also in Lausanne this week to assist in the effort.
“We feel that we have not just addressed the issues that were presented as to why baseball was removed for 2012, but have also outlined the most effective way in which the Olympic programme can work with baseball’s year-round global marketing capabilities over the next seven years to maximize Olympic exposure,” said IBAF President Dr. Harvey Schiller. “From a game-ending rule, to after-use of venues, to using the best players and generating media coverage, baseball has shown it will do whatever it takes, from the grassroots to the professional level, to be not just a partner, but the best partner, for the Olympic movement.”
The presentation included the following key points:
• Baseball will offer a five-day, eight-team tournament which will allow maximum participation of the top players from the countries that qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games. The qualifier for 2016 would be held during the 2015 off-season.
• Major League Baseball in North America will not broadcast any games directly against the Olympic baseball schedule in 2016, giving the Olympic tournament the widest possible media attention. MLB will not play any games on the final day where the medals will be determined.
• All four potential host cities for 2016 have established baseball stadia and programmes in place.
• MLB will work with the IOC to create a year-round marketing partnership designed to increase awareness not just for baseball, but for the Olympic programme overall.
• Baseball will continue to take a leadership position amongst all sports in anti-doping, and will continue to expand its in and out of competition testing programmes.
• A continued year-round commitment to grow the game globally at the grassroots level for young boys and girls, especially focused on emerging nations and across Europe.
• The commitment from young elite players from around the globe who may be eligible in 2016, including de Jong and top American 16 year old prospect Bryce Harper, to participate in 2016 should their respective countries qualify.The following are excerpts from today’s transcript:
BOB DUPUY:
“Baseball will make a commitment over the next seven years to use all of our assets: television, including our new network which is in more than 50 million homes, and our jewel events, which are broadcast to 225 countries in 13 languages, the world’s best sports digital platform, grassroots campaigns and support of special events such as Olympic day to grow awareness of all of the core values that we share and can promote together. We will work with the IOC to find opportunities in sponsorship and licensing where our year round global reach and popularity and our growing cadre of international stars can assist in growing Olympic marketing opportunities.”DONALD FEHR:
“The MLBPA has and will continue to work closely with the IBAF, Major League Baseball, the Japanese and other professional leagues, and, of course, players the world over to come up with the best scenario so that more top players will be able to participate, and fulfill the dream of representing their countries in the Olympic Games. We will make sure that happens, and the 2016 Olympics will have the best representation of players ever to participate in any Olympics.I am confident that MLB and the MLBPA, along with the NPB, the Korean League and Players Associations in Asia will make available to the qualifying countries a to-be-determ
ined number of top players, with the rest of the roster coming from the best athletes available from the professional ranks. The teams will have a sampling of the best individuals in the sport, and the best-ever representative national teams.Young players in the game today, who are much more familiar with international competition than were players of earlier generations, have already begun to ask about participation in 2016, and to express their intent to do so. In fact, you have a statement from the highest rated young player in America, who has just been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, expressing his commitment to the 2016 Games.”
Baseball was one of seven sports to present to the IOC Monday. It is expected that a recommendation for inclusion of two of the seven sports will be made by the IOC Executive Board during the World Track and Field Championships in Berlin, Germany the week of 15 August. Those sports will then be presented to the IOC membership for a vote at the Olympic Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark 2-5 October. Baseball has been a part of the Olympic programme since 1992, but was voted out of the Games for 2012.
www.ibaf.org.
That’s it for now. I’ll do one more press release post after this. Back very soon.
I meant to post this last night, but again, fell asleep in bed with the computer on. Anyway, I do have more stuff to post and I’ll be back with links soon.
