I forgot to post these press releases last night as I was so focused on the 2 hour 24 finale. So I’ll post these now and free up some space in the Fang’s Bites inbox.
TNT says the ratings for Game 7 of Magic-Celtics was the most watched second round NBA playoffs game in cable television history. That’s pretty good.
TNT’s Magic/Celtics Game #7 is Most Watched Second Round NBA Playoffs Game in Cable HistoryFinal Magic/Celtics matchup on TNT is highest rated game of the 2009 NBA Playoffs on broadcast or cable to date
TNT‘s exclusive coverage of Game 7 between the Orlando Magic @ Boston Celtics on Sunday, May 17, set a record as the most watched second round NBA Playoff game in cable television history in households (5,907,000), viewers (8,406,000) and key adult and male demos. The game scored a 5.2 US HH rating, based on Nielsen Fast Nationals, marking the highest rated game of the 2009 NBA Playoffs on broadcast or cable to date. The Orlando Magic overpowered the Boston Celtics, winning 101-82, to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
TNT continues to score with strong growth for its coverage of the 2009 NBA Playoffs including:
· Most watched Conference Semifinals round in cable television history in households (averaged 3,786,000) and total viewers (averaged 5,073,000), beating the previous high for the second round of the 2004 NBA Playoffs.
· TNT’s second round coverage averaged a 3.3 US HH rating for 13 games, up 14% over last year (14 games).
· Magic/Celtics Game #7 earned strong viewership in key demos including:
· A18-34 (2,558,000)
· A18-49 (4,770,000)
· A25-54 (4,565,000)
· M18-34 (1,800,000)
· M18-49 (3,322,000)
· M25-54 (3,156,000)
· To date, the NBA Playoffs on TNT are averaging a 2.6 US HH rating for 36 games, up 8% over last year (36 games).
· Key adult and male
demos have seen strong growth across the board for TNT’s 2009 NBA Playoffs coverage versus last year (36 games):· A18-34 +10% (1,248,000 vs. 1,134,000)
· A18-49 +10% (2,289,000 vs. 2,073,000)
· A25-54 +4% (2,140,000 vs. 1,876,000)
· M18-34 +4% (896,000 vs. 862,000)
· M18-49 +8% (1,627,000 vs. 1,510,000)
· M25-54 +13% (1,513,000 vs. 1,334,000)
TNT’s strong second round growth follows the network’s best first round ratings in cable television history, including the Game #7 showdown of the Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics that was the most watched Round One game in cable television history in households (5,017,000) and total viewers (6,987,000).
TNT’s exclusive coverage of the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Finals will get underway on Wednesday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET with 30-minute edition of NBA Tip-Off with Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst). At 8:30 p.m. ET, LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Orlando Magic in Game #1 of the best-of-seven series. Calling the action will be Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Doug Collins (analyst) with Craig Sager reporting courtside.
Next, ESPN tells us that the NBA Draft Lottery and Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals will be seen tonight.
NBA: Draft Lottery & Game One of Lakers/Nuggets in Western Conference Finals TuesdayThe Kobe Bryant-led L.A. Lakers host the Denver Nuggets, with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, in the first game of the Western Conference Finals Tuesday at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Leading into the game, ESPN will present the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery at 8:30 p.m.
The best-of-seven Western Conference Finals will be televised exclusively on ESPN and ABC. Mike Breen will call the games with analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Doris Burke. ESPN and ABC will offer pre-game studio shows at 8 p.m. throughout the series, including commentary from Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
ESPN Radio will broadcast both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, with Jim Durham and analyst Dr. Jack Ramsay on the Lakers/Nuggets (Games 1 and 2) and Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown calling Cleveland/Orlando Games 1 and 2.
Date
Time (ET)
Programming
Network/Platform
Tues., May 19
8 p.m.
NBA Shootaround
Stuart Scott, Jon Barry, Magic Johnson, Michael Wilbon
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV
8:30 p.m.
NBA Draft Lottery
Bristol – Matt Winer, Avery Johnson, Tim Legler
Secaucus – Mark Jones, Jay Bilas, Lisa Salters
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV
9 p.m.
Denver at L.A., Game 1
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com; ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Thurs., May 21
8 p.m.
NBA Shootaround
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com; ESPN Mobile TV
9 p.m.
Denver at L.A., Game 2
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com; ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Sat., May 23
8 p.m.
NBA Countdown
ABC, ABC HD
8:30 p.m.
L.A. at Denver, Game 3
ABC, ABC HD, ESPN Radio
Mon., May 25
8 p.m.
NBA Shootaround
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com; ESPN Mobile TV
9 p.m.
L.A. at Denver, Game 4
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com; ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Wed., May 27
8 p.m.
NBA Shootaround
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com; ESPN Mobile TV
9 p.m.
Denver at L.A., Game 5*
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com; ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Fri., May 29
8 p.m.
NBA Shootaround
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com; ESPN Mobile TV
9 p.m.
L.A. at Denver, Game 6*
ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com; ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Sun., May 31
8 p.m.
NBA Countdown
ABC, ABC HD
8:30 p.m.
Denver at L.A., Game 7*
ABC, ABC HD, ESPN Radio
*If necessary
The Golf Channel has added Charlie Rymer to its on-air lineup.
Charlie Rymer Joins GOLF CHANNEL On-Air Team
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 18, 2009) – GOLF CHANNEL announced the addition of Charlie Rymer to the network’s on-air team as an analyst for Golf Central, Live From telecasts and live tournament coverage.
An accomplished player, Rymer spent more than 10 years playing professional golf, with a third place at the 1995 Shell Houston Open his best PGA TOUR finish. He also won the 1994 South Carolina Classic on the Nationwide Tour, and as an amateur, was a two-time All American at Georgia Tech.
Prior to joining GOLF CHANNEL in a full-time capacity, Rymer treated golf fans to his quick wit and “down home” humor as a sports commentator for ESPN since 1998. A native of Fort Mill, S.C., Rymer also contributed to GOLF CHANNEL projects such as Road Trip: Myrtle Beach and served as a co-host on Big Break Prince Edward Island.
Finally, Big Ten Network will have extensive coverage of the conference baseball tournament this week.
Big Ten Network to Air Baseball Tournament in its Entirety
Extensive coverage begins Wednesday from ColumbusCHICAGO – For the first time, the Big Ten Network will televise every game of the Big Ten Baseball Tournament from the first pitch on Wednesday, May 20, through the title game on Saturday, May 23. The tournament will be carried live from the new Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio. An additional game will be played, if needed, at 12 PM ET on Sunday, May 24.*
The Big Ten Network will provide extensive tournament coverage, including post-game press conferences, expert analysis between games, and live interviews with coaches and players before, during and after the action.
“Between our live game and studio coverage, the Big Ten Network will give fans everything they need to follow the Big Ten Baseball Tournament,” said network President Mark Silverman.
Brian Barnhart will do the play-by-play, with Danan Hughes providing the analysis, for the tournament’s first two days. Barnhart, who for many seasons worked as an analyst in the minor leagues, and Hughes, a former Iowa baseball and football player, are both in their second year with the network. The second two days (and
Sunday, if needed) will be handled by Big Ten Network regular Brent Stover doing play-by-play and analysis from former New York Yankees player Scott Pose, also in his second baseball season with the network. Shireen Saski returns as the network’s reporter for all four days.The Big Ten Network studio team of Dave Revsine, Rick Pizzo, and Mike Hall will provide extensive coverage between every game and on Big Ten Tonight, at 10 PM ET on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Big Ten Tonight team welcomes a new studio analyst, Cal Eldred, for those four shows and the between-game coverage. Eldred is a 14-year Major League Baseball veteran who played with the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals after his days as pitcher at Iowa.
Wednesday’s games will pit #4 seed Illinois (33-18, 16-8) against #5 seed Michigan State (23-29, 13-11) at 12:05 PM ET and #3 seed Indiana (28-25, 16-7) against #6 seed Purdue (24-24, 11-12) at 3:35 PM ET. The top seeds, #1 Ohio State (39-15, 18-6) and #2 Minnesota (35-15, 17-6), will have a bye for the first day’s games and
will begin action on Thursday. Minnesota will play the higher-seeded winner of Wednesday’s matchups at 3:35 PM ET and Ohio State will play the lower-seeded winning team at 7:05 PM ET.Finishing the regular season, the top four teams were clustered at the top of the conference standings. Ohio State was able to break away from the pack with the regular season title thanks to an 8-6 win over Iowa and a Minnesota loss to Penn State by a score of 10-8. Purdue beat Illinois this weekend, securing the tournament’s last spot and giving Indiana the #3 seed and a half-game lead over the Illini.
*Due to the nature of double-elimination tournaments, the second championship game would be necessary if the winner of the first championship game had lost one game previously.
Game Broadcast Schedule: The Big Ten
Network will present exclusive live coverage of ten Big Ten Baseball Tournament games.All times Eastern
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: 12:05 PM: No. 4 Seed Illinois vs. No. 5 Seed Michigan State
Game 2: 3:35 PM: No. 3 Seed Indiana vs. No. 6 Seed PurdueThursday, May 21
Game 3: 12:05 PM: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 4: 3:35 PM: Highest Seed of Games 1 & 2 Winners vs. No. 2 Seed Minnesota
Game 5: 7:05 PM: Lowest Seed of Games 1 & 2 Winners vs. No. 1 Seed Ohio StateFriday, May 22
Game 6: 12:05 PM: Winner Game 3 vs. Lowest Seed of Games 4 & 5 Losers**
Game 7: 3:35 PM: Winner Game 6 vs. Highest Seed of Games 4 & 5 Losers**
Semifinal – Game 8: 7:05 PM: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4Saturday, May 23
Semifinal – Game 9: 3:35 PM: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8
Championship – Game 10: 7:05 PM: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9Sunday, May 24 (If Necessary)***
Second Championship – Game 11: 12:05 PM: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10**Exception: if either of the Games 4 or 5 losers has already had a bye, that team will play in Game 6, regardless of seed.
***If winner of Game 10 is also the winner of Game 9, Winner and Loser of Game 10 will play in an 11th game on Sunday.
That does it.
