Boston Sports Media Watch

From Sports Media Watch:

In Boston, the game drew a 16.1 rating from 8-10:45 PM, down from the 17.3 Bulls/Celtics Game 7 drew in the market earlier this month. The 16.1 topped the 14.2 Hurricanes/Bruins Game 7 the previous Thursday. Not a single Celtics or Bruins playoff game could match the 17.9 rating the Red Sox’ home opener drew in April.

That last line is pretty amazing when you think about it. None of the postseason games could top Red Sox opening day. Those who say this is a Red Sox town first and foremost got more ammo here.

The Patriots routinely score in the mid-20’s for ratings and sometimes higher, but their games are more like “events’ that you schedule your weekend around.

Popularity: 8% [?]

According to Michael Felger on WEEI this morning, last night’s local TV ratings break down as follows:

• Boston Bruins on NESN, 7:00pm – 10.2

• Boston Celtics on TNT, 8:00pm - 12.2

• Boston Red Sox on NESN, 10:00pm – 4.5

Update – According to NESN, the Red Sox number was really 5.5 – since the game was also shown on NESNPlus channels, and those weren’t factored into the 4.5 number.

The Bruins rating was the second highest Bruins rating in NESN history, behind only the 2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game 7 (11.2).

NESN’s ratings in the key demographic categories also established benchmarks, including an 11.4 for Men 25-54 and an 8.6 for Adults 25-54. The Men 25-54 demo rating was #1 in the Boston DMA on Tuesday night while the Adults 25-54 demo rating was second in the market only to American Idol.

Popularity: 10% [?]

More ratings updates, this time from Comcast SportsNet. In their last game telecast of the season, CSN ended on a high note, averaging a  new record 10.1 Saturday night with a peak of 16.6. The national networks (TNT, ESPN, ABC) have the remaining games, but CSN will have full pre and post game coverage.

Once again the Comcast telecast out-rated the TNT telecast, with CSN pulling the 10.1 and TNT a 7.2. Putting those together, that’s a hefty 17.3 average rating for the game.

COMCAST SPORTSNET’S CELTICS-BULLS GAME 7 PEAKS NEAR 750,000 HOMES AND SETS NETWORK RECORD WITH 10.1

BURLINGTON, MA – Comcast SportsNet’s Celtics vs. Bulls Game 7 telecast peaked at a 16.6 rating and 730,400 New England homes while averaging a 10.1 rating and 484,000 homes for the entire telecast. Game 7 smashed the 28-year-old regional sports network’s previous record of 8.2 set one game before during the Celtics-Bulls Game 6 telecast.

Game 7 on CSN was the highest rated sports or non-sports rated program of the evening, out-rating both the Kentucky Derby (7.7) on NBC and the Boston Red Sox (8.6) on NESN. CSN’s telecast bested TNT’s telecast which earned a 7.2 rating.

For the series, Comcast SportsNet averaged an estimated 7.3 rating and 321,200 homes in New England. CSN shared all six of its telecasts in market with a national network (4.4 average) and out-performed the national network by 66 percent.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Turns out it wasn’t just Comcast SportsNet that was a huge winner from last night’s Celtics/Bulls 3OT thriller:

TNT’s Coverage of Celtics/Bulls Game #6 is Most Watched Round One Game in Cable Television History

TNT delivered a slam dunk on Thursday night with the triple-overtime showdown of the Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls Game #6, earning a 3.5 US HH rating and delivering 4,048,000 households and 5,352,000 total viewers making the game the most watched Round One NBA game in cable television history. In addition, the game was also cable’s #1 telecast for the evening in households, total viewers and key adult and male demos. Chicago evened the series at three games a piece with a 128-127 victory in the NBA playoff record fourth overtime game in the series.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Last night’s Celtics/Bulls triple overtime thriller scored a combined 13.4 rating. Comcast SportsNet scored a very impressive 8.2 rating, while TNT netted 5.2.

As the release below shows, that 8.2 is the highest Celtics rating in CSN network history, going back 28 years.

COMCAST SPORTSNET’S GAME 6 TRIPLE OVERTIME THRILLER NETS 28-YEAR REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORK HIGHEST RATINGS IN HISTORY

Celtics-Bulls First Round Series Up Nearly 10 percent over Celtics-Hawks of 2008

CSN Has Deciding Game 7 Saturday Night Starting at 7 p.m.

BURLINGTON, MA – The Boston Celtics are generating more interest than any time during Comcast SportsNet’s 28-year history. CSN achieved its highest rating in network history during the Celtics-Bulls Game 6 triple overtime thriller with an 8.2 rating. Game 6 reached an estimated 360,800 homes in New England.

Despite sharing each telecast in New England with a national network and the absence of Kevin Garnett, CSN is outperforming last year’s historic playoff run through five telecasts by nearly 10 percent. CSN has averaged a 6.8 hh rating (299,200), which is up 9.6 percent over CSN’s 6.2 playoff average through five Celtics-Hawks telecasts.

During the Celtics-Bulls series, CSN has outperformed the national network by 78 percent 6.8 to 3.8. In game 6, CSN averaged an 8.2 hh (360,800) rating and TNT a 5.2. In Game 5, CSN bested TNT in ratings nearly 2 to 1 with a 6.3 hh rating (277,200) and TNT a 3.3.

Tomorrow night’s deciding game seven will also be shown on Comcast SportsNet, with the schedule as follows:

7 p.m. – Celtics Pre-Game Live with Gary Tanguay and Donny Marshall

8 p.m. – Celtics vs. Bulls with Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn

10:30 p.m. – Celtics Post-Game Live

Popularity: 8% [?]

If you haven’t checked it recently the post from the other day where I quoted a bit from Cold Hard Football Facts about pressbox reaction to the Patriots announcing their draft picks via Twitter has garnered quite a number of comments – including from the media members mentioned in the CHFF quote.

Patriots Have Reporters All a Twitter

A few other items:

Check out Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Bulls/Celtics game last night.

NESN’s Comedy All-Stars will be back for season two, starting on May 8th. Hosted by Tommy Davison (“In Living Color,” “Black Dynamite”), every week the show’s lineup will feature a trio of top stand-ups from New England and around the country scoring laughs with sports-only jokes. 

Comics on deck for the season opener are Jeff Dye (“Last Comic Standing”), Alex Thomas (“Just Married,” “Def Comedy Jam”), and Nick DiPaolo (“The Chris Rock Show,” “Rescue Me”).

Submitted without comment:  The Owner Takes a Wife - Boston Magazine.

Popularity: 8% [?]

The Celtics blowout win in game three of their opening round playoff series scored a strong 10.8 rating combined between Comcast SportsNet and TNT.

CSN picked up 6.8 of that rating number, leaving the remaining 4.0 to TNT.

You can browse notes from the TNT broadcast here.

Popularity: 8% [?]

I’m a little late on this, but here goes:

With the Bruins and Celtics going head-to-head on Monday night, the Bruins (according to what I heard on D&C yesterday morning) did an 8.9 on NESN.

The Celtics, did a 9.0, combined between CSN and TNT.

Nationally, the Celtics did well for TNT, according to Sports Media Watch:

Game 2 of the Bulls/Celtics series, featuring a game-winning shot by Boston’s Ray Allen, drew a 2.5 U.S. rating from 7:07-9:53 PM Monday night, up 39% from a 1.8 U.S. rating for Wizards/Cavaliers Game 2 in the comparable timeslot last year.

Popularity: 8% [?]

The Comcast SportsNet Game 5 telecast of the Celtics/Hawks first round playoff series earned a season high 7.7 rating and reached an estimated 354,000 households in New England. Game 5 achieved an 8.0 rating with men (25-54) and was the second most watched program by men trailing only American Idol. Celtics-Hawks Round 1 is averaging a 6.2 rating through the first five telecasts, up 82 percent over the regular season.

Here are some notes and quotes from TNT’s coverage of the game last night:

Announcers: Dick Stockton and Mike Fratello, Cheryl Miller reporting.

Fratello on the Celtics closely guarding Hawks guard Joe Johnson at the start of the game: “You see the extra attention that the Celtics are paying to Joe Johnson, last game the Celtics opened up with a 16-3 run, (with) Atlanta finishing the quarter on a 20-3 run. You hear over and over again, the NBA is a game of runs, there is some truth to that.”

TNT’s Inside Trax showed Hawks coach Mike Woodson giving a pre-game speech to the Hawks.

Woodson on the Hawks being 14 wins away from winning the NBA Championship: “Watching Phil Jackson talking about the Lakers and how he puts up every year 16 wins…we’re 14 wins away from winning the NBA. If that doesn’t drive you, there’s something crazy. And this supposed to be the best team in basketball. Let’s go try to get us some wins.”

Fratello on the skirmish between Hawks center Zaza Pachulia and Celtics forward Kevin Garnett: “It was maybe the biggest play of the game for the Atlanta Hawks because the message they sent was ‘we’re tired of getting beat up, we’re not going to let you push us around, we’re going to stand nose to nose’.”

TNT’s Inside Trax showed Celtics coach Doc Rivers talking to his team during a timeout.

Rivers talking to the Celtics huddle at a timeout: “Don’t get caught up in just your guy, you’re playing great, you’re playing great, you’re playing aggressive but it’s the little things with the team defense.”

Stockton on the positive feedback Celtics coach Doc Rivers gave in the huddle: “In Games #1 and #2 there were always things he didn’t like, but he’s saying they’re playing great.

Fratello: “A coach knows when to build a team up and when it’s time to tear it down a little and start over again. Doc Rivers, he’s trying to give them confidence again. He knows it’s a short series, there’s a lot of pressure on them he’s trying to get this team playing loose and understand that it starts with defense.”

Pierce on keeping the Hawks out of transition in the first half: “That’s the key, you’ve got to keep these young guys with a lot of energy out of transition because they can get to flying and get to jumping and get excited and get confident. So we took care of that part, got them in half court and we’re in business.”

Halftime

Kenny Smith on Celtics guard Sam Cassell playing more aggressively in Game #5 to prove himself: “I know he doesn’t want me to say this, but I’m going to bring it out. I talked to Sam today and he was a little disappointed that down the stretch (the Celtics) didn’t go to him. I told him ‘they didn’t bring you here for the first round, they brought you here for past the first round in those late playoff games against Detroit and everyone else.’ He was like, ‘I’m coming out aggressive today. Because I just want him to know what he has in here.’ (Sam Cassell) takes you to spots, it doesn’t matter how long you are, how quick you are, how good you are, how high you can jump, he runs the spots in the floor and he takes you to the spots.”

Charles Barkley on the Celtics needing Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to step up their game: “It’s time for Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to step up. They are terrific players, but neither one of them have had a breakout game, I see Paul is really being aggressive, but him and Ray Allen have got to step up. KG has been the man on that team all season, but those two guys are more accomplished offensively than Kevin Garnett, they need to step up especially at home.”

Barkley on the NBA issuing no suspensions for Celtics center Kendrick Perkins and Hawks forward Marvin Williams stepping onto the court during a skirmish in Game #4 against the Hawks: “I applaud the NBA for not suspending these guys, it’s a bull rule. You only suspend guys if they escalate the situation; they were wrong for suspending those guys for the Suns last year. It’s a stupid rule and they need to change the rule.”

Fratello on the leadership of Celtics forward Kevin Garnett: “It’s great when you have a leader that people will follow and they follow (Garnett) because he’s an unselfish basketball player, he’s a guy who has high energy night in and night out.”

Fratello on Celtics guard Sam Cassell getting open looks: “Most of Cassell’s looks have been way too easy, there’s no defender within three or four feet in front of him and he’s winding up getting shots that he’s knocking down like he’s in practice.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Celtics forward Kevin Garnett after the Celtics win over the Hawks.

Garnett on what they’ve learned in their two losses against Atlanta: “Composure, continuing to keep the intensity very high, you see the difference in intensity tonight. We’ve got to continue this pressure when we go to Atlanta.”

Garnett on playing Celtic basketball: “Celtic basketball is sharing the ball and sharing yourself on both sides of the court. Tonight defensively we were fine, offensively we can get better, but I’m sure Doc will have us watch tape.”

Popularity: 27% [?]

Here are some excerpts of interest to Celtics fans from Reggie Miller and Charles Barkley’s comments in yesterday’s TNT NBA Playoffs conference call:

Miller on picking Boston in the Eastern Conference Playoffs:  “It’s going to be such a blood bath out West where I see every series going at least six games.  The least resistance is in the East.  It’s going to come down to Boston and Detroit, the two best teams in the East.  Charles and I are in unison that we love the passion that Kevin Garnett has brought to Boston, there is something special that Doc (Rivers) has resurrected in his team. I like the addition of Sam Cassell, he’s been great as of late. I like Boston in the East.”

Barkley on how he sees the NBA Playoffs shaping up: “The East (Conference) is obviously Boston and Detroit, that’s going to be a monster series. They are the two best teams in the East by far. I’m not sure who is going to win it but I think it’s going to be a great series. I can’t even really pick a team in the West (Conference) right now because we don’t know what the match-ups are going to be. It’s up for grabs right now. I think realistically, in no particular order, Utah, the Lakers and San Antonio are the three best teams. San Antonio and Utah could play (each other) in the first round so that would eliminate one of my picks. At mid-season, I picked Utah (to win the West), I still feel pretty good about that pick. I’m not sure if the Lakers can win without (injured center Andrew) Bynum. I don’t think the Lakers want to play Denver in the first round of the playoffs. Any team that can score that much and have guys like Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, they can win any night. (If the Lakers and Nuggets play) it’s not going to be a sweep, it’s going to be a knock-down, drag-out (fight). If New Orleans is the number two seed (in the West) and they play Dallas (number seven seed), I would take Dallas. San Antonio and Phoenix would be a knock-down, drag-out series. But we don’t know who is going to play who. I’m looking forward to the West (seeding) finally being over.”

Miller on an Eastern Conference teams chances to win the NBA Championship: “I would not be surprised if every first round series in the Western Conference did not go six or seven games. And I would not be surprised if a team from the Eastern Conference, once they get to the Finals, end up winning it because these teams in the West are going to be so emotionally drained. Their playoffs started right after the All-Star break when everyone was trying to jockey for position. They’ve been in playoff mode for almost two months now. Meanwhile, Boston and Detroit have been almost cruising the last three or four weeks, resting a lot of players. I would not be surprised if a team from the Eastern Conference ends up winning (the championship).”

Barkley on re-formatting the NBA Playoff system: “The league is always going to be cyclical and you can’t change the rules just for that reason. Detroit and Boston don’t play the same number of games against good teams that the West (Conference teams) do. They get to play Miami, who stink. The Denver Nuggets are a good, solid team but teams (in the West) have to play them three or four times. They have to play the Golden State Warriors three or four times. They have to play the Portland Trail Blazers, who have a bright future, three or four times. The East stinks at the bottom. Even the teams who are in the (East) playoffs aren’t very good teams. The Atlanta Hawks are not a really good team. The Philadelphia 76ers are not a really good team. So the Celtics have to play those teams four or five times.”

Barkley on if the Cavaliers are poised to make a big playoff run: “I think (the trade with the Bulls was) an upgrade (to their roster). I think (the Cavaliers) are better suited for the playoffs when they play against the Celtics or Detroit, they’ve got bigger bodies. I think they are a lot better but the Celtics are (still) a lot better and you never know what the Pistons are going to do. (The Cavaliers) are better suited to make a run in the playoffs. Last year was just a fluke. This year if they get to the Finals, they are going to have to go through the Boston Celtics.”

Barkley on his equal opportunity criticism of players: “I don’t have an obligation to tell the players they are good when they are bad. I don’t say ‘they stink’, I might stay their teams stink. I don’t ever criticize a guy personally. I don’t worry about what the players think. I speak for the fans, they’re watching the games, they know who stinks and which teams stink. I will sit down and go back and forth with any player, and say lets talk about what I said about him and there is a reason why I said it. I don’t think you can have a double standard, a lot of guys in the media will kill a guy they don’t like, but protect ones they do. You’re job is to represent fans and be honest and be fair; I know I do that. I don’t have a hidden agenda against any player.”

Barkley on needing a player who can make a play to win a game: “You need to have a guy on your team that says, ‘we’re not going to lose tonight.’ Everyone in the world knows that the ball was going to Reggie with the game on the line, the ball was going to me with the game on the line, and to Kevin (Garnett) and everyone knows it’s going to go to Carmelo (Anthony) or AI (Allen Iverson) and you say to yourself, ‘I’ve got to score, I’ve got to get a shot that I might miss or I’ve got to set up a guy for a wide open jumper.’ Those to me are the three intangibles. It happens to every great player sometime in the game. It was no different from Larry Bird, Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan. At some point, you’ve got to say I’ve got to make a play for us to win.”

Popularity: 23% [?]