2010 June | Sports Media Journal

Sports Media Weekly Podcast #37- Dan Hoard, Pawtucket Red Sox

June 16, 2010 Keith

We are back for another edition of the Sports Media Weekly Podcast.

On this 37th episode Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites and I talk about the media reaction to the World Cup just underway in South Africa. Specifically we attack those in the media who criticize the sport of soccer for its lack of scoring and think we ALL should join in the revolt.

Also on the agenda, the saving of the Big 12 Conference thanks to an agreement reached between the conference and ESPN, how ESPN and NBC may fair telecasting this week’s U.S. Open in prime time, and we react to the news from a few weeks ago on the sale of The Big Lead to Fantasy Sports Ventures.

Our guest this week is Dan Hoard, play-by-play voice for the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Triple A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Dan talks about his career, which also currently includes serving as voice of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats football and men’s basketball as well as his new upcoming job as television voice of pre-season games for the Cincinnati Bengals.

In our discussion we ask Dan about his work in minor league baseball, his two successful blogs, and one post in particular that became popular involving the story of a PawSox player leaving tickets for ESPN’s Erin Andrews.

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More Good Ratings for the NBA Finals

June 14, 2010 Keith

ABC/ESPN continue to reap the benefits of the Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals.

Sunday’s Game 5 registered an overnight rating of 12.8, the highest of the series thus far and 36% higher than Game 5 of last year’s Lakers/Magic series.

From ESPN PR:

(Sunday) night’s Game 5 broadcast was the highest-rated show of the night for all of television, helping ABC to win the night for all networks in primetime, as was the case the previous four games. The game peaked with a 16.5 rating from 10:30-10:45 p.m. ET.

The broadcast received the highest Game 5 overnight rating since 2004 (Lakers/Detroit, 15.5 overnight rating), a mark that has been achieved by each game of The Finals.

ABC/ESPN See 7.3 Rating for USA/England

June 14, 2010 Keith

So, far, so good for ESPN and ABC and its World Cup coverage.

ESPN has announced that the USA/England opening match scored a 7.3 rating, the highest for a USA first round match and the highest rating for any World Cup match since 1994.

From ESPN PR:

Through five matches, ESPN and ABC are averaging 3,427,000 households and 4,937,000 viewers – up 95% and 108%, respectively, versus the first five games of the 2006 World Cup (1,754,000 households and 2,379,000 viewers in ’06). ESPN’s most-watched game so far is Saturday’s Argentina-Nigeria matchup – a 2.8 household coverage rating, 2,820,000 households, and 3,725,000 viewers. (Note: Ratings and viewership numbers are based on the specific-two hour match windows, not including pre-match studio coverage.)

“The 2010 FIFA World Cup is off to a tremendous start for ESPN,” said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president, content. “Strong viewership on television and other platforms – including the best first round rating in 16 years – and the overwhelmingly positive reaction we are receiving from fans demonstrate the enormous popularity of this global sports event and how ESPN is uniquely positioned to cover it.”

NBC/NHL See Highest Stanley Cup Ratings in 36 Years

June 10, 2010 Keith

The overnight ratings are in for last night’s Stanley Cup Finals clincher on NBC.

The network reports that the overnight rating was 5.8, the highest since Game 6 of the 1974 finals between the Bruins and Flyers.

From NBC PR:

The rating peaked for the final 15 minutes of the game (11-11:15 p.m. ET) with an 8.0 rating and 14 share. The 5.8 overnight is up 41 percent vs. last year’s 4.1/7 overnight for Game 6 between the then-defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby.

Sports Media Weekly Podcast #36- Dermot McQuarrie, Fox Soccer Channel

June 09, 2010 Keith

After a week taking care of business we are back with another edition of the Sports Media Weekly Podcast.

My co-host, Ken Fang at Fang’s Bites, and I start off the show by talking about the good ratings numbers turned in by NBC/Versus for the Stanley Cup Finals and ABC/ESPN for the NBA Finals. There is little doubt that this trend will continue.

We also look into the ability of the MLB Network to telecast games of importance on short notice, specifically the Major League debut yesterday of Nationals phenom Steven Strasburg.

We also look into the media implications of a growing Big 10 and Pac 10 Conference if each are able to lure new members.

Coverage of the World Cup is our focus this week. We are joined on the show by Dermot McQuarrie, Assistant General Manager, Senior Vice President of Production and Programming at Fox Sports International. McQuarrie oversees Fox Soccer Channel, which will provide comprehensive coverage of the events in South Africa beginning tomorrow.

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