There is a very interesting trend going on in sports broadcasting — perhaps dictated by the economy or compelling storylines. Sports TV ratings are up across the board. The NFL, which remains in a lockout, is coming off a record-setting season of ratings. Fox, CBS and NBC each saw double-digit rating increases this past season.
The first year of the CBS-Turner Sports NCAA basketball tournament — with every game being televised — exceeded expectations and set viewing records for March Madness.
The NBA has seen the effects of the “LeBron factor” with great regular-season ratings. Game 1 of the Boston-Miami series on TNT was the highest-rated NBA game on cable TV, and the first two games of the NBA Finals between Dallas and Miami have had the best ratings since 2004.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals — even though it’s Vancouver vs. Boston — scored its best rating in 12 years.
Even last weekend’s UEFA Champions League Final had 4.2 million people watching, over double last year’s ratings.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
