Sports may still reign supreme when it comes to television programming.
For the first time in 17 weeks TNT topped USA today in the Neilson Ratings revue and won out in all of the three major demographics for viewers. TNT can credit this come-back to the fact that it is covering the NBA playoffs.
According to an article on MediaWeek, the professional basketball game spread on TV was getting a ton of attention. The games were included in four of the week’s top 20 most watched programs.
Not only was TNT successful this week with the coverage of the playoffs, but the regular season coverage made TNT just as successful, making them feel as good as KU did when that last three-point bucket was drained against the Tigers. According to an article called “’NBA on TNT’ Sees Double Digit Ratings Growth, Key Demo Wins,” it said, “For the 52 games the network yielded a 1.1 US rating, a 13% increase over the prior season, as well as a 14% increase in households (1,211,000 vs. 1,061,000). Additionally, TNT experienced major growth across all key demos, yielding increases of 25% or higher across audiences including A18-34, A18-49, A25-54, M18-34, M18-49 and M25-54.”
TNT is not the only network to see ratings helped by sporting events. Fox saw there ratings increase when they aired football playoff games. They trumped all other networks programming and won out in the demographic of 18-49 year olds, which is arguably the best demographic that major networks fight for. Not to mention a little thing called… hmm the Super Bowl… That brings in a few viewers I would say.
Versus is also seeing a ratings increase with its hockey match-ups. It isn’t getting ratings like a Patriots v. Colts game (where of course the Colts win), but ratings are up about 30 percent and doing better than it was on ESPN, according to TV News.
It has been said that all sports are driving ratings up for networks and there are lots of factors involved in this programming miracle. In one article posted by TV Week, bad weather, fan-favorite match-ups, better quality games being broadcast in HD, and the fact that other programming has gone down the tubes since the writers’ strike are all factors in the increase in sports success on TV.
So, then, I think it is fair to say that networks can rest easy when it comes to ratings when they are airing sports on their channel. The proof is in the pudding or should I say the proof is in the puck, basketball, baseball or whatever kind of ball being tossed around a field for viewers enjoyment. If you air it, they will come and Neilson can record it.