Month: April 2016

Cable TV NFL Draft Ratings Down

The ratings on cable TV for the first round of the NFL Draft, which began last night and aired on ESPN and NFL Network, are down this year, according to reports from Sports Business Journal and Sports Illustrated reporters. ESPN’s ratings went down from 5.1 to 4.7, while NFL Network’s went up slightly from 1.4 to 1.6, for a combined 6.3 rating, down from last year’s combined 6.5 rating. The top-rated cities for draft coverage were Cleveland, Columbus, New Orleans, Dayton, and Birmingham, with Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Buffalo and Nashville rounding out the top ten.

More from Awful Announcing:

But in Boston where there was talk of boycotting the Draft over the upholding of Tom Brady’s suspension and the lack of a draft pick in the first round, ratings there were the lowest among the 56 metered markets according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss…

Even with the lower numbers, the NFL Draft did dominate sports viewing on Thursday night. Viewership for the other rounds will be lower and may even get beat by the NBA Playoffs, but the NFL has spoken and spoken loudly especially for the first round.

ESPN airs on channel 206 on DIRECTV, and NFL Network airs on 212.

NHL Playoffs Second Round Schedule and Cable TV Listings

The Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the real NHL season begins, has made its way to the second round, with eight of sixteen teams eliminated and eight moving on. Here are the schedules and cable TV listings for the second round, already underway, via CBS Sports:

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Game 1: Penguins at Capitals Thurs. April 28 Washington 8 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 2: Penguins at Capitals Sat. April 30 Washington 8 p.m. ET NBC
Game 3: Capitals at Penguins Mon. May 2 Pittsburgh 8 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 4: Capitals at Penguins Wed. May 4 Pittsburgh 8 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 5: Penguins at Capitals Sat. May 7 Washington TBD TBD
Game 6: Capitals at Penguins Tues. May 10 Pittsburgh TBD TBD
Game 7: Penguins at Capitals Thurs. May 12 Washington TBD TBD

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Islanders

Game 1: Islanders 5, Lightning 3 NYI 1-0 Tampa Bay 7 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 2: Islanders at Lightning Sat. April 30 Tampa Bay 3 p.m. ET NBC
Game 3: Lightning at Islanders Tues. May 3 New York 7 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 4: Lightning at Islanders Fri. May 6 New York 7 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 5: Islanders at Lightning Sun. May 8 Tampa Bay TBD TBD
Game 6: Lightning at Islanders Tues. May 10 New York TBD TBD
Game 7: Islanders at Lightning Thurs. May 12 Tampa Bay TBD TBD

Western Conference Semifinals

Dallas Stars vs. St. Louis Blues

Game 1: Blues at Stars Fri. April 29 Dallas 8 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 2: Blues at Stars Sun. May 1 Dallas 3 p.m. ET NBC
Game 3: Stars at Blues Tues. May 3 St. Louis TBD TBD
Game 4: Stars at Blues Thurs. May 5 St. Louis 8 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 5: Blues at Stars Sat. May 7 Dallas TBD TBD
Game 6: Stars at Blues Sun. May 9 St. Louis TBD TBD
Game 7: Blues at Stars Wed. May 11 Dallas TBD TBD

San Jose Sharks vs. Nashville Predators

Game 1: Predators at Sharks Fri. April 29 San Jose 10:30 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 2: Predators at Sharks Sun. May 1 San Jose 8 p.m. ET NBCSN
Game 3: Sharks at Predators Tues. May 3 Nashville 9 p.m. ET USA
Game 4: Sharks at Predators Thurs. May 5 Nashville 9 p.m. ET CNBC
Game 5: Predators at Sharks Sat. May 7 San Jose TBD TBD
Game 6: Sharks at Predators Mon. May 9 Nashville TBD TBD
Game 7: Predators at Sharks Thurs. May 12 San Jose TBD TBD

Enjoy the games.

Google Working on Wireless Internet Service

Google Fiber has been a success in its pilot markets, bringing high speed internet and cable TV to homes in Kansas City and a few other select markets. Further expansion of the Fiber program is slowed by the cost of building fiber infrastructure, so Google is thinking of another way to bring high speed internet into people’s homes, one that will not involve the expensive construction needed for a fiber optic internet network.

More from Science Alert:

And now, the CEO of Google Access (the company that oversees Fiber), Craig Barrett, has announced that they’re working on a plan to beam wireless broadband directly into homes across the US, telling re/code rather mysteriously, “[W]e are experimenting with a number of different wireless technologies.”

So why is this such a big deal? Well, if Google can come up with the technology needed to wirelessly connect every home in America to the internet, it would mean they could bypass the expensive, years-long process of installing physical cables and fibres under streets and pavements.

It would also mean that customers would be freed from the shackles of much-despised tech giants such as Comcast, A&T, and Verizon.

“If Google can figure out how to make the technology work, that would reverberate across the broadband industry, since it would solve the expensive ‘last mile’ problem that broadband companies usually tackle by stringing a web of wires directly into homes,” says Mark Bergen at re/code.

The details are pretty slim at the moment, as per usual when it comes to technology that could, quite literally, change an entire country – especially when you’ve got the likes of Facebook following hot on your heels. But Barrett explains that they’re figuring out how to connect existing fiber lines to wireless towers that could beam out a wireless network.

Another matter to consider is how much power larger companies like AT&T, Charter Communications, and Comcast have with the FCC, and whether or not they will be able to figure out a way to block this innovation in order to save their business. As with everything else in this quickly developing world, we shall see.

NBA Playoffs Cable TV Schedule – First Round

The NBA Playoffs tipped off this weekend, with first round action beginning on Saturday and continuing on Sunday. The Golden State Warriors are heavily favored to repeat as champions after going 73-9 to set the record for regular season wins (and outpace Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, the previous record-setters). The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by Lebron James, are also heavily favored to represent the East and face the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Will it turn out as expected, or will there be some upsets and surprises along the way? Watch on broadcast and cable TV to follow along and find out.

Here is the schedule for the remaining games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, via NBA.com:

Eastern Conference

1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs 8 Detroit Pistons

Game 2 — Wed. April 20, Detroit at Cleveland, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3 — Fri. April 22, Cleveland at Detroit, 7 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 — Sun. April 24, Cleveland at Detroit, 8:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue. April 26, Detroit at Cleveland, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. April 28, Cleveland at Detroit, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. April 30, Detroit at Cleveland, TBD, TNT

2 Toronto Raptors vs 7 Indiana Pacers

Game 2 — Mon. April 18, Indiana at Toronto, 7 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3 — Thu. April 21, Toronto at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 4 — Sat. April 23, Toronto at Indiana, 3 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue. April 26 , Indiana at Toronto, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri. April 29, Toronto at Indiana, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun. May 1, Indiana at Toronto, TBD, TBD

3 Miami Heat vs 6 Charlotte Hornets

Game 2 — Wed. April 20, Charlotte at Miami, 7 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3 — Sat. April 23, Miami at Charlotte, 5:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4 — Mon. April 25, Miami at Charlotte, TBD, TBD
Game 5 * Wed. April 27, Charlotte at Miami, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri. April 29, Miami at Charlotte, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun. May 1, Charlotte at Miami, TBD, TBD

4 Atlanta Hawks vs 5 Boston Celtics

Game 2 — Tue. April 19, Boston at Atlanta, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3 — Fri. April 22, Atlanta at Boston, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Game 4 — Sun. April 24, Atlanta at Boston, 6 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue. April 26, Boston at Atlanta, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. April 28, Atlanta at Boston, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. April 30, Boston at Atlanta, TBD, TNT

 

Western Conference

1 Golden State Warriors vs 8 Houston Rockets

Game 2 — Mon. April 18, Houston at Golden State, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 — Thu. April 21, Golden State at Houston, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4 — Sun. April 24, Golden State at Houston, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R
Game 5 * Wed. April 27, Houston at Golden State, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri. April 29, Golden State at Houston, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun. May 1, Houston at Golden State, TBD, TBD

2 San Antonio Spurs vs 7 Memphis Grizzlies

Game 2 — Tue. April 19, Memphis at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 — Fri. April 22, San Antonio at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 — Sun. April 24, San Antonio at Memphis, 1 p.m., ABC
Game 5 * Tue. April 26, Memphis at San Antonio, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. April 28, San Antonio at Memphis, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. April 30, Memphis at San Antonio, TBD, TNT

3 Oklahoma City Thunder vs 6 Dallas Mavericks

Game 2 — Mon. April 18, Dallas at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3 — Thu. April 21, Oklahoma City at Dallas, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 4 — Sat. April 23, Oklahoma City at Dallas, 8 p.m., ESPN/R
Game 5 * Mon. April 25, Dallas at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. April 28, Oklahoma City at Dallas, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. April 30, Dallas at Oklahoma City, TBD, TNT

4 LA Clippers vs 5 Portland Trail Blazers

Game 2 — Wed. April 20, Portland at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 — Sat. April 23, L.A. Clippers at Portland, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 — Mon. April 25, L.A. Clippers at Portland, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Wed. April 27, Portland at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri. April 29, L.A. Clippers at Portland, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun. May 1, Portland at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TBD

*if necessary

Enjoy the games!

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Cable TV Schedule

After 82 games, the real NHL hockey season begins: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first round matchups are set to begin Wednesday, with the league’s top teams in both conferences playing squads that just snuck in at the last minute. The Western Conference favorites are the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks, who, though they do not have the best record in the conference, have shown they know what they’re doing come playoff time, with three Stanley Cups in the past six years. They also feature likely Hart Trophy (MVP) winner Patrick Kane, who’s taken his skillful dominance to an even higher level this year. Challengers include the Los Angeles Kings (also multiple Cup winners recently), the Dallas Stars with the best record in the Western Conference this year, and the St. Louis Blues, who look to finally replicate their regular season success when it counts.

Here’s the cable TV schedule for the Western Conference’s first round games, via the Detroit Free Press:

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild

  • Game 1, Thursday: Minnesota at Dallas, 9:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • Game 2, Saturday: Minnesota at Dallas, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • Game 3, April 18: Dallas at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m., NBC.
  • Game 4, April 20: Dallas at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • x-Game 5, April 22: Minnesota at Dallas, TBD
  • x-Game 6, April 24: Dallas at Minnesota, TBD
  • x-Game 7, April 26: Minnesota at Dallas, TBD

St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks

  • Game 1, Wednesday: Chicago at St. Louis, 9:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • Game 2, Friday: Chicago at St. Louis, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • Game 3, Sunday: St. Louis at Chicago, 3 p.m., NBC.
  • Game 4, April 19: St. Louis at Chicago, 9:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • x-Game 5, April 21: Chicago at St. Louis, TBD
  • x-Game 6, April 23: St. Louis at Chicago, TBD
  • x-Game 7, April 25: Chicago at St. Louis, TBD

Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators

  • Game 1, Friday: Nashville at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • Game 2, Sunday: Nashville at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • Game 3, April 19: Anaheim at Nashville, 9:30 p.m., USA Network.
  • Game 4, April 21: Anaheim at Nashville, 8 p.m., CNBC.
  • x-Game 5, April 23: Nashville at Anaheim, TBD
  • x-Game 6, April 25: Anaheim at Nashville, TBD
  • x-Game 7, April 27: Nashville at Anaheim, TBD

Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks

  • Game 1, Thursday: San Jose at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., CNBC.
  • Game 2, Saturday: San Jose at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • Game 3, April 18: Los Angeles at San Jose, 10:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • Game 4, April 20: Los Angeles at San Jose, 10:30 p.m., USA Network, CBC.
  • x-Game 5, April 22: San Jose at Los Angeles, TBD
  • x-Game 6, April 24: Los Angeles at San Jose, TBD
  • x-Game 7, April 26: San Jose at Los Angeles, TBD

Be sure to set your DVRs well into the night, because some of these games are going to go long. Enjoy the beginning of the real hockey season: the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Cable TV Schedule

After 82 games, the real NHL hockey season begins: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first round matchups are set to begin Wednesday, with the league’s top teams in both conferences playing squads that just snuck in at the last minute. The Eastern Conference favorites are, by far, the Washington Capitals, who won the President’s Trophy for the best record in the league and featured Braden Holtby tying the record for the most wins by a goaltender in a single season, and Alex Ovechkin notching 50 goals yet again.

Here’s the cable TV schedule for the Eastern Conference’s first round games, via the Detroit Free Press:

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings

  • Game 1, Wednesday: Detroit at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m., NBCSports Network, CBC, Fox Sports Detroit.
  • Game 2, Friday: Detroit at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC, FSD.
  • Game 3, Sunday: Tampa Bay at Detroit, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC, FSD.
  • Game 4, April 19: Tampa Bay at Detroit, 7 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, FSD.
  • x-Game 5, April 21: Detroit at Tampa Bay, TBD
  • x-Game 6, April 24: Tampa Bay at Detroit, TBD
  • x-Game 7, April 26: Detroit at Tampa Bay, TBD

Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders

  • Game 1, Thursday: N.Y. Islanders at Florida, 8 p.m., CNBC.
  • Game 2, Friday: N.Y. Islanders at Florida, 7:30 p.m., NHL Network.
  • Game 3, Sunday: Florida at N.Y. Islanders, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network.
  • Game 4, April 20: Florida at N.Y. Islanders, 8 p.m., USA Network.
  • x-Game 5, April 22: N.Y. Islanders at Florida, TBD
  • x-Game 6, April 24: Florida at N.Y. Islanders, TBD
  • x-Game 7, April 26: N.Y. Islanders at Florida, TBD

Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers

  • Game 1, Thursday: Philadelphia at Washington, 7 p.m., NBC Sports Network, CBC.
  • Game 2, Saturday: Philadelphia at Washington, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC.
  • Game 3, April 18: Washington at Philadelphia, 7 p.m., NBC Sports Network, CBC.
  • Game 4, April 20: Washington at Philadelphia, 7 p.m., NBC Sports Network, CBC.
  • x-Game 5, April 22: Philadelphia at Washington, TBD
  • x-Game 6, April 24: Washington at Philadelphia, TBD
  • x-Game 7, April 27: Philadelphia at Washington, TBD

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers

  • Game 1, Wednesday: N.Y. Rangers at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., USA Network.
  • Game 2, Saturday: N.Y. Rangers at Pittsburgh, 3 p.m., NBC (Channel 4 in Detroit), CBC.
  • Game 3, April 19: Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m., USA Network.
  • Game 4, April 21: Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, TBD
  • x-Game 5, April 23: N.Y. Rangers at Pittsburgh, TBD
  • x-Game 6, April 25: Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, TBD
  • x-Game 7, April 27: N.Y. Rangers at Pittsburgh, TBD

Be sure to set your DVRs well into the night, because some of these games are going to go long. Enjoy the beginning of the real hockey season: the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

March Madness TV Ratings Down from 2015

For the first time this year, the men’s NCAA basketball national championship game aired on cable TV, rather than on network TV. The main broadcast of the game, which was one of the best in recent memory, going down to the wire as Villanova beat North Carolina on a last-second three-pointer, was on TBS, with team-specific broadcasts airing on TNT and TruTV, drawing an average of 17.8 million viewers, down 37 percent from 2015’s final game, for the fourth lowest-rated game in the tournament’s history on television.

More from the International Business Times:

A little perspective, though: Everyone in the TV industry anticipated some sort of drop — not only would the game not be airing on a broadcast network, which has far more intrinsic reach, but the ratings for 2015’s title game shattered records and was up 33 percent over 2014’s final. So while a 37 percent dip is by no means a good thing, 2016 is off 2014’s numbers by only about 16 percent.

That’s also a lot of eyeballs for Turner, which is attempting to get away from the public perception of TNT as the ampersand network (home of shows like “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Franklin & Bash” and “King & Maxwell”) and TBS as merely the home of “The Big Bang Theory” repeats. Consequently, the cable conglomerate devoted several minutes of precious ad inventory — mostly during the halftime show — to introducing audiences to the slick new TNT and TBS brands.

Rather, the trouble might come once total viewership for the tournament is tallied. Turner and CBS, which jointly produce and air the entirety of March Madness, could be facing a 25 percent difference between the ratings they promised advertisers and the ratings they actually delivered, according to media buying sources.

Next year, the game will be back on CBS. We’ll see if the eyeballs return, and if the decision to alternate having the game on CBS or TBS depending upon the year is a bad one.

Men’s National Basketball Championship Tonight on Cable TV

The men’s college basketball season ends tonight on cable TV, with the game itself tipping off at 9:19 EDT on TBS. North Carolina and Villanova, winners of the semifinal games this past Saturday, will face off with the national title on the line. Jim Nantz will call the game with analysts Grant Hill and Bill Raftery and reporter Tracy Wolfson.

In addition to the main broadcast, there will also be team-specific broadcasts on TNT and TruTV. Here’s more information from the NCAA:

“Team Stream by Bleacher Report” or team-specific coverage will include the North Carolina Team Stream on TNT and the Villanova Team Stream on truTV. North Carolina Team Stream commentators will include Wes Durham calling the game with analyst Brendan Haywood and reporter Dwayne Ballen. The Villanova Team Stream will be called by Scott Graham with analyst Brian Finneran and reporter Kacie McDonnell. Team Stream coverage on TNT and truTV will begin at 9 p.m.

National Championship coverage on TBS will begin with the Capital One Championship Central pregame show at 7 p.m. Ernie Johnson will host studio coverage with analysts Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith. They will be joined by Greg Gumbel with analysts Steve Smith, Reggie Miller and Seth Davis.

Pregame coverage will include guest appearances by Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo and Connecticut Head Coach Kevin Ollie. Monday’s coverage will include taped performances from Sunday’s NCAA March Madness Music Festival featuring Maroon 5 and Pitbull, airing as part of the pregame show.

Enjoy the game!