ESPN Programming Dominates Weekend
(USA Today) -- Twenty years ago in this column, ESPN might have gained a mention amidst coverage of broadcast networks CBS, NBC and ABC. But as has been the case recently, this past weekend was dominated by compelling programming on the ESPN cable networks — sparked by the explosive exchanges between CBS’ Billy Packer and ESPN/ABC’s D¡ck Vitale Sunday morning.
ESPN2 registered a stunning 2.0 overnight rating in large markets and an audience of about 2.5 million viewers for Thursday’s St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) high school basketball victory against Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), rated No. 1 in USA TODAY’s Super 25. The game, featuring NBA-bound LeBron James, drew the largest audience for a regularly scheduled ESPN2 show in the cable channel’s nine-year existence.
ESPN’s Saturday night show for the Heisman Trophy, won by Southern California’s Carson Palmer, jumped 59% to a 2.7 overnight rating. The show was cluttered by excessive promos for ensuing The Junction Boys, a movie about Bear Bryant’s boot camp for his first Texas A&M team.
Maybe the promos scored. The much-hyped film registered a 3.5 overnight rating, nearly matching the combined 3.6 overnight for the ESPN/ESPN2 telecasts of last spring’s equally hyped Season on the Brink. ‘’We did this on the lowest-rated night of the week,’’ said executive vice president Mark Shapiro. ‘’Credit the Heisman lead-in, positive reviews and rainy weather in the East that kept some people at home.’’
ESPN’s Outside the Lines on exploitation of young athletes hosted by Bob Ley on Sunday morning was simply great television, featuring jousts between Packer and Vitale along with Adidas official Sonny Vaccaro.
(USA Today) -- Twenty years ago in this column, ESPN might have gained a mention amidst coverage of broadcast networks CBS, NBC and ABC. But as has been the case recently, this past weekend was dominated by compelling programming on the ESPN cable networks — sparked by the explosive exchanges between CBS’ Billy Packer and ESPN/ABC’s D¡ck Vitale Sunday morning.
ESPN2 registered a stunning 2.0 overnight rating in large markets and an audience of about 2.5 million viewers for Thursday’s St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) high school basketball victory against Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), rated No. 1 in USA TODAY’s Super 25. The game, featuring NBA-bound LeBron James, drew the largest audience for a regularly scheduled ESPN2 show in the cable channel’s nine-year existence.
ESPN’s Saturday night show for the Heisman Trophy, won by Southern California’s Carson Palmer, jumped 59% to a 2.7 overnight rating. The show was cluttered by excessive promos for ensuing The Junction Boys, a movie about Bear Bryant’s boot camp for his first Texas A&M team.
Maybe the promos scored. The much-hyped film registered a 3.5 overnight rating, nearly matching the combined 3.6 overnight for the ESPN/ESPN2 telecasts of last spring’s equally hyped Season on the Brink. ‘’We did this on the lowest-rated night of the week,’’ said executive vice president Mark Shapiro. ‘’Credit the Heisman lead-in, positive reviews and rainy weather in the East that kept some people at home.’’
ESPN’s Outside the Lines on exploitation of young athletes hosted by Bob Ley on Sunday morning was simply great television, featuring jousts between Packer and Vitale along with Adidas official Sonny Vaccaro.