Sports Media Watch
@sportsmediawatch.bsky.social
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Sports media news and information. Run by Jon Lewis.
reposted by
Sports Media Watch
Derek Futterman
about 9 hours ago
New on
@sportsmediawatch.bsky.social
: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is reportedly asked to testify on the SBA at a House committee hearing next week; some Scripps channels are unavailable on DirecTV amid carriage dispute; and more sports media news.
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/06/nfl-...
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News: NFL, Scripps-DirecTV, Russell Wilson and more
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly asked to testify on SBA at House committee hearing next week; and more sports media news.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/06/nfl-goodell-congress-scripps-directv-russell-wilson-cbs-sports/
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Rose Bowl could air in 8 PM ET slot under CFP schedule announced Monday. None of the three New Year's Day bowls has been assigned a window, and Rose could air either at 4 or 8 PM. (But not Noon ET, for obvious reasons).
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/06/rose...
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Rose Bowl could air in 8 PM ET window under CFP schedule announced Monday
After moving up from its traditional 5 PM ET timeslot last year, the Rose Bowl could shift into primetime this season.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/06/rose-bowl-timeslot-tbd-afternoon-primetime-possible-cfp/
about 14 hours ago
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reposted by
Sports Media Watch
New SMW Podcast: -- Special two-guest edition: NBC's Jason Benetti and Fox Sports' Will Buxton join the pod for separate conversations about their respective roles on MLB, Indy 500 -- Plus, a preview of the Spurs-Knicks NBA Finals
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
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Jason Benetti of NBC and Will Buxton of Fox join the pod, plus NBA Finals preview
Podcast Episode · Sports Media Watch Podcast · May 31 · 1h 6m
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-media-watch-podcast/id1670516721?i=1000770453586
1 day ago
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The Cubs' Motorola patch is so massive it almost seems at risk to fall off the sleeve.
1 day ago
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NBC primetime this weekend last year: • Saturday: Reruns of "Destination X" and "Yes Chef," plus "Dateline Mystery" • Sunday: Reruns of "American Ninja Warrior" and "America's Got Talent" This year: • Saturday: NBA WCF Game 7 • Sunday: Cubs-Cardinals Sunday Night Baseball
1 day ago
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For those wondering, the NBA Finals does not have a presenting sponsor this year. (Had previously been YouTube TV, which was the first presenting sponsor ever for the event.)
1 day ago
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New SMW Podcast: -- Special two-guest edition: NBC's Jason Benetti and Fox Sports' Will Buxton join the pod for separate conversations about their respective roles on MLB, Indy 500 -- Plus, a preview of the Spurs-Knicks NBA Finals
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
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Jason Benetti of NBC and Will Buxton of Fox join the pod, plus NBA Finals preview
Podcast Episode · Sports Media Watch Podcast · May 31 · 1h 6m
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-media-watch-podcast/id1670516721?i=1000770453586
1 day ago
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reposted by
Sports Media Watch
Can Spurs-Thunder deliver a Finals-level Game 7 audience?
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/spur...
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Can Spurs-Thunder deliver a Finals-level Game 7 audience?
What kind of audience can one expect for the NBA's first conference final Game 7 on broadcast television in 24 years?
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/spurs-thunder-game-7-ratings-prediction-analysis/
2 days ago
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Can Spurs-Thunder deliver a Finals-level Game 7 audience?
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/spur...
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Can Spurs-Thunder deliver a Finals-level Game 7 audience?
What kind of audience can one expect for the NBA's first conference final Game 7 on broadcast television in 24 years?
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/spurs-thunder-game-7-ratings-prediction-analysis/
2 days ago
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reposted by
Sports Media Watch
Richard Deitsch
3 days ago
NEW PODCAST: Sports Media Roundtable. Are the Knicks returning to the Finals of national interest? McAfee lands sport commissioners and the NHL's renaissance season. Guests are
@sportsmediawatch.bsky.social
's Jon Lewis, Armand Broady and Derek Futterman. TO LISTEN:
swap.fm/l/4apy5A6Fma...
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https://swap.fm/l/4apy5A6FmakGYZa2Tfop
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Stanley Cup Final start date moves up to Tuesday. Rest of series will be on the originally-selected ABC dates:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules...
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NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs TV Schedule
Watch or stream every moment of the quest for the Stanley Cup with the 2026 NHL playoff TV schedule on ESPN, ABC, TNT, TBS, and more.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules/nhl-tv-schedule-america-canada/stanley-cup-playoffs/
3 days ago
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Recent WNBA numbers on NBC and ION:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...
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Sports Ratings Tracker
A one-stop page for sports TV ratings news as it arrives, covering all sports and networks for which information is available.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratings-tracker/#post-1342463
3 days ago
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reposted by
Sports Media Watch
Derek Futterman
3 days ago
New on
@sportsmediawatch.bsky.social
: NFL manager/scheduling planning analytics Max St. John discusses the league's Sunday afternoon slate;
@mlb.com
makes CBA proposal that includes centralizing media revenue, ending TV blackouts; and more sports media news.
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nfl-...
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News: NFL, SEC, MLB and more
NFL manager/scheduling planning analytics Max St. John discusses the league's Sunday afternoon slate; and more sports media news.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nfl-sunday-afternoon-sec-media-rights-mlb-rsns/
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Spurs-Thunder Game 5 (Tuesday night) continues trend of multi-year highs:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...
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Sports Ratings Tracker
A one-stop page for sports TV ratings news as it arrives, covering all sports and networks for which information is available.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratings-tracker/#post-1342450
3 days ago
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There is precedent -- the NBA flexed Sonics-Jazz Game 7 from Saturday to Sunday in '96 when Bulls-Magic ended in a sweep. But not doable now, especially since NBC already has "Sunday Night Baseball" set for this weekend.
add a skeleton here at some point
4 days ago
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Multi-year highs continue for NBA conference finals: -- Spurs-Thunder most-watched conference final through four games since Heat-Bulls in '11 -- Knicks-Cavs sweep most-watched ECF since seven-game Heat-Celtics in '23 Usual methodological caveats apply.
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nba-...
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Viewership remains at multi-year highs for NBA conference finals
The NBA conference finals continues to post viewership highs, both for the Thunder-Spurs main event and the Knicks-Cavaliers undercard.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nba-conference-finals-viewership-spurs-thunder-highs-knicks-cavaliers/
4 days ago
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Tonight is NBC's first Thursday night NBA game since 1997. As popular as the NBA was in the Jordan era, NBC largely avoided Thursdays to avoid preempting *reruns* of Seinfeld and Friends. NBC's last Thursday NBA game before tonight? Game 6 of the WCF, decided on a buzzer-beater.
4 days ago
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Interesting ratings item whether you follow NASCAR or not: Coke 600 ratings & viewership on Prime Video were considerably different on a "Big Data + Panel" basis than on the panel-only metric NASCAR is now publicizing. Numbers tell two different stories:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nasc...
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NASCAR Coke 600 ratings tell different stories depending on methodology
NASCAR Coke 600 ratings tell two different stories depending on whether one uses Nielsen's "Big Data + Panel" or 'panel-only' methodologies.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nascar-coke-600-ratings-methodology-big-data-panel-only-prime-video/
4 days ago
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reposted by
Sports Media Watch
Indy 500 viewership down from last year, but still nears high:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/indy...
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Indy 500 viewership dips, but still nears high, in year two on FOX
Despite an all-time finish, Indianapolis 500 viewership could not quite match last year's milestone audience.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/indy-500-viewership-down-nears-high/
5 days ago
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Indy 500 viewership down from last year, but still nears high:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/indy...
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Indy 500 viewership dips, but still nears high, in year two on FOX
Despite an all-time finish, Indianapolis 500 viewership could not quite match last year's milestone audience.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/indy-500-viewership-down-nears-high/
5 days ago
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New on the SMW Ratings Tracker: Numbers for Game 3 of the NBA WCF and Game 2 of both NHL conference finals:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...
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Sports Ratings Tracker
A one-stop page for sports TV ratings news as it arrives, covering all sports and networks for which information is available.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratings-tracker/
5 days ago
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Knicks have been trending in this direction since Brunson acquisition, but let's not undersell how unlikely this run would have seemed a few years ago. Like trying to imagine the Cowboys or Maple Leafs obliterating teams in a historically-dominant run to the championship round.
6 days ago
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New SMW Podcast: -- NFL manager/scheduling planning analytics Max St. John discusses the league's 2026 slate, the process of putting together the schedule, and the factors/strategies impacting the league's decisions:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
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NFL scheduling manager Max St. John on the league's 2026 slate
Podcast Episode · Sports Media Watch Podcast · May 27 · 35m
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-media-watch-podcast/id1670516721?i=1000769871039
6 days ago
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reposted by
Sports Media Watch
Derek Futterman
6 days ago
New on
@sportsmediawatch.bsky.social
: Paramount reportedly appears closer to receiving U.S. DOJ approval for WBD merger transaction; Fox Corporation is said to be paying under $500 million for FIFA World Cup rights; and more sports media news.
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/para...
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News: Paramount-WBD, FIFA World Cup, NFL and more
Paramount reportedly appears closer to receiving regulatory approval for its WBD merger transaction; and more sports media news.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/paramount-wbd-merger-fox-fifa-world-cup-nfl-schedule-expansion/
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Avs and Cavs combine for as many conference final wins as the Mavs.
6 days ago
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The difference in broadcast TV inventory between this year and next is pretty significant. This year: an entire NBA conference final, the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final on broadcast TV. Next year, only the NBA Finals.
6 days ago
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We're at the point of the conference finals where there just haven't been *any* ABC games. ABC has had a number of Game 1s, Game 3s and a few Game 4s. But zero Game 5s, zero Game 6s, and zero Game 7s. Tonight is first conference final Game 5 on OTA since Celtics-Nets in '02.
6 days ago
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Viewership figures from last Thursday -- NBA ECF Game 2 and NHL ECF Game 1:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...
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Sports Ratings Tracker
A one-stop page for sports TV ratings news as it arrives, covering all sports and networks for which information is available.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratings-tracker/
6 days ago
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reposted by
Sports Media Watch
Derek Futterman
7 days ago
New on
@sportsmediawatch.bsky.social
: An in-depth look at the MLB.TV viewing experience across different platforms.
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/mlb-...
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Getting used to the MLB.TV experience -- before the next big change
An in-depth breakdown of the various methods through which users can watch MLB.TV content throughout the regular season.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/mlb-tv-espn-app-vmvpd-fractionalized-experience/
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The NBA Finals returns to New York City for the first time since 1999 two weeks from tonight on June 8 (Game 3).
www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules...
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New York Knicks TV Schedule
Mark your calendars for the 2025-26 New York Knicks season with the following local and national TV schedule.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules/nba-tv-schedule/new-york-knicks/
7 days ago
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Says a lot that four of the seven Eastern Conference playoff series went the full seven games and the Knicks have been this dominant. This has been a tightly contested, evenly matched East ... except for the team at the top.
7 days ago
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Schedule out for day one of NCAA baseball regionals on Friday:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules...
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College Baseball TV Schedule
See where to watch or stream games all season long with the 2026 college baseball TV schedule on ESPN, BTN, Pac-12 Network and more.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules/college-baseball-tv-schedule/
8 days ago
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Believe it or not, Spurs-Thunder is the first NBA conference final to be tied 2-2 after four games since 2022 (Celtics-Heat) -- and first WCF to be tied since 2018 (Rockets-Warriors). This is only the second time since *2014* that the WCF has been tied 2-2.
8 days ago
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Credit to Tirico for noticing the similarities between wide shot of Spurs crowd erupting on Wemby three and Knicks crowd erupting on Larry Johnson's 4-point play in '99. NBC *loved* that Larry Johnson shot and kept trying to recreate it on every big three the next few years.
8 days ago
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The French Open is underway -- schedule below:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules...
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French Open TV Schedule
See how to watch or stream every match at Roland-Garros with the 2026 French Open TV schedule on TNT, truTV, HBO Max and Tennis Channel.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules/tennis/french-open-tv-schedule/
9 days ago
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On one of the busiest sports days of the year, don't for get to check out SMW's daily, updated guide of sports on TV:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-on-tv...
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Sports on TV Today
See where to watch sports on TV today with this daily, updated guide of live games and events on television and streaming.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-on-tv-today-games-time-channel/
9 days ago
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ESPN's NBA conference final, the past four years: 2023: 4-0 2024: 4-0 2025: 4-1 2026: 3-0 (By comparison, the other conference final in those years -- 2023: 4-3, 2024: 4-1, 2025: 4-2, 2026: 2-1.)
9 days ago
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On the latest "On the Air," Armand Broady examines the state of sports TV talk one year after the end of "Around the Horn":
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/on-t...
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On the Air: Debate vs. discussion and the state of sports TV talk
On the latest "On the Air," Armand Broady examines the state of sports TV talk shows one year after the end of "Around the Horn."
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/on-the-air-sports-tv-talk-debate-discussion-around-horn-end/
9 days ago
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New items on the sports ratings tracker: -- NBC's latest Sunday Night Baseball audience -- NHL West Finals opens at high -- WNBA's return to NBC -- Preakness Stakes hits high despite absence of Derby winner
www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...
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Sports Ratings Tracker
A one-stop page for sports TV ratings news as it arrives, covering all sports and networks for which information is available.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratings-tracker/
10 days ago
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reposted by
Sports Media Watch
Richard Deitsch
10 days ago
NEW PODCAST: Sports Media Roundtable. The guests are
@austinkarp.bsky.social
&
@sportsmediawatch.bsky.social
Topics: Can Victor Wembanyama follow LeBron James and Steph Curry as the NBA's top media draw; the NFL's international games; the NHL's TV windows and more.
swap.fm/l/4apy5A6Fma...
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https://swap.fm/l/4apy5A6FmakGYZa2Tfop
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New SMW Podcast: -- Talking NBA conference finals ratings and coverage -- Prime Video's first Game 7 and what it means -- NFL schedule thoughts and more
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
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NBA conference final ratings, Prime's first Game 7, NFL schedule thoughts
Podcast Episode · Sports Media Watch Podcast · May 23 · 50m
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-media-watch-podcast/id1670516721?i=1000769163603
10 days ago
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Spurs-Thunder delivers the largest audience on record for a Game 2 of an NBA conference final. (Beyond the usual Nielsen caveats, note that it was only the second Game 2 to air on broadcast television.) Cavaliers-Knicks opens at high for East Finals:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/spur...
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Spurs-Thunder sets new viewer mark in Game 2; Cavs-Knicks opens at high
The Spurs and Thunder delivered a second-straight milestone audience in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/spurs-thunder-ratings-game-2-nba-conference-finals-cavaliers-knicks/
10 days ago
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Death of NASCAR driver Busch is latest shock for the sport:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/kyle...
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Death of NASCAR driver Busch is latest shock for the sport
NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died after a sudden illness Thursday, the latest shock to a sport that is no stranger to tragedy.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/kyle-busch-passes-away-illness/
11 days ago
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NBA's Silver and MLB's Manfred just shown in mid-conversation on ESPN. Wonder what the topic was.
11 days ago
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Canadiens-Sabres delivers top audiences of resurgent Stanley Cup Playoffs as Games 6 and 7 cap another milestone round:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/stan...
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Canadiens-Sabres scores top audiences of resurgent Stanley Cup Playoffs
A pairing of the NHL's smallest U.S. market and a Canadian team, Canadiens-Sabres still drew the top audiences of a hot Stanley Cup Playoffs.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/stanley-cup-viewership-canadiens-sabres-most-watched-games/
12 days ago
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Notable: NASCAR All-Star Race averaged 1.80M using the Nielsen panel-only metric that NASCAR will be reporting going forward. The race had 1.68M per the "Big Data + Panel" methodology that is still the official Nielsen currency:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...
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Sports Ratings Tracker
A one-stop page for sports TV ratings news as it arrives, covering all sports and networks for which information is available.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratings-tracker/#post-1342191
12 days ago
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Reggie Miller comparing Wemby to Michael J ... ackson. Probably not a comp most would expect.
12 days ago
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NBA follows early round gains with milestone audience for Spurs-Thunder Game 1. Spurs' 2OT win was most-watched conference final opener since 2011 and ranks among top ten in Nielsen people-meter era (1988-present). (With standard methodological caveats):
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nba-...
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After early round gains, NBA starts WCF with milestone for Spurs-Thunder
The Spurs-Thunder West Finals seems poised to turbocharge an NBA playoff audience already up double-digits through the first two rounds.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nba-playoff-ratings-spurs-thunder-wcf-nbc-cavaliers-pistons-game-7-prime/
12 days ago
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reposted by
Sports Media Watch
Derek Futterman
12 days ago
New on
@sportsmediawatch.bsky.social
: NFL owners approve maximum of 10 international games starting in 2027; Versant CEO Mark Lazarus discusses sports streaming; and more sports media news.
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nfl-...
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News: NFL International Series, Versant, NBC Sports and more
NFL owners approve more international games starting in '27; Versant CEO Mark Lazarus discusses sports streaming; and more sports media news.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/nfl-international-games-versant-sports-streaming-dave-flemming-nbc/
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PGA Championship hits ratings, viewership highs:
www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/pga-...
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PGA Championship hits ratings, viewership highs
Like the Masters last month, the PGA Championship delivered another multi-year high in both ratings and viewership.
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/05/pga-championship-ratings-viewership-highs/
13 days ago
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