SI Media Podcast: Why were the NBA Finals ratings the best since 1998?
Episode 124 of the Sports Illustrated Media podcast features a return of the sports media roundtable with Sports Business Daily media writer John Ourand and SI.com columnist Jimmy Traina.
Media Circus: ESPN's long Paul Pierce pursuit has paid off
On this podcast, we discuss the NBA Finals ratings, the best since Michael Jordan’s last Finals in 1998; the impact of super teams on television ratings; why NBC opted to put two Stanley Cup Finals games on NBCSN; the decision by NBC News and Megyn Kelly’s to interview Alex Jones for its news program and what the longterm fallout will be; what ESPN will do with Rex Ryan, if anything; the Sports Business Journal report on how the median age of sports television viewers is soaring upward; who is charge of Fox Sports PR; the NFL Network’s directive for talent not to talk politics on social media; and much more.
Podcast breakdown
• The robust NBA Finals ratings for the Warriors-Cavaliers – 1:30
• Why NBC opts to put two Stanley Cup Games on NBCSN – 8:30
• The Sports Business Journal report on how nearly all sports are seeing a quick rise in average age of TV viewers – 12:00
• How ESPN management will handle the fracas involving Rex Ryan, if they react at all – 17:30
• NBC News and Megyn Kelly’s decision to put conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on its airwaves – 21:30
• The NFL Network telling its employees not to talk politics on social media and not to get into back-and-forths with viewers – 29:30
• How social media impacts those who believe ESPN has gone left as an organization – 33:00
• Who is running Fox Sports PR? – 40:30
• FS1 on FS1 crime – 44:00
• Jimmy on Britt McHenry’s defense of a Philly reporter – 48:00
• The options for those at ESPN who were laid off by the company – 51:30
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