The Morning Journal: Sports media notes: Cleveland Cavaliers-Detroit Pistons telecast earns big ratings


By Bob Finnan, The Morning Journal & The News-Herald




The Cavaliers-Pistons game on Fox Sports Ohio on Feb. 24 delivered an 11.3 household rating, according to Nielsen. It reached more than 166,000 households.



 This is the second-highest rated non-simulcast game so far this season.



 The following are some highlights from the game:


• The game peaked at a 13.85 HH in the last quarter hour (203,000 households) and averaged over a 12.9 HH in the final hour (189,500 households).


• The highest non-simulcast game of the season to date is the Jan. 28 game vs. the Trail Blazers, which garnered an 11.5 HH.



 The Cavaliers’ 101-83 win over the Knicks on Feb. 22 delivered an 8.9 HH rating, the highest-rated daytime game and the third-highest non-prime time regular-season game ever on Fox Sports Ohio.



 The Cavs are averaging a 7.51 HH in Cleveland on the regional sports network, up 163 percent compared to last year at this time.

2015 Reds TV Schedule Announced

Coverage to begin at 10:00am on Opening Day, Monday, April 6th.

FOX Sports Ohio announced its 145-game Cincinnati Reds television schedule for 2015. A complete schedule is on www.Reds.com.

Play-by-play announcers Thom Brennaman, Jim Kelch, and George Grande, and color analysts Chris Welsh and Jeff Brantley will once again return to the booth to call all the action this season. Jeff Piecoro and Brian Giesenschlag are also back to co-host Reds Live and Jim Day returns as sideline reporter.

The network will kick off the regular season with special coverage of Opening Day beginning at 10:00am on Monday, April 6th. Programming details for Opening Day are forthcoming.

In addition to covering 145 live games, FOX Sports Ohio will have comprehensive coverage of the Reds all season long with the return of Reds Live. The pregame edition will provide fans with commentary, features, and in-depth pregame coverage of the Reds 30 minutes prior to every game telecast. Immediately following the final out of each game, the post-game edition will feature highlights, player interviews and analysis.

Additional Reds Show:
·        Reds Weekly – Wednesdays at 6:00pm
o   Premieres Wednesday, April 15th at 6:00pm
o   Hosted by Jeff Piecoro
o   This 30-minute show will not only break down future match-ups and recaps previous games, but it will also feature the best interviews, highlights, and more.

FOXSportsOhio.com:
  • FOXSportsOhio.com will bring Reds fans the latest news and feature stories all season long. Hall of Fame writer Hal McCoy and sports writer Kevin Goheen will provide analysis of the Reds through pregame notes, feature stories and breaking news. 
Follow on Twitter: #FSOReds #RedsLive

Last night’s Cavs game 2nd highest rated non-simulcast game this season on FSO

According to Nielsen, last night’s Cavs 102-93 win over the Pistons delivered an 11.3 HH rating in Cleveland on FOX Sports Ohio, reaching over 166,000 households. This is the second highest rated non-simulcast game so far this season.
  • The game peaked at a 13.85 HH in the last quarter hour (203,000 households) and averaged over a 12.9 HH in the final hour (189,500 households).
  • The highest non-simulcast game of the season to date is the Jan. 28 game vs. the Trail Blazers which garnered an 11.5 HH.

The Cavs 101-83 win over the Knicks on Sunday afternoon delivered an 8.9 HH rating, the highest rated daytime game and the 3rd highest non-prime regular season game ever on FOX Sports Ohio.

The Cavs are averaging a 7.51 HH in Cleveland on FOX Sports Ohio, up +163% compared to last year’s same-game average.

Tune In and WIN!

Tune in to FOX Sports Ohio’s production of the Cavs vs. Warriors game tomorrow, February 26th at 8:00pm for two chances to win four (4) tickets to an upcoming Cavs game at Quicken Loans Arena.

FOX Sports Ohio takes over Madison Square Garden

On Sunday, February 22, FOX Sports Ohio invaded Madison Square Garden as the Cavs played the Knicks at 1pm and the Blue Jackets played the Rangers at 7:30pm.

 In addition to FOX Sports Ohio airing both games, the team broadcasters had fun sharing in the action of both games in pregame shows on air as well as digitally. They took to social media to promote their team along with the other FSO team and shared behind-the-scenes photos and videos.

 Blue Jackets analyst Jody Shelley joined Cavs analyst Austin Carr and Cavs sideline reporter Allie Clifton on Cavaliers Live pregame show. 



 Jody also made an appearance during the Cavs game to talk about the similarities and differences between hockey and basketball from a hockey player's perspective.

Jody and CBJ rinkside reporter Dave Maetzold shared out images and video of the hard wood to ice transition at MSG.


Carr then had his turn to join the Blue Jacket Live pregame show.

Cavs Fred McLeod and AC enjoyed watching the Blue Jackets game, especially since it was AC's first time to attend a live NHL game.


Crain's Cleveland: Cavaliers' dramatically improved TV ratings are second-best in NBA

In the week leading up to the start of the Cavs’ 2014-15 season, Fox Sports Ohio had already sold almost all of its advertising inventory.

The network’s partners are getting the anticipated bang for their buck. The audience, as expected, has increased as the Cavs have started living up to the lofty preseason expectations.

Sports Business Journal reported this week that the Cavs’ average TV rating of 7.29 on Fox Sports Ohio ranks second in the league. The Cavs’ norm trails only the Spurs, who were generating an 8.08 norm on Fox Sports Southwest.

In addition, the Cavs’ 150% ratings improvement from the 2013-14 season is the NBA’s second-best. The Bucks, with a 323% jump on Fox Sports Wisconsin, lead the league, but their 2.24 ratings average is more than 225% below the Cavs’ norm.

And the numbers are only going up for a Cavs team that won 14 of its final 16 games before the All-Star break.

An industry source told Crain’s that the Cavs’ ratings average is 7.45 (the Sports Business Journal data was collected prior to the conclusion of the first half of the season), which represents a 167% increase from the team’s 2.79 ratings average on Fox Sports Ohio in 2013-14. The latter ratings number — which obviously pales in comparison to any Cavs team featuring LeBron James — still ranked seventh in the league.

Compared to the same number of games in 2013-14, Cavs ratings on Fox Sports Ohio are up 158% this season. Even better: Five of the six highest-rated games were played in the last few weeks.

The six highest-rated Cavs games on Fox Sports Ohio this season are as follows:

• Jan. 27, at Pistons: 12.64.

• Feb. 2, vs. 76ers: 11.96.

• Jan. 28, vs. Trail Blazers: 11.51.

• Feb. 6, at Pacers: 10.04.

• Dec. 9, vs. Raptors: 9.86.

• Jan. 31, at Timberwolves: 9.78.

During the Cavs’ 12-game winning streak, which spanned Jan. 15-Feb. 2, Fox Sports Ohio aired nine contests. Those nine games posted an average rating of 8.95.

The ratings statistics are even more impressive when you consider that 12 of the Cavs’ 82 games are exclusive TNT (seven) and ABC (five) broadcasts — marquee matchups to which Fox Sports Ohio doesn’t have rights. Another factor to consider: a combined 20 of Fox Sports Ohio’s 70 2014-15 broadcasts are on nights in which the audience is split between the local network and ESPN, WUAB, NBA Network and TNT.

During the broadcasts that have included a split between a national network and Fox Sports Ohio, the local channel has won the majority of the time, an industry source said.

The Cavs’ 7.45 ratings average is a little more than a point below the 8.67 and 8.55 norms the team’s broadcasts on Fox Sports Ohio averaged in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, respectively. During those years, when the Cavs were a combined 127-37 in the regular season, Fox Sports Ohio was reaching an audience of more than 130,000 households per night. This season, an average of about 110,000 households are tuning in.

While not quite where they were five years ago, the Cavs’ ratings are still ridiculous by NBA standards.

Only three teams — the Spurs, Cavs and Thunder (6.38) — have a ratings norm of 5 or better. The Heat are fourth at 4.99, a drop of 27% since James left for Cleveland.

And of the five teams that have had the biggest ratings jump this season, only the Cavs and Bulls (4.74) have norms above 2.24 — meaning three of the five clubs had much lower standards to topple.

As we’ve written in the past, Fox Sports Ohio’s contract with the Cavs runs through the 2015-16 season, and an extension will be much more costly than the network’s reported annual rights payment of $27 million.

Could the Cavs eclipse the $45 million annual rights fee that the Rockets agreed to with CSN Houston in 2012, a local TV contract that Forbes reported in January 2014 was the NBA’s second-richest?

We’ll find out soon enough.

Until then, we’ll be watching — along with many others.

Morning Journal: Sports media notes: Cleveland Cavaliers' TV ratings are up


By Bob Finnan, The Morning Journal & The News-Herald



The Cavaliers’ television ratings on Fox Sports Ohio at the midseason point have an average household rating of 7.29, an increase of 150 percent from last year.



 Those ratings are ranked second among regional sports networks in the first half of the NBA season, according to a story in the Sports Business Journal. Only the Spurs’ 8.08 HH rating on Fox Sports Southwest is better among leaguewide RSNs. San Antonio has a 12-percent increase from last year.



 The Cavs’ 150-percent change is second highest among NBA teams, eclipsed only by the Bucks’ 323 percent increase on Fox Sports Milwaukee.



 It’s the Cavs’ highest midseason rating since 2010 — LeBron James’ last year in Cleveland before leaving in free agency.



 James signed with the Heat in 2010, but left to come home in 2014. The Heat’s average rating has plummeted 27 percent compared to last year.

SPORTSTIME OHIO AND CLEVELAND INDIANS ANNOUNCE 2015 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

SportsTime Ohio and the Cleveland Indians announced the 2015 regular season telecast schedule.

The network will carry live all regular season games unless selected for exclusive national coverage. Visit Indians.com for the complete schedule.

Regular season coverage of the Tribe begins with their season opener on Monday, April 6th in Houston when the Indians take on the Astros at 7:00pm. The Indians host the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field in their home opener on Friday, April 10th at 4:00pm.

Online Coverage:
FOXSportsOhio.com will bring Tribe fans the latest Indians news and feature stories all season long. Indians beat writer Joe Reedy (@JoeReedy) will provide analysis of the Indians through pregame notes, feature stories and breaking news throughout the season.


Follow @SportsTimeOhio on Twitter. #STOTribe 

FOX Sports Ohio is ready to “March to Opening Day” with Reds Spring Training Coverage

Including four live Spring Training games and the return of Reds Live – Spring Training Edition Mondays at 10:00pm beginning Monday, March 2nd  

As the Cincinnati Reds head out to Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona, for Spring Training, FOX Sports Ohio will help fans get ready for the 2015 Cincinnati Reds baseball season. In the annual “March to Opening Day,” the network is excited to feature Reds coverage on-air and online as well as host Reds preseason events in Cincinnati throughout the month of March.

Programs & Features on FOX Sports Ohio
Four Live Spring Training games
FOX Sports Ohio will televise four Reds Spring Training games per the schedule below. Thom Brennaman and Chris Welsh will call the action.

Reds Live – Spring Training Edition 
·     Reds fans will get an inside look at Reds Spring Training with the return of Reds Live – Spring Training Edition.  A new 30-minute show will air every Monday at *10:00pm (*unless otherwise noted below) starting Monday, March 2nd showcasing Reds Spring Training news, notes, interviews and features. Jim Day and Chris Welsh will host from the Reds Spring Training complex in Goodyear.

March to Opening Day: Reds Spring Training Coverage on FOX Sports Ohio
Day
Date
Show
Time
Monday
3/2
Reds Weekly: Spring Training Edition
10:00pm - 10:30pm
Wednesday
3/4
Reds vs. Indians
3:00pm
Thursday
3/5
Reds vs. Indians
3:00pm
Monday
3/9
Reds Weekly: Spring Training Edition
10:00pm - 10:30pm
Monday
3/16
Reds Weekly: Spring Training Edition
11:00pm - 11:30pm
Tuesday
3/17
Reds vs. Indians
4:00pm
Monday
3/23
Reds Weekly: Spring Training Edition
10:00pm - 10:30pm
Thursday
3/26
Reds vs. Indians
4:00pm
Monday
3/30
**Reds Weekly: Spring Training Edition
10:00pm - 11:00pm
Schedule subject to change | check local listings for replays |**special hour-long show       

Additional Reds programming: Check your local listings for replays of these shows!
  • Redsfest: This 30-minute program highlights one of the Cincinnati Reds’ most popular annual events and quite possibly one of the best fanfests in Major League Baseball.
  • Reds Caravan: Jim Day and Jeff Piecoro go behind the scenes on the Reds Caravan.
Player Profiles
  • Through a series of promotional vignettes, Reds fans will get a look at players to watch this season including Marlon Byrd, Joey Votto and Billy Hamilton. 
FOXSportsOhio.com
  • FOXSportsOhio.com will bring Reds fans the latest Reds news and feature stories from Spring Training. Reds Hall of Fame writer Hal McCoy as well as sports writer Kevin Goheen will be in Goodyear for a portion of Spring Training. Throughout the entire preseason, they will provide analysis of the Reds through feature articles on FOXSportsOhio.com.
“Road Trip to Opening Day”
  • FOX Sports Ohio will help get fans ready for Reds baseball in Cincinnati with a “Road Trip to Opening Day.” Throughout March, look for the network and Kristine, the FOX Sports Ohio Girl, at various Cincinnati locations as they host events featuring games and prizes. Check FOXSportsOhio.com & follow the network and FOX Sports Ohio Girls on social media for details.
Social Media

Columbus Business First: Blue Jackets’ TV ratings

Columbus Business First: Blue Jackets’ TV ratings up big through season's first half

Staff reporter- Columbus Business First

Not only are more people heading to Nationwide Arena this season to watch the Columbus Blue Jackets, but more are watching from home.
I reported Tuesday about the club overcoming a less-than-stellar first half to get more people through the arena turnstiles than a season ago, so much to the point it ranked second in the National Hockey League for year-over-year growth.

 As it turns out, the Jackets are doing a whole lot better on television, too.

 In 45 regular-season games before the Jan. 23-25 All-Star break, the Blue Jackets generated an average 0.9 TV rating, according to Neilsen statistics.

 And while that's only 8,200 households, the rating is up 49 percent from the first half of the 2013-14 season.

 Fox Sports Ohio, which broadcasts the team's games, offered this statement from General Manager François McGillicuddy.
"Despite the unprecedented amount of injuries the Blue Jackets have had to deal with this season, they have had incredible runs, particularly in December, and are an exciting team to watch."

 McGillicuddy goes on to say last year's Stanley Cup playoff appearance and hype leading up to Columbus' first time hosting the All-Star Game also helped drive ratings.
"The Jackets have secured a core foundation of players, including this year's three All-Stars, and we believe the ratings increase is just the beginning of what's possible," he said.
Surely much more would be possible if the Jackets could string together consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in franchise history, but that's looking more unlikely in the midst of a three-game losing streak and a seventh-place ranking in the Metropolitan division.

 Top-rated games from the Blue Jackets' first half included matchups with the Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings.

FOX SPORTS OHIO ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF REDS CARAVAN

Reds Caravan premieres Friday, February 6th at 10:00pm.

FOX Sports Ohio is excited to announce the return of Reds Caravan, the show that provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Cincinnati Reds’ most recent Caravan tour.

SNEAK PEEK VIDEO

This 30-minute program debuts Friday, February 6th at 10:00pm (or following the Blue Jackets game coverage). Check your local listings for replays.

The 2015 Cincinnati Reds Caravan kicked off Thursday, Jan. 22nd and consisted of four separate tours making 17 fan stops in five states. The tour provided fans with the opportunity to interact with current and former players, broadcasters and members of the Reds front office staff.

FOX Sports Ohio Reds broadcasters Jim Day and Jeff Piecoro joined the West leg of the tour as the Reds took over an Ohio high school and Devin Mesoraco gave one young Reds fan a memory of a lifetime. Plus, find out what happens when third baseman Todd Frazier tries out a flight simulator at The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton.

That and much more on Reds Caravan, debuting this Friday at 10:00pm on FOX Sports Ohio.


Florida Fly Away Winner

The Blue Jackets and FOX Sports Ohio presented the Florida Fly Away in November, in
which fans could watch Jackets games on FSO for a keyword to text in for the chance to go
to Florida and watch the CBJ take on the Lightning. 

FOXSportsOhio.com CBJ writer Alison Lukan caught up the winner of the contest on her
prized trip in Tampa this past weekend.



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