Two Press Releases For Your Eyes Only

Time for a couple of press releases for your reading pleasure. One from the NFL, the other from TNT.

First, the NFL says Sunday’s Cincinnati-Dallas game on CBS was part of the #1 rated program of the week. CBS had the doubleheader and the Bengals-Cowboys was sent to most of the country.

NFL GAMES TOP RATINGS IN 24 MARKETS

BENGALS-COWBOYS ON CBS MOST-WATCHED SHOW OF WEEK

NFL games topped the local ratings in 24 of 27 markets last week against competition including the vice presidential debate and MLB Divisional Playoffs (Detroit, Houston and Washington, DC were not measured).

NFL games compared favorably in local ratings to prime-time competition:

Program	# of NFL Markets Ranked #1
NFL Football	24
Local News	1
Ohio State-Wisc. Coll. Football	1
Vice Presidential Debate	1

Nationally, the CBS doubleheader game on Sunday (Bengals-Cowboys) was the most-watched program of the week (Sept. 29-Oct. 5) with 20.0 million viewers (excluding the multi-network debate simulcast).

Following are the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Septebmer 29-October 5:

Week of 9/29-10/5			HH	HH	RTG
Market	Game	Date	RTG	SHR	Rank
Pittsburgh*	Ravens @ Steelers	9/29/08	48.1	66	1
Dallas	Bengals @ Cowboys + Bonus Coverage	10/5/08	37.3	65	1
Baltimore*	Ravens @ Steelers	9/29/08	35.4	65	1
Nashville	Titans @ Ravens + Bonus Coverage	10/5/08	34.5	56	1
Jacksonville	Steelers @ Jaguars	10/5/08	32.7	46	1
Boston	Patriots @ 49ers	10/5/08	30.7	54	1
Cincinnati	Bengals @ Cowboys + Bonus Coverage	10/5/08	30.1	47	1
Milwaukee	Falcons @ Packers	10/5/08	29.6	53	1
Indianapolis	Colts @ Texans	10/5/08	27.9	51	1
Denver	Bucs @ Broncos	10/5/08	26.8	51	1
San Diego	Chargers @ Dolphins	10/5/08	24.3	50	1
Philadelphia	Redskins @ Eagles	10/5/08	23.3	46	1
Kansas City	Chiefs @ Panthers	10/5/08	23.2	45	1
Tampa Bay	Bucs @ Broncos	10/5/08	22.8	37	1
Chicago	Bears @ Lions	10/5/08	21.9	45	1
Charlotte	Chiefs @ Panthers	10/5/08	21.8	40	1
Buffalo	Bills @ Cardinals	10/5/08	20.3	34	1
New Orleans	Bengals @ Cowboys + Bonus Coverage	10/5/08	18.0	27	1
Miami	Chargers @ Dolphins	10/5/08	17.6	36	1
Seattle	Seahawks @ Giants	10/5/08	17.0	41	1
Atlanta	Falcons @ Packers	10/5/08	15.4	32	1
Phoenix	Bills @ Cardinals	10/5/08	15.2	32	1
SF-Oakland	Patriots @ 49ers	10/5/08	15.1	38	1
New York	Bengals @ Cowboys + Bonus Coverage	10/5/08	14.1	26	1

* Local affiliate & ESPN combined

Source: NFL & Nielsen Media Research

Over to TNT and the announcement that the network will air the NBA’s first ever outdoor game. Granted, it’s during the exhibition season, but I’d really love to have seen one in the dead of winter to see how tough the players really are. Oh well. Anyway, Charles Barkley will sit courtside to call the game along with Marv Albert and Reggie Miller.

TNT to Televise Landmark Outdoor NBA Preseason Game with Announcing Trio of Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Marv Albert

Suns vs. Nuggets match-up to be played under the lights at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Oct. 11

TNT, home of exclusive Thursday night NBA doubleheaders throughout the regular season, announced today that NBA legends Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller, alongside veteran play-by-play announcer Marv Albert, will serve as game-side announcers for the outdoor preseason game on Sat., Oct. 11 featuring the Phoenix Suns vs. the Denver Nuggets from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, CA. The landmark game, the first ever outdoor NBA match-up to be played in the U.S., will be televised exclusively on TNT and marks the first time that the three basketball icons have been teamed together for a national broadcast.

TNT’s coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET with
a pregame show hosted by TNT NBA Insider David Aldridge along with Barkley and Miller. Game coverage follows the tip-off show which will be called by Barkley, Miller and Albert, with reporting by TNT’s Cheryl Miller. Aldridge, Barkley and Miller will also appear on the game halftime show.

The 2008-09 NBA season marks Turner Broadcasting’s 25^th year of NBA coverage. The network will tip off the new season on Tues., Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. ET beginning with the NBA Tip-Off ’08 preview show, followed by an exclusive doubleheader starting at 8 p.m. ET featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers @ the Boston Celtics and the Portland Trail Blazers @ L.A. Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET.

That’s it.