YES Network Most-Watched RSN In 2009

[DToTheJ]

This news really doesn't come as much of a shock, what with the Yankees recently winning another World Championship, but Mediaweek reports that the team's YES Network was America's most-watched regional sports network last year. Not only that, but with an 8% increase overall from last year, their primetime average of 82,000 eclipses both the other RSN's in town (SNY and MSG) combined (80,000 average total).

Though, to be fair, MSG doesn’t pull as much punch these days, now that they don’t have any baseball team rights. Sure, there’s NBA and NHL, but what do you have come summertime? Poker? Rangers Classics?

Although, you can’t say YES is immune from danger. I read the other day that a rating for a New Jersey Nets game (I think it was against OKC) got a 0.2 rating! That comes out to about 2,000 viewers! Now those are some loyal fans!

Full story:
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content...ed:+Mediaweek-News-All+(Mediaweek+News+-+All)

 

[MarcB]

Although, you can’t say YES is immune from danger. I read the other day that a rating for a New Jersey Nets game (I think it was against OKC) got a 0.2 rating! That comes out to about 2,000 viewers! Now those are some loyal fans!

What do expect from a team that has 3 wins and 35 losses? (I don't like basketball, so I don't care). An interesting note is that on the radio the games alternate between 3 stations - 66 The Fan, Bloomberg 1130, and WLIB 1190. I know Bloomberg 1130 is probably an overflow station - is WLIB the other overflow station when Bloomberg 1130 tied up?

 

[DToTheJ]

... is WLIB the other overflow station when Bloomberg 1130 tied up?

I would assume so. Actually, I thought it was AM 970, but I could be wrong. Keep in mind, the Nets as well as the Devils actually buy their way onto WFAN (as well as whatever overflow stations their games end up on).

 

[ansky212]

What do expect from a team that has 3 wins and 35 losses? (I don't like basketball, so I don't care). An interesting note is that on the radio the games alternate between 3 stations - 66 The Fan, Bloomberg 1130, and WLIB 1190. I know Bloomberg 1130 is probably an overflow station - is WLIB the other overflow station when Bloomberg 1130 tied up?

The NBA record for fewest wins in a season is 9, so the Nets have an excellent chance of becoming the worst team in NBA history. So I'll bet as the Nets start to approach that record towards the end of the season people will tune in just to see them lose.

 

[BRNout]

I have to point out that New England's NESN isn't that far behind at 76,000 households - and, given those numbers in a less populated catchment area, almost certainly gets much better ratings in it's home markets than YES does. Despite what the article says, it's not totally unchallenged - I believe there's a Comcast Sports regional network also offered on cable systems in New England.

 

[Studio20]

Kind of amazing when you consider Yankee games are only seen on the network in the New York Yankee region. Here in Tampa..home of their Spring Training base...all the Yankee games are blacked out. I haven't had the stomach to see if the Nets games are aired....

 

[DToTheJ]

Despite what the article says, it's not totally unchallenged - I believe there's a Comcast Sports regional network also offered on cable systems in New England.

And from what I understand, Comcast actually acquired Fox Sports New England from Liberty or Rainbow or whomever was responsible at the time. I believe this particular RSN does have rights to Celtics games. You would think with the Celtics winning it all not too long ago, they would have made a dent in NESN's average audience share.