Guess ESPN weren't happy with the Rockets-Spurs ratings? I wonder how the Lakers are doing rating rise in nationally televised games. I wonder if people are watching because 'It's the Lakers...' or if they just don't care as the Lakers have no star draw any more.
Bizarre. Even though the Lakers are unwatchable trash, you'd still figure ESPN would be in it for the "storyline"
Unhappy? <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>-Last night’s <a href="https://twitter.com/rockets">@Rockets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs">@Spurs</a> telecast on ESPN was the highest-rated <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA">@NBA</a> Christmas Day telecast ever in prime time - a 2.4 overnight rtg</p>— Ben Cafardo (@Ben_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_ESPN/statuses/416234903852703744">December 26, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>More details on <a href="https://twitter.com/espn">@ESPN</a> record ratings for <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NBAXmas&src=hash">#NBAXmas</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rockets&src=hash">#Rockets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Spurs&src=hash">#Spurs</a> up 41% & best Xmas prime-time ever. <a href="http://t.co/mYU8cdBr92">http://t.co/mYU8cdBr92</a></p>— Ben Cafardo (@Ben_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_ESPN/statuses/416239168864260096">December 26, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>More local #'s from <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NBAXmas&src=hash">#NBAXmas</a> ratings on ESPN: <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets">@HoustonRockets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs">@Spurs</a> drew 5.6 in Houston (2nd best ever for reg ssn game on ESPN in H Town.</p>— Ben Cafardo (@Ben_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_ESPN/statuses/416261806923857922">December 26, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
ha. I don't have cable so league pass is the only way for me to watch a good stream. Either it's that or a laggy feed on firstrowsports
It was sarcasm, that's why I'm wondering how the Lakers are drawing on national televised games. If they have taken such a huge hit with the loss of Kobe that ESPN would pull one of their games. Also very odd that this would be the game with the Dwight-Laker storyline going on.
A little bit fishy. It would be extremely curious if it was Dwight's return to LA which was my first thought, but appears to be a home game. Still hard to imagine a game with Rockets superstars and the Lakers brand would get less ratings that T' Wolves vs. Suns.
I'm good with it. It seems at this point NBA fans have basically forgotten about the whole Dwight fiasco. That game had a good chance of being a blowout early, which would destroy the ratings. If there was ever a time to fit in a Suns-TWolves game, that would be it. I'm glad they made the change.
So how many households in SoCal would have been lost to ESPN viewership? Especially with the Dwight/Faker drama. Now that's no longer an issue. ESPN/NBA is essentially doing Time Warner a solid. They need all the revenue they can generate -- especially with their ca$h cow being out another few months (at least). I wonder how much $$$ Time Warner has lost this season? That MEGA cable deal with the Lakers is outrageous. That's the only rational (money) explanation I can give. Otherwise it's just Stern hating on Les Alexander by limiting his national TV exposure. NBA doesn't want America to savor Howard's dismantling of a Kobe-less, star-struck Faker team.
No Kobe in that game takes the luster out of it. Rox don't need to lay another egg against them though. They need to take the rest of the Lakers games off of national schedule.
