3.68 Average Household Rating Up 40% Compared to 2011-12 Playoffs on MSG;
2.40 Average Adult 25-54 Rating Up 105%, 3.53 Average Male 25-54 Rating Up 99%
NEW YORK, May 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MSG Network's game telecasts of the New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs delivered a significant increase in average household ratings and key demographic ratings compared to the previous season's first round playoff telecasts.
MSG Network, which carried Games 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the first round series, registered a 3.68 average household rating, up 40% compared to the network's telecasts of the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Knicks and Miami Heat (3.68 HH vs. 2.63 HH). MSG Network carried three games of the 2012 series between the Knicks and Heat.
MSG Network also saw a ratings increase in two key demographics, Adults 25 to 54 and Men 25 to 54. Through four game telecasts, MSG Network averaged a 2.40 A25-54 rating, up 105% compared to last season's average (2.40 A25-54 vs. 1.17 A25-54) and a 3.53 M25-54 rating, up 99% compared to last season's average (3.53 M25-54 vs. 1.77 M25-54).
MSG Network continues its coverage of the Knicks in the 2013 NBA Playoffs with a live postgame show following every Knicks game, including tonight's second round Game 2 matchup with the Indiana Pacers.
MSG Networks is the exclusive local television home of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, New York Liberty and New York Red Bulls, and the official regional sports networks of the New York Giants. MSG Networks also telecasts over 100 live college basketball games and over 40 live college football games from top national conferences (SEC, Big 12, Big East, Pac 12, Conference USA), as well as horse racing, boxing and award-winning original programming. In 2013, MSG Networks received 18 New York Emmy Awards, including 16 for MSG and one each for MSG+ and MSG.com. MSG's 85 Emmys over the past six years are more than any single network or station in the region during that time.
About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG) is a fully-integrated sports, media and entertainment business. The Company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive the Company's overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports owns and operates the following sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Connecticut Whale (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, track and field and tennis. MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from the Company's venues. MSG Media's television networks consist of regional sports networks, MSG Network and MSG+, collectively referred to as MSG Networks; and Fuse, a national television network dedicated to music. MSG Networks also include high-definition channels, MSG HD and MSG+ HD, and Fuse includes its high-definition channel, Fuse HD. MSG Entertainment is one of the country's leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in the Company's diverse collection of venues. These venues consist of Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, the Chicago Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, CA, and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.
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CONTACT: The Madison Square Garden Company
Dan Schoenberg / 212-465-6367
Brian Fisher / 212-465-6754
