Gopher Matchup vs. MSU breaks BTN Record
Minnesota-Michigan State game was network’s highest-rated basketball game ever
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network’s Minnesota-Michigan State Big Ten Tournament overtime thriller Friday at the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis was the day’s top-rated cable program throughout the network’s eight metered markets. It also was the network’s highest rated basketball game in its three-year history.
The game averaged a combined 2.2 household rating (HH) in the eight metered markets. In addition, based on Nielsen metered market data, the game had an estimated total audience of well over half a million viewers across the country.
“What a tremendous way to end our third season of live basketball event coverage,” Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said. “It speaks well for the network’s growth and indicates that we’re on a very positive trajectory.”
The network’s previous single-game record for basketball ratings was the Purdue-Ohio State game on Feb. 17 in Columbus, which averaged a 1.9 HH rating in the eight metered markets.
The broadcast team of Gus Johnson, Shon Morris and Charissa Thompson called Friday’s overtime thriller. Minnesota’s 72-67 victory helped bolster the Golden Gophers’ NCAA Tournament resume.
Minnesota led by just two at halftime before stretching the lead to 10 points midway through the second half. Michigan State rallied to tie the game and force overtime, but the Gophers dominated the extra five minutes to capture the win. For Minnesota, the victory marked the 20th win for coach Tubby Smith and the Golden Gophers. Smith has led his teams to the 20-win plateau in each of the last 17 years.
Both Minnesota and Michigan State have earned at-large bids to this week’s NCAA Tournament.
Source: Nielsen Arianna Overnights (3/12/10). Metered Markets: Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis
About the Big Ten Network: The Big Ten Network is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With approximately 350 live events, and nearly all of them in HD, the network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. The network operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, showcasing a wide array of classic-to-current sports and televising more Olympic sporting events and women’s sports than has ever been aired on any other network. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation’s finest universities. Each year, the network offers between 35 and 40 football games, 105 regular season men’s basketball games; 55 women’s basketball games; dozens of Big Ten Championship events; studio shows; coaches’ shows; and classic games. Available to all cable and satellite providers nationwide and in Canada, the network currently has agreements with more than 300 affiliates, including AT&T U-Verse, Atlantic Broadband, Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox (Cleveland, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Omaha), DirecTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Rogers Cable (Canada), Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct (Canada), Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS. For updated information on the Big Ten Network, go to www.BigTenNetwork.com.
