It's a record. Allen Iverson isn't the only one making history in these playoffs. Comcast SportsNet averaged a 16.1 rating in the Philadelphia market for Game 5 Wednesday night. That was the highest rating ever for the channel, topping an 11.4 for Game 2 of the Pacers series this year. Each rating point is equivalent to just over 26,000 homes in the area, which means that more than 418,000 households tuned into the 121-88 Sixers victory.
Perspective is a funny thing.
ESPN sent word this week that its ratings for this year's Stanley Cup playoffs were up 14 percent over last year. The first two conference-final games drew an average rating of 1.58. That was well below the ratings that doomed the XFL and turned it into a one-year catastrophe. For hockey, it was a sign of progress. Crazy business, television.