Sports Media Digest- July 9, 2012

http://sportsmediajournal.com/ Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Championship Highest Rated Tennis Event Ever on ESPN- ESPN reports that yesterday’s Gentlemen’s Final at Wimbledon gave the network a coverage rating of 2.9, making it the highest rated tennis match on the network. The total rating for the final was 2.5, 39% higher than a year ago. The Women’s total rating Saturday was 2.0, up 5% over 2011. Over the course of the tournament, ESPn had an average audience of 981,000 viewers, up 65% over last year. Turner Gets Solid Ratings For NASCAR- Turner Sports reports that this weekend’s coverage of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona scored a 3.8 rating and 6.18 total viewers, making it the highest rated Daytony 400 event since 2008. The race was simulcast on both TNT and truTV and featured Wide Open coverage, where the race was aired uninterrupted by commercial breaks. The 3.8 rating was 12% higher than a year ago. Online Viewers of ESPN Set Records for June- ESPN reports that its programming online on ESPN3 and WatchESPN topped 1.1 billion minutes viewed across computers, smartphones, tablets and Xbox to record its best month ever. It also logged an average minute audience of 24,467 across platforms, up 452 percent compared to the same month last year on computers. The numbers were bouyed by strong viewing online for its coverage of Euro 2012. MLB Network to Produce Documentary on Daryl Kile- With 2012 being the 10th Anniversary of the passing of former Cardinals, Rockies, and Astros pitcher Daryle Kile, the MLB Network will produce a special documentary on his life. The Life and Death of Darryl Kile looks back at Kile’s All-Star career, his reputation as a great teammate and family man, and how his death impacted the Cardinals’ play throughout the rest of the 2002 season. Kile died of a heart attack on June 22, 2002 prior to a game between the Cardinals and Cubs. The documentary will feature many exclusive interviews and will be narrated by Bob Costas. The one-hour film debuts Thursday at 9:00p.m. ET.