ESPN's NBA DRAFT Production, Talent Get Positive Reviews

(From Sports Business Daily)

ESPN earned a 2.4 (2,210,000 HHs) cable NIELSEN RATING for its coverage of the NBA DRAFT on Wednesday night,
UP 14% from a 2.1 (1,940,000 HHs) last year.

Wednesday night's rating and audience mark the second highest for an NBA DRAFT since 1997, behind only 2003 when
LeBRON JAMES went first overall.

In New York, RICHARD SANDOMIR writes ESPN's coverage was "lean and informative while abiding by a rigid formula -- pick, video, analysis, interview."

ESPN "succeeded because its best anchor, DAN PATRICK, was there to juggle the views and egos of a balanced, cohesive panel comprising GREG ANTHONY, JAY BILAS and STEPHEN A. SMITH."

STUART SCOTT's "worst, hip-dude impulses were under control as he interviewed the draft picks, and ANDY KATZ's and RIC BUCHER's trade reporting, on a night of many trades, was top notch."

In Miami, BARRY JACKSON writes "Credit goes to Dan Patrick (who aced his first host assignment on the draft), Bilas (who analyzes college players candidly and cogently) and Andy Katz and Ric Bucher (who disclosed several trades before they were announced)."

In Sacramento, JOE DAVIDSON writes ESPN's draft crew "provided the perfect example of exhaustive research, balanced commentary and plenty of bite -- with a little personality thrown in, so as not to take themselves too seriously."

While Bilas' "analysis was superb," the "only downer of the broadcast" was Scott.
[Boo-yah!]

In Milwaukee, BOB WOLFLEY writes Patrick "did an outstanding job. He directed traffic with ease and precision, setting up his analysts with good questions, essentially making a tough job look easy."

The "other star of the show" was Bilas, who was "articulate, precise, informative and opinionated." But Smith's delivery is "such a caricature -- you find yourself listening not for the content of what Smith says, which usually is unenlightening, but to the way he says it."

Also, ESPN used DICK VITALE "sparingly and that was a gift."