YES Network.com

YES most-watched regional sports network in U.S. for 6th straight year

New Jersey Nets ratings increase by 20 percent

01/08/2009 9:42 AM ET

By YES Network

NEW YORK — The YES Network (www.yesnetwork.com) finished the 2008 broadcast year (December 31, 2007 - December 28, 2008) as the most-watched regional sports network (RSN) in the country in total day delivery (Monday-Sunday, 6 am-2 am) — the sixth consecutive year the network has accomplished this goal.

The YES Network's 2008 Highlights:
• YES was the most-watched RSN in the nation for the sixth straight year:
» YES averaged 29,000 TV households in total day delivery, 16% more than #2 NESN (Boston), which averaged 25,000 households

• YES was the dominant RSN in New York for the sixth straight year:
» For the sixth straight year, YES was the most-watched New York-based regional sports network in total day delivery; its average delivery of 29,000 TV households was comparable to the combined delivery (31,000) of the other three New York-based regional sports networks (MSG, MSG Plus and SNY)

» For the sixth straight year, YES was the most-watched New York-based regional sports network in primetime (7-11 pm), averaging 72,000 TV households

• Highlights of YES' 2008 Yankees coverage:
» Thirty-three YES telecasts of Yankees games in 2008 garnered a 5.0 rating or better, compared to just seven SNY telecasts of Mets games.

» In primetime, YES' Yankees game telecasts regularly out-performed ABC, NBC, Fox and CBS programs in New York. For example, from May 28 to August 7, primetime YES Yankees telecasts were the #1-rated program in the New York DMA 24 out of 25 game days in TV households, Men 18+, Men 18-49, Men 25-54, Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54, and Total Viewers 2+.

» The average 2008 rating for YES' Yankees pre-game shows was 29% greater than that of 2007 (0.9 vs. 0.7).

• And how about those Nets...
» Through Monday, January 5, the YES Network's New Jersey Nets basketball telecasts are averaging a 0.6 household RTG, a 20% season-to-date increase from last season.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Live Data Used

The YES Network features exclusive telecasts of the 26-time World Champion New York Yankees and the New Jersey Nets. The network is available in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania on cable and on the new television services provided by telephone companies, and is also available nationally on DirecTV. In addition to the Yankees and Nets, YES televises college games, as well as Emmy Award-winning biography, interview and magazine programs. Further YES Network information can be found at www.yesnetwork.com.