Predators television ratings up 39 percent from 2003 opener
February 9, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2004) -- Central Florida loves the Orlando Predators! Orlando's Sunday afternoon game with the Tampa Bay Storm drew an overnight rating of 4.3 in the Central Florida area according to Nielsen Media Research numbers released by the Arena Football League on Monday afternoon.
With each rating point representing approximately 13,000 homes in the Orlando television market, an estimated 100,000 fans in Central Florida tuned into the game. The rating was 39 percent higher than the team's 3.2 rating in Week One of the 2003 season. Locally, the Orlando Predators broadcast finished behind the PGA Tour (6.0) but in front of the NHL All-Star Game (3.8) in its time slot.
The season two kick-off of the AFL on NBC on Sunday, Feb. 8 (3-6 p.m. ET) posted a 2.5 overnight rating/5 share for regionalized coverage of five games. The 2.5 rating represents a 14 percent increase over the 2.2 overnight rating/5 share the network earned for last year's inaugural broadcast of the AFL on NBC (2/9/03). The AFL also recorded a nine percent year-over-year attendance increase in week 1 to 14,242, besting the previous high of 13,064 in 2003.
NBC's lead game featured New Orleans' 42-34 win at Philadelphia in a battle of first-year teams. New Orleans led all 55-metered markets with a 7.9/14, followed by Philadelphia with a 5.8/11.
NBC's regional coverage also included Los Angeles defeating Arizona 51-32; Chicago besting Grand Rapids 50-30; New York outscoring Georgia 54- 28 and Tampa Bay topping Orlando 52 â 41.
NBC's coverage of the AFL on NBC continues this weekend on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. ET following the NASCAR Busch series Hershey's Kisses 300 from Daytona. Week two regional games are Chicago at New York; Indiana at New Orleans; and Los Angeles at Las Vegas.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 9, 2004
- Fans point of view of Soul home opener - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
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- New Orleans VooDoo game notes - New Orleans VooDoo
- Thompson, Firebirds share record setting opening night - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Predators television ratings up 39 percent from 2003 opener - Orlando Predators
- Georgia Force have strong showing on TV and in stands - Georgia Force
- Columbus' âAFL on NBCâ ratings up 32% vs. 2003 - Columbus Destroyers
- Carolina Cobras and Gaston County Schools Rally - Carolina Cobras
- Orlando's âAFL on NBCâ rating up 39 percent vs. 2003 - Orlando Predators
- Tampa's AFL on NBC Rating up 200 Percent vs. 2003 - Tampa Bay Storm
- Chicago's AFL on NBC rating up 52 percent vs. 2003 - Chicago Rush
- Philadelphia's rating for AFL on NBC up 132 percent from 2003 - Philadelphia Soul
- AFL on NBC season two kickoff up 14% over 2003 - AFL I
- Rattlers score highest rating ever - Arizona Rattlers
- Austin's âAFL on NBCâ rating up 17 percent from 2003 - Austin Wranglers
- Crush to hold Valentine's party at children's hospital - Colorado Crush
- Firebirds update - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Dragons Open in Grand Fashion - New York Dragons
- Turnovers do in Rampage, fall 50-30 to Chicago - Grand Rapids Rampage
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