Wild-Avs Game 1 a hit on TV

Wild playoff opener grabs a big TV rating while Timberwolves are virtually ignored.

By JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune

Last update: April 10, 2008 - 12:54 PM

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The Wild's 3-2 overtime loss to Colorado on Wednesday provided a ratings victory for KSTC.

The game registered a preliminary rating of 11.2 with a 21 share, beating all prime-time programming. This included original shows on CBS and the popular "American Idol," which had a 10.1 rating and 19 share from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fox affiliate KMSP (Ch. 9).

The 11.2 means an average of 189,444 households were tuned in. The ratings, which are measured in quarter-hours, peaked between 10:30 and 10:45 p.m. with a mammoth 16.0 (273,072 households) and 33 share.

The rating is the percentage watching a program among all television households; share is the percentage tuned in among those homes with TVs in use at the time.

The Twins and Timberwolves also added to the prime-time competition on television Wednesday.

The Twins' 12-5 victory over the White Sox in Chicago had a very strong preliminary rating of 9.1 with a 16 share on WFTC (Ch. 29).

Not surprisingly, the woeful Timberwolves were essentially ignored.

The prelim number for their 122-90 loss to New Orleans at Target Center was a 0.1 with a 2 share. That means an average of 1,068 households watched the rout.

Final ratings number for Wednesday will be released later today.

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