News Details

Season's 3.30 Average Household Rating the Highest Ever; Up 81% Compared to 2010-11

Season Demo Ratings Also Set Record Marks;
Adults 25-54 Up 65% and Males 25-54 Up 54% Compared to Last Season

NEW YORK, May 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MSG's telecasts of the New York Knicks 2011-12 regular season games averaged a 3.30 Nielsen household rating, making it the highest-rated regular season ever on MSG, dating back to the start of the 1988-89 NBA season when the network started tracking household ratings. The 3.30 average household rating was also up 81% compared to the 2010-11 regular season average (3.30 HH vs. 1.82 HH).

The season rating record is the second household rating mark set by MSG in 2012. The Knicks-Nets telecast on Monday, February 20 scored a 7.34 household rating, making it the highest-rated regular season event on the network since the start of the 1988-89 NBA season when MSG started tracking household ratings.

Ratings for the Knicks 2011-12 regular season telecasts on MSG also set records across every key demographic. MSG's Knicks telecasts averaged ratings of 1.62 in Adults 25 to 54 and 1.55 in Adults 18-34, and 2.43 in both Males 25 to 54 and Males 18 to 34 — all season high marks dating back to 2004 when Nielsen switched to the Local People Meter system in New York.

Compared to the 2010-11 season, the Adults 25 to 54 rating increased 65% (1.62 A25-54 vs. 0.98 A25-54), Males 25 to 34 increased 54% (2.43 M25-54 vs. 1.58 M25-54), Adults 18 to 34 increased 6% (1.55 A18-34 vs. 1.46 A18-34) and Males 18 to 34 increased 4% (2.43 M18-34 vs. 2.34 M18-34).

MSG will telecast Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals tonight as the Knicks host the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden at 7:00 p.m. Live coverage starts at 5:00 p.m. with the "Knicks Playoffs Fan Central" special from Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. At 6:00 p.m., MSG will welcome celebrity Knicks fans to the game on "Chase Presents Knicks Blue Carpet" followed by the "Visa Knicks Game Night" pregame show at 6:30 p.m. Immediately following the final buzzer, "Ford Knicks Postgame Show" takes over with complete highlights and analysis.

As the exclusive local television home of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, New York Liberty and New York Red Bulls, MSG Networks telecasts nearly 700 live professional games per year. MSG Networks also telecasts 150 live college basketball games and 50 live college football games from top national conferences (SEC, Pac 12, Big 12), as well as other award-winning original programming. MSG Networks recently earned 16 New York Emmy Awards, including 14 for MSG — tops in the New York region for the third year in a row — and two for MSG+. Over the past five years, MSG Networks has totaled 77 New York Emmy Awards, including 69 for MSG — also the most of any New York station or network in that time — and eight for MSG+.

MSG Media, which consists of the MSG Networks (MSG, MSG Plus, MSG HD and MSG Plus HD) regional sports networks and the Fuse Networks (Fuse and Fuse HD), a national television network dedicated to music, is part of The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG), a fully-integrated sports, media and entertainment business.

About MSG Media

MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from MSG's venues. MSG Media consists of the MSG Networks (MSG, MSG Plus, MSG HD and MSG Plus HD) regional sports networks and the Fuse Networks (Fuse and Fuse HD), a national television network dedicated to music. MSG Media is also responsible for managing interactive initiatives (online, mobile, VOD and iTV) across all business segments. MSG Media is part of The Madison Square Garden Company, a fully-integrated sports, media and entertainment business. The Company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive the Company's overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the Company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports consists of owning and operating sports franchises, including the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Connecticut Whale (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, track and field and tennis. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in the Company's diverse collection of venues. These venues include Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, the Chicago Theatre and the Wang Theatre. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.

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CONTACT: The Madison Square Garden CompanyDan Schoenberg / 212-465-6367

         Brian Fisher / 212-465-6754

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