News Details

Game 6 Was the Highest-Rated Rangers Game on MSG Since the 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Top Program in New York Last Night Among All Cable Networks

The Game Peaked with a 5.99 Quarter-Hour Household Rating
Between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

Game 7 Thursday Night on MSG

NEW YORK, April 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MSG's Monday night telecast of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Rangers and the Ottawa Senators scored a 4.27 Nielsen household rating, making it the highest-rated Rangers game on the network since May 6, 1997 when the Rangers faced the New Jersey Devils in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals (5.01 HH).

The game telecast was the top-rated program in New York on Monday night among all household-rated programs on cable networks and peaked with a 5.99 quarter-hour household rating between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

Through six games, MSG Networks' coverage of the Rangers-Senators in the first round of the playoffs is averaging a 3.52 household rating, up 52% compared to the first six games of the first round of the 2008-09 playoffs (2.31 HH), the last time the team went at least six games in a playoff series, when the Rangers faced the Washington Capitals (Games 2 and 6 were carried by NBC; all others were on MSG).

Last night's Game 6 telecast on MSG also scored ratings marks in two key demographics. The game garnered a 3.38 rating in the Male 25 to 54 demo, making it the highest-rated primetime (7-11pm) program, including both broadcast and cable networks, in New York last night. The game also notched a 2.67 rating in the Adult 25 to 54 demo to take the top primetime rating spot last night among cable sports networks in New York. Through six playoff games, Rangers telecasts on MSG Networks are averaging a 3.19 rating (M25-54) and a 2.14 rating (A25-54) in the two demos.

The deciding Game 7 of the Rangers-Senators series will take place Thursday night on MSG (time TBD). MSG's coverage will begin one hour prior to the start of the game with the "Nissan Rangers Game Night" pregame show and will continue immediately after the final horn with the "Mercedes-Benz Postgame Show." MSG has exclusive coverage in the New York region of all New York Rangers games in the first round of the NHL Playoffs.

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.

The MSG Network logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8084

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

         Brian Fisher / 212-465-6754

News Provided by Acquire Media