NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

B-ball, ‘Bachelorette’ help ABC to ratings win

NEW YORK

Basketball and “The Bachelorette” helped propel ABC to a ratings win last week, while the Tony awards, “60 Minutes” and scripted reruns kept runner-up CBS represented in the Top 10 Programs roster.

Games 4 and 3 of the NBA Finals clash between Cleveland and Golden State ranked first and second for the week, according to the Nielsen Co.

NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” was third, followed by a “Hamilton”-revived Tonycast and “60 Minutes.” Two editions of “The Bachelorette” ranked seventh and ninth.

ABC won the week in prime time, averaging 6.6 million viewers, while CBS averaged 5.4 million viewers.

For the week of June 6-12, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: NBA Finals: Cleveland vs. Golden State, Game 4, ABC, 16.57 million; NBA Finals: Cleveland vs. Golden State, Game 3, ABC, 16.47 million; “America’s Got Talent,” NBC, 10.79 million; Tony Awards, CBS, 8.72 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 7.86 million; “Game of Thrones,” HBO, 7.60 million; “The Bachelorette” (Monday), ABC, 6.90 million; “NCIS,” CBS, 6.79 million; “The Bachelorette” (Tuesday), ABC, 6.77 million; “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 6.61 million.

Cosby asks again to cross-examine his accuser before trial

PHILADELPHIA

Bill Cosby’s lawyers will try again to attack the criminal sexual-assault case against him at a July hearing over the use of hearsay testimony at his preliminary hearing.

The defense lawyers insist Cosby’s accuser should have testified at last month’s hearing so they could question her before the case was sent to trial. Instead, accuser Andrea Constand’s police statement about their 2004 encounter was read into the record.

Prosecutors say that’s allowed under a new state law designed to protect victims from repeated court appearances. Cosby’s lawyers say the law remains in flux amid an appeal.

A Montgomery County judge Tuesday set a July 7 hearing on the issue. No trial date is set.

Cosby is accused of drugging and molesting Constand. He calls their encounter consensual.

Associated Press