The draft, formerly a fixture as a Saturday morning event, has moved to later start times in recent years. In 2010, the draft will switch days altogether, beginning on a Thursday night at 7:30 p.m., USA Today reports.
The first round will air on Thursday, April 22, with the second and third rounds beginning the following night at 6:30 p.m. The draft will then conclude on Saturday with the always exciting fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, beginning at 10 a.m.
From USA Today:
Moving an event to Thursday primetime, a time slot that usually draws heavy viewing, will likely increase viewership for an event that last year drew a combined 39 million viewers on the two networks.
The first round, on the two networks, averaged about 6.3 million viewers — more viewers than any one of the MLB game, or NBA and NHL playoff games, held on the same weekend.
Next year's draft was already set to be a little different, with the owners electing to change the draft order. Previously, the order was determined by regular-season record. Now, teams that make the playoffs will pick after teams that did not make the playoffs, while teams that advance deeper into the playoffs will pick after teams that were eliminated earlier.
