The collapse of sports ratings

The collapse of sports ratings - Printable Version

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RE: The collapse of sports ratings - Phogge - 10-20-2020

At 60 Minutes my nickname was Captain Grumpy.

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - Leftcoast - 12-12-2020

It’s an annoying truism that in time we all become our grumpy grandfathers.

(Though getting there in 60 minutes must be a record, Phogge!)

lex24 - lex24 - 12-12-2020

I boycotted NBA over the Hong Kong incident. Maybe I’ll watch this year. Watched a ton of baseball. And fair amount of football. The games bring some escape. We (or at least I) need that.

RE: lex24 - BostonCard - 12-12-2020

(12-12-2020, 06:47 PM)lex24 Wrote: I boycotted NBA over the Hong Kong incident. Maybe I’ll watch this year. Watched a ton of baseball. And fair amount of football. The games bring some escape. We (or at least I) need that.

Yeah, that was a weird bit of sycophancy by the NBA. I don’t have an issue with NBA stars protesting police brutality in the US, not so I expect the league to protest Chinese autocracy. But the league rolling over after the CCP’s protest about what an NBA GM accurately commented about what happened in China was sickening.

BC

lex24 - lex24 - 12-12-2020

(12-12-2020, 07:47 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-12-2020, 06:47 PM)lex24 Wrote: I boycotted NBA over the Hong Kong incident. Maybe I’ll watch this year. Watched a ton of baseball. And fair amount of football. The games bring some escape. We (or at least I) need that.

Yeah, that was a weird bit of sycophancy by the NBA. I don’t have an issue with NBA stars protesting police brutality in the US, not so I expect the league to protest Chinese autocracy. But the league rolling over after the CCP’s protest about what an NBA GM accurately commented about what happened in China was sickening.

BC

$$$$. The principle includes interest.

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - StanfordMatt - 12-13-2020

(10-19-2020, 07:09 PM)Snorlax94 Wrote:
(10-19-2020, 01:56 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote:
(10-19-2020, 01:40 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
Quote:According to data compiled by Sports Media Watch, golf's U.S. Open was

down 42 percent. The Kentucky Derby: 43 percent. The Stanley Cup

finals: 61 percent. The vaunted NFL is down 13 percent early in its

season. MLB's division series were down 40 percent. A World Series

between, potentially, Atlanta and Tampa Bay isn't likely to change the

tide.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/16/sports-ratings-down-pandemic-politics/

(may be behind a paywall)

BC

I think this article has the source data. https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2020/10/nba-playoff-ratings-decline-finals-record-low-sports-viewership/

Even with the drop in viewership, I think I saw a report that all 15 of the most watched shows so far during the fall season are NFL games. Sports continues to deliver a bigger audience than other shows to advertisers. The doom and gloomers expecting the rights fees for sports broadcasts to collapse will be disappointed.
Football is the biggest fish in a much, much smaller broadcast pond. If this keeps up, the sports industry will not be able to maintain its current cost level. Who cares if you are still #1 in broadcast if 60% fewer people are watching and have switched to streaming.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens in 2021 and 2022. To some extent, the drop demonstrates the loss of water cooler banter about sports and watching games with friends, and taking kids especially when the kids play those sports. That part should come back eventually.

But streaming services have done a remarkable job this year delivering the goods. I could see myself watching less sports in the future, though I am really looking forward to when I can return to Stanford Football in-person.

If streaming services are ever truly going to rival cable when it comes to live sports they need to solve the delay issue. I tried YouTube TV, Hulu, Sling and Fubo and they were all awful. Cable is double the price but it’s worth it for me. When I watch Stanford games while in a group text with five college buddies it gets really frustrating when they’re all talking about a play that doesn’t show up on my screen until 2 minutes later.

RE: lex24 - Mick - 12-13-2020

(12-12-2020, 07:47 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-12-2020, 06:47 PM)lex24 Wrote: I boycotted NBA over the Hong Kong incident. Maybe I’ll watch this year. Watched a ton of baseball. And fair amount of football. The games bring some escape. We (or at least I) need that.

Yeah, that was a weird bit of sycophancy by the NBA. I don’t have an issue with NBA stars protesting police brutality in the US, not so I expect the league to protest Chinese autocracy. But the league rolling over after the CCP’s protest about what an NBA GM accurately commented about what happened in China was sickening.

BC

Watching noted vocal progressive Steve Kerr roll over for China was particularly nauseating, second only to his prevaricating on the reasons why he flopped on his back to show his belly.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/steve-kerrs-silence-shows-nba-china-relationship-leagues-third-rail

RE: lex24 - chrisk - 12-13-2020

(12-13-2020, 10:08 AM)Mick Wrote:
(12-12-2020, 07:47 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-12-2020, 06:47 PM)lex24 Wrote: I boycotted NBA over the Hong Kong incident. Maybe I’ll watch this year. Watched a ton of baseball. And fair amount of football. The games bring some escape. We (or at least I) need that.

Yeah, that was a weird bit of sycophancy by the NBA. I don’t have an issue with NBA stars protesting police brutality in the US, not so I expect the league to protest Chinese autocracy. But the league rolling over after the CCP’s protest about what an NBA GM accurately commented about what happened in China was sickening.

BC

Watching noted vocal progressive Steve Kerr roll over for China was particularly nauseating, second only to his prevaricating on the reasons why he flopped on his back to show his belly.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/steve-kerrs-silence-shows-nba-china-relationship-leagues-third-rail

At this point in time, it is not a good look for the US to lecture other countries on freedom of speech. The US needs to focus on getting its own house in order to have legitimacy with other cultures. In that sense, Kerr struck the right sense of modesty.

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - BostonCard - 12-13-2020

No, we are hardly perfect. But just imagine the Chinese equivalent of the NBA given the freedom to talk about an equivalent of the Black Lives Matter movement in China. It is unfathomable.

BC

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - 2006alum - 12-13-2020

Friendly reminder that we don't talk politics around here. Thanks!

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - ColoradoTree - 12-14-2020

Like some others, I was really surprised when the early ratings numbers came in showing big drops in viewership. I watched a lot of NBA bubble playoffs and every minute of the Finals. I watched every single Twins game this year on MLB.TV and a lot more random MLB postseason games that I wouldn't have tuned into normally (and I watched several KBO games when that was the only thing going). Now, my football viewing habits have dropped off significantly, and while I normally would've watched every Stanford game, I've missed a couple this year because the season just don't seem all that real to me. Whether it's because the season is shorter, schedules are limited, teams are forced to either cancel games or play with dozens of players out, or because of the different limitations faced by different teams around the country, there's a sense of legitimacy that feels lacking from this year's college football season. And with that gone, I can't shake the feeling that it just doesn't matter, so why invest those hours?

My NFL fandom had already been waning, and perhaps the reality check of covid heightened some of the concerns. I cherished MLB and the NBA bubble as an escape this past year, but I haven't watched a full NFL game this entire season. The desire to do so is just totally lacking.

As for soccer, the seeming greater availability of high-level European club games hasn't changed my viewing habits, but that's not because I don't like soccer, it's because I'm a complete homer when it comes to most sports viewership. I'm a Bundesliga guy in general, and a Hertha guy in particular, so I don't much care if Arsenal-Chelsea or Barca-Real Madrid is on. Happy to catch highlights, of course, but I'm just not watching a match start to finish unless it's my team. That's generally true of all sports for me, with playoffs being the primary exception.

Quick aside: the Lakers were absolutely deserving champs, and there should be no asterisk there. Same thing with the Dodgers--the expanded playoffs created even more hurdles for a great regular season like that (the idea that a runaway division winner could be out of the postseason after two games is abhorrent and I hope that idea is forever banished from the minds of the MLB powers that be), and they did the thing. The 2020 sports seasons will be fascinating conversation topics for years to come, but not in the sense of titles having asterisks, I don't think. (I think a big part of that, at least with the Lakers and Dodgers, is that both of those teams were expected to do very well--if an 8 seed in the bubble had run the table, or if one of those 3rd-place-in-their-division baseball teams had pulled a rabbit out of their hat, it's absolutely a different story.)

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - BostonCard - 12-14-2020

https://www.wsj.com/articles/nfl-ratings-drop-leaves-networks-scrambling-to-make-advertisers-whole-11607781600?mod=hp_minor_pos1

NFL ratings are down.

Quote:Through the first 13 weeks of the season, TV and digital NFL ratings were down 7% across the broadcast and cable networks that carry games, according to Nielsen data. Viewership among men in the 18-49 and 25-54 age categories that advertisers target during games was more significantly affected.

But there is some good news

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-02/sports-rebates-may-return-1-1-billion-to-pay-tv-customers?srnd=premium

You'll get some money back from your cable company.

BC

lex24 - lex24 - 12-14-2020

(12-14-2020, 02:49 PM)ColoradoTree Wrote: Like some others, I was really surprised when the early ratings numbers came in showing big drops in viewership. I watched a lot of NBA bubble playoffs and every minute of the Finals. I watched every single Twins game this year on MLB.TV and a lot more random MLB postseason games that I wouldn't have tuned into normally (and I watched several KBO games when that was the only thing going). Now, my football viewing habits have dropped off significantly, and while I normally would've watched every Stanford game, I've missed a couple this year because the season just don't seem all that real to me. Whether it's because the season is shorter, schedules are limited, teams are forced to either cancel games or play with dozens of players out, or because of the different limitations faced by different teams around the country, there's a sense of legitimacy that feels lacking from this year's college football season. And with that gone, I can't shake the feeling that it just doesn't matter, so why invest those hours?

My NFL fandom had already been waning, and perhaps the reality check of covid heightened some of the concerns. I cherished MLB and the NBA bubble as an escape this past year, but I haven't watched a full NFL game this entire season. The desire to do so is just totally lacking.

As for soccer, the seeming greater availability of high-level European club games hasn't changed my viewing habits, but that's not because I don't like soccer, it's because I'm a complete homer when it comes to most sports viewership. I'm a Bundesliga guy in general, and a Hertha guy in particular, so I don't much care if Arsenal-Chelsea or Barca-Real Madrid is on. Happy to catch highlights, of course, but I'm just not watching a match start to finish unless it's my team. That's generally true of all sports for me, with playoffs being the primary exception.

Quick aside: the Lakers were absolutely deserving champs, and there should be no asterisk there. Same thing with the Dodgers--the expanded playoffs created even more hurdles for a great regular season like that (the idea that a runaway division winner could be out of the postseason after two games is abhorrent and I hope that idea is forever banished from the minds of the MLB powers that be), and they did the thing. The 2020 sports seasons will be fascinating conversation topics for years to come, but not in the sense of titles having asterisks, I don't think. (I think a big part of that, at least with the Lakers and Dodgers, is that both of those teams were expected to do very well--if an 8 seed in the bubble had run the table, or if one of those 3rd-place-in-their-division baseball teams had pulled a rabbit out of their hat, it's absolutely a different story.)

Of course there is an asterisk for the Dodgers. 60 games. That’s not a season. So the Bums haven’t won a legit title since ‘88. And that’s my purely unbiased assessment.....

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - pefloresjr - 12-14-2020

(12-14-2020, 02:49 PM)ColoradoTree Wrote: Quick aside: the Lakers were absolutely deserving champs, and there should be no asterisk there. Same thing with the Dodgers--the expanded playoffs created even more hurdles for a great regular season like that (the idea that a runaway division winner could be out of the postseason after two games is abhorrent and I hope that idea is forever banished from the minds of the MLB powers that be), and they did the thing. The 2020 sports seasons will be fascinating conversation topics for years to come, but not in the sense of titles having asterisks, I don't think. (I think a big part of that, at least with the Lakers and Dodgers, is that both of those teams were expected to do very well--if an 8 seed in the bubble had run the table, or if one of those 3rd-place-in-their-division baseball teams had pulled a rabbit out of their hat, it's absolutely a different story.)

Nope. Real championships are earned through a real season, not an exhibition season with a bunch of wacky rules. Both those teams were clearly very talented but didn't earn real titles. *Champsterisks*
If I were a fan of the teams, I would claim it, but it isn't a real title. I'll even cop to the fact that "We've got the Axeterisk!" because neither team had to/was able to play a full season.

Cheers,
Pete F.

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - BostonCard - 12-15-2020

I will die on the hill that while the college football season was shambolic, Big Game was conducted honorably and the better team won, no "axesterisks" (LOL on the term).

BC

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - teejers1 - 12-15-2020

(12-14-2020, 11:26 PM)pefloresjr Wrote: Nope. Real championships are earned through a real season, not an exhibition season with a bunch of wacky rules. Both those teams were clearly very talented but didn't earn real titles. *Champsterisks*
If I were a fan of the teams, I would claim it, but it isn't a real title. I'll even cop to the fact that "We've got the Axeterisk!" because neither team had to/was able to play a full season.

Cheers,
Pete F.

I've never liked the Lakers or Dodgers, but their championships were 100% legit.

I will cop to not understanding the anti-LeBron sentiment out there. Is the guy confident/cocky? Um, yes - as are all superstar athletes. [Michael was (and remains) the biggest competitive prick in the history of the NBA, which helps explain his greatness]. But back to LeBron, he stays out of trouble, doesn't do stupid/outrageous things, seems pretty measured in his public statements, strikes me as socially aware, and just works his tail off. I suppose people don't like bullies and he has (or at least had) an aspect of his game that simply overpowered opponents. So I can get that one . . . to a degree. But I also admire the reality that he makes the correct basketball play, even if it means passing to someone else for a critical shot, which it often does. If I were a very good player, I'd much rather play with LeBron than many other uber stars because he is willing to share the rock.

The NBA player who seemingly skates from legit criticism is Kawaii (who also is an uber-elite player). All he did was quit on the Spurs, and then before going to the Clippers, he insisted on them trading for Paul George (thereby wrecking another team) before Kawaii would sign with the Clippers. Leonard is a tremendous all-around player, the equal (at least) of LeBron.

KD (healthy), Kawaii, AD, LeBron, and Giannis would be my Top 5 (perhaps in that order).

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - Leftcoast - 12-15-2020

Don't like point guards? I hear there's a decent one in the Bay Area ....

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - teejers1 - 12-15-2020

(12-15-2020, 01:28 AM)Leftcoast Wrote: Don't like point guards? I hear there's a decent one in the Bay Area ....

I do. Love Curry's game and the Ws' style of play. Still, I wouldn't put Curry in Top 5 of NBA.

lex24 - lex24 - 12-15-2020

Luka Doncic has to be in top 5 discussion. And between a healthy Curry and a healthy Durant, I’d take Curry. For the intangibles. He makes everyone better. And he’s a great teammate. Can’t say same about Durant.

RE: The collapse of sports ratings - BostonCard - 12-15-2020

How could you guys have left James Harden off?

From fivethirtyeight, he's the top player right now. In order:
Harden
James
Anthony Davis (another one you left off)
Leonard
Giannis

Durant and Curry were both out this year; I wonder where they'll project when healthy.

BC