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World Series ratings hit record low for 2nd straight year
stevek
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World Series ratings hit record low for 2nd straight year
By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer
October 29, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- A World Series to remember for the St. Louis Cardinals was one to forget when it came to television ratings.
The Cardinals' five-game victory over the Detroit Tigers averaged a record-low 10.1 television rating and 17 share, Fox said Sunday. This year's rating dropped 9 percent from the previous bottom, an 11.1 for a four-game sweep by the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros last year.
What made the low rating more remarkable was that this year's Series went five games and was not a sweep. St. Louis' 4-2 victory in Friday night's finale got a 10.3/18 in figures compiled by Nielsen Media Research, just above the record low for a Game 5, a 10.0/17 for the San Francisco Giants' 16-4 rout of the Anaheim Angels in 2002.
Games 1 (8.0), 3 (10.2) and 4 (10.4) also were record lows for their games, and Game 2 (11.6) was above the low of 11.1, set last year.
Still, in an era of declining network ratings because of the spread of cable television, Fox was pleased it won prime time in all five nights among viewers 18-49. In an effort to avoid low-rated Saturday night games, the World Series will start on a Tuesday next year, the first season of baseball's new TV contracts.
"We are in the business of winning nights and the World Series consistently helps Fox achieve this goal," Fox Sports president Ed Goren said. "There is also no questioning the tremendous yearly promotional power that one of the worlds greatest sporting events and its 15.8 million viewers per night provides the network."
The Pittsburgh Steelers' 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in February's Super Bowl got a 41.6/62 on ABC, while the Miami Heat's six-game win over the Dallas Mavericks in June's NBA finals averaged an 8.5 rating on ABC. NBC televised the final five games of the Carolina Hurricanes' 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in June's Stanley Cup finals, averaging a 2.3/4.
In St. Louis, World Series Game 5 got a 51.7/71 and the Series averaged a 48.9/65. Detroit got a 34.3/50 for Game 5 and averaged 36.9/53 for the Series.
The national rating is the percentage of U.S. television households tuned to a program, and each point represents 1,114,000 homes. The share is the percentage of households watching a broadcast among those homes with televisions in use at the time.
By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer
October 29, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- A World Series to remember for the St. Louis Cardinals was one to forget when it came to television ratings.
The Cardinals' five-game victory over the Detroit Tigers averaged a record-low 10.1 television rating and 17 share, Fox said Sunday. This year's rating dropped 9 percent from the previous bottom, an 11.1 for a four-game sweep by the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros last year.
What made the low rating more remarkable was that this year's Series went five games and was not a sweep. St. Louis' 4-2 victory in Friday night's finale got a 10.3/18 in figures compiled by Nielsen Media Research, just above the record low for a Game 5, a 10.0/17 for the San Francisco Giants' 16-4 rout of the Anaheim Angels in 2002.
Games 1 (8.0), 3 (10.2) and 4 (10.4) also were record lows for their games, and Game 2 (11.6) was above the low of 11.1, set last year.
Still, in an era of declining network ratings because of the spread of cable television, Fox was pleased it won prime time in all five nights among viewers 18-49. In an effort to avoid low-rated Saturday night games, the World Series will start on a Tuesday next year, the first season of baseball's new TV contracts.
"We are in the business of winning nights and the World Series consistently helps Fox achieve this goal," Fox Sports president Ed Goren said. "There is also no questioning the tremendous yearly promotional power that one of the worlds greatest sporting events and its 15.8 million viewers per night provides the network."
The Pittsburgh Steelers' 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in February's Super Bowl got a 41.6/62 on ABC, while the Miami Heat's six-game win over the Dallas Mavericks in June's NBA finals averaged an 8.5 rating on ABC. NBC televised the final five games of the Carolina Hurricanes' 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in June's Stanley Cup finals, averaging a 2.3/4.
In St. Louis, World Series Game 5 got a 51.7/71 and the Series averaged a 48.9/65. Detroit got a 34.3/50 for Game 5 and averaged 36.9/53 for the Series.
The national rating is the percentage of U.S. television households tuned to a program, and each point represents 1,114,000 homes. The share is the percentage of households watching a broadcast among those homes with televisions in use at the time.
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Comments
People have no idea who's playing for the tigers, for example, so they have no reason to tune in.
MLB will never realize this, they'll never go for a cap, and slowly and surely its been spiraling into a recession.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
aconte
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
<< <i>Another fact of the matter is that in baseball .... when your team is out for good .... the season is over. And that includes watching on TV, reading in the news, etc. I have seen it alot on this board without naming names. Baseball is most definately a regional game anymore. The Tommy Lasorda adds run during the playoffs also highlite this point. When your team is out its time for hibernation. If your team is in, the ratings are through the roof in your REGIONAL market. Nowhere else. This is a trend that is 30+ years in the making and has alot less to do with any network bias towards certain markets. >>
This is true EXCEPT when there's either a) an historic angle to the WS, or b) the Yankees are playing. I watched all of the 05 series, for instance, just to see if long suffering White Sox fans would finally catch a winner, and I watched a bit of the '04 WS as well even though I don't have any love for the Red Sox. And I'll usually watch a bit when the Yanks are playing because it's so much fun to watch them lose. But series' like '02 will almost always put me to sleep.
yep, there are people every year who have a interest in the Series for whatever reason and watch it even though they are not a fan of the teams or are out of the region. Then there are the die hard baseball fans (like me and others on this board) who watch it because it is baseball. Regardless if our team is knocked out. My statement was more as a general blanket statement that "MOST" baseball fans tune it out when their team is knocked out. Which leaves the two markets of the participants with very high ratings and IN THE TANK everywhere else. This has alot more to do with the sport being regional alot more than a network not showcasing all teams.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
But we all see that MLB doesn't care about the health of the game. If they wanted health, they'd have a balanced showings of teams on national television during the season, so that when the tigers and cardinals make it to the world series, people know about and care about these teams.
But, mlb is more than happy to make the rich richer (i.e. putting major market teams on national games every week), and then they have the gall to wonder why world series ratings continue to take a crap?
its not garbage. There are TONS of baseball fans everywher. MOST of them stop watching when their team is out. Almost all of them know every team and who plays on it. TV not showcasing every team on its national broadcasts has little to zero effect on this. In this day and age of media glut ... the "could be"baseball fan is not being effected by whoever a network decides to broadcast on a Saturday afternoon.
Baseball is a regional sport. Ask Tommy Lasorda!
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
lol
Steve
<< <i>The 8:37 PM start for us eastcoasters don't help. I'd watch more if it started earlier than that but what's the point when you gotta go to bed by the fourth inning.
aconte >>
The late starting time is a turnoff for many people, who wants to stay up most likely after midnight to
see a game to the end when you have to get up for work at 5:30 AM or something like that. MLB also complains
about a lack of young kids being interested in the game, an 8:37 PM start is going to push the ending
way past most of their bedtimes as well.
Next year the series starts on Oct. 23, two days later than this year. Not a great thing for fans especially
in colder northern climates who will probably have to dress in winter coats to watch it at the stadium.
Baseball will somehow survive.
when baseball is sitting third behind basketball in popularity you'll see my way of things.
Baseball has been in decline for a decade, and will continue to do so as baseball polarizes on just the big market teams.
really? and you have data to back that up? or is it simply opinion?
Steve
To say MLB has been on a decline is, simply put, idiotic.
Now, it's fourth (behind the NFL, NBAA FB, and NBA BB). Hell, the NBA is likely ahead of it in popularity.
stown-
OF COURSE revenues are higher than they were a decade ago you simple minded twit, EVERYTHING COSTS MORE THAN THEY DID A DECADE AGO.
You guys keep on dreaming that MLB is doing well - those of us in reality worry about the game we love.
Baseball is a regional game. If your team is in, the TV is on. If your team is out the TV is off. Simple as that.
Now, the reasons for this? That can be debated forever but one thing is for sure. It has NOTHING to do with what any network decides to air on a Saturday afternoon in the summer when most peeps are'nt watching anyway.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
<< <i>Baseball used to be the #1 sport in america.
Now, it's fourth (behind the NFL, NBAA FB, and NBA BB). Hell, the NBA is likely ahead of it in popularity. >>
It's fourth? Do you have any facts to back this up?
<< <i>stown-
OF COURSE revenues are higher than they were a decade ago you simple minded twit, EVERYTHING COSTS MORE THAN THEY DID A DECADE AGO. >>
But you said that baseball has been declining. Attendance is up, values are up, revenues are up... It's not because of the cost of goods increasing, it's because more is being bought.
It costs more for a loaf of bread but is the grocery store making more money? Nope. If the store is selling MORE bread, then it makes MORE money, dope.
You can't have it both ways.
<< <i>
But you said that baseball has been declining. Attendance is up, values are up, revenues are up... It's not because of the cost of goods increasing, it's because more is being bought.
>>
It IS declining in the overall sports landscape - but I am sorry dopes like you cannot see that. You're blissfully ignorant.
<< <i>It costs more for a loaf of bread but is the grocery store making more money? Nope. If the store is selling MORE bread, then it makes MORE money, dope.
You can't have it both ways. >>
Who's having it both ways? You talk about revenues, like that means anything? Look, baseball is now a ghost of it's former self in terms of popularity. People like you point to revenues but then don't look at the big picture, and see that NBA, college hoops and football, and the NFL have all surpassed baseball in terms of popularity.
Just because you say something is happening doesn't mean it actually is.
College sports really should not be compared to professional sports as far as popularity. Basically, two different subjects.
<< <i>
Just because you say something is happening doesn't mean it actually is.
>>
One need to only look at tv ratings, and the national popularity following the above mentioned sports to see that MLB has sadly sunken to its current pathetic status.
This once proud game now collects not much more than a yawn around the country...it's truly a sad sight to watch.
Greedy baseball executives, in their desire to placate big market owners, are happy to let the big market owners dictate how baseball runs. Feature the big market teams, the big market teams put luxury tax money in the small market owners, and the fans are the ones who lose.
Good to see you buying into this strategy...baseball is counting on lemmings like you.
The World Series is not a representative sample of how MLB is performing.
Overall attendance is up while the parks are getting smaller... That alone blows a HUGE hole in your argument.
But if you honestly believe that MLB is now the 4th most popular sport (and falling), then more power to you.
Spin away...
<< <i>Who won the series? just curious >>
I think it was the Yankees or the Mets!
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
<< <i>It is a regional game fellas! Olny the participating REGIONS have strong ratings .... yes indeed! >>
It's a regional game? Uhm, since when? Wasn't baseball once known as "America's pasttime"? That, to me, shreds your defense of 'it's just a regional game!!!'
Grow up, baseball's sinking, and now #4 in national popularity.
<< <i>Grow up, baseball's sinking, and now #4 in national popularity. >>
You have said the same thing countless times now without providing anything to back it up.
And for at least the 100th time...
YOUR OPINION IS NOT A FACT.
<< <i>
It's a regional game? Uhm, since when? Wasn't baseball once known as "America's pasttime"? That, to me, shreds your defense of 'it's just a regional game!!!'
Grow up, baseball's sinking, and now #4 in national popularity. >>
defense?!
I am making the statement that baseball IS a regional game when it comes to NATIONAL TV ratings. The facts are right there. If you wanna keep doing the stupid dance then more power to ya
Also, #4 in popularity? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH only inside your head Ax!
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
<< <i>
I am making the statement that baseball IS a regional game when it comes to NATIONAL TV ratings. The facts are right there. If you wanna keep doing the stupid dance then more power to ya
>>
And you say I 'spin'? Keep going!
<< <i>Also, #4 in popularity? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH only inside your head Ax!
I guess denial isn't just a river in Egypt.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
But college basketball and football have indeed surpassed MLB in the national spectrum.
<< <i>I didn't say hockey.
But college basketball and football have indeed surpassed MLB in the national spectrum. >>
nah .... nope. Of course in certain areas that may be true. But that would be regionally wouldn't it?
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
Well I'm done with this thread. Enjoy, fellas.
Still waiting for your "proof", not an opinion.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
Steve
Just my opinion.
<< <i>It seems to me that the NCAA Tournament and March Madness is a bigger event than the baseball post season - especially in seasons like this one where you have teams playing in the World Series that most of the country really does not care to watch.
Just my opinion. >>
Who played in the World Series again, New York and New York, correct?
Steve