04/19/24
September 11, 2003
"Sports are watched differently than they were during the era of the three-network universe," according to a New York Times report on falling ratings for major sporting events.
For me, the biggest reason I don't watch as many big events is that I can get smaller events I care more about over the Internet and satellite TV. For instance, give me UNT football games and I'm enjoying my alma mater stomp the mighty Sun Belt Conference into putty instead of viewing the nationally televised games.
posted by rcade at 08:52 AM on September 11, 2003
How is the the picture for that type of coverage? I've thought about that for west coast NHL games, but was hestitant because I need to see the puck.
posted by garfield at 09:36 AM on September 11, 2003
I think rcade is on the right track here. He might watch UNT football and I might watch Aussie Rules Football but if you add up the entire audience, is it really all that different?
posted by billsaysthis at 12:50 PM on September 11, 2003
I haven't subscribed to any streaming video sports on the Internet -- just streaming audio for Major League Baseball, which gives you every game in the season for $19.95 (an incredible deal). I follow hockey with the DirecTv season pass.
posted by rcade at 12:57 PM on September 11, 2003
I went to a 49ers game a year or so ago, and during one of the many TV timeouts I realized that when you attend a sporting event, you're just an extra in a TV show. Games used to be played for the people who attended them, and televising them was a way to let people who weren't there see the game. Now, it's the people who aren't there who are important, and the people in the stands are just a backdrop. This realization helps make it tough for me to rationalize playing $85 for a ticket to a football game. At least if you're an extra in a regular TV show, they pay you.
posted by kirkaracha at 02:16 PM on September 11, 2003
Well I'll come out on the side of loving watching games on TV. Football is far and away my favorite because without TV it is impossible to see all the action on each play. The TV allows you to see the downfield block the wide receiver made that allowed the back to go the distance. It shows the kicker getting blindsided on special teams 40 yards away from where the tackle was made. Also, the TV is exactly 15 steps from a refrigerator full of beers at $6.00 per 6 pack, not $6.00 per beer. And the toilet doesn't have nearly as much urine splashed on the seat, and I have a pretty good idea whose urine it is anyway. That is all in general. But I totally agree with the article re: the William's sisters and Sampras and garfield's Tiger comment. If the compelling personality that the networks and leagues have been shoving down my throat doesn't materialize at the big moment, I'm unlikely to watch unless there is a local flavor. But while I'm less likely to watch on TV, I'm absolutely not even going to consider attending in person.
posted by vito90 at 02:42 PM on September 11, 2003
Oh. And kirkaracha. That is a really, really interesting take. I'm not so sure it's spot on, but I've never even considered that side of it. I readily admit that when watching games on TV I occasionally key on crowd reactions, and live vicariously through those attending. Who doesn't love the Lambeau Leap and who didn't love Cal's trip around Camden when he broke Gehrig's record? As far as who is important...I would posit that it's a capitalist cycle. The attendee's are important to the owners/teams. The non-attendees are critical to the networks. The networks are critical to everybody but those at the game. It's really a win-win when you think about it. The biggest football games, soccer (in the US this would be World Cup, and not much else), baseball games, hockey games, horse races, car races, Olympics, etc. are still pretty much available for free or next-to-nothing to anyone who wants to see them.
posted by vito90 at 07:29 PM on September 11, 2003
I hate watching sports on t.v. It's so last decade. NFL has it made because there's one game a week to watch, and all day to watch it. Nascar, same deal. With time becoming ever more precious, and 82 game season, or 16? season, well, I just don't have the time. And I blame Tiger's 'slump' for the golf ratings decline. If' he's in contention, then I'm glued to the screen.