Don't Judge a Sport by its Viewers

I don't know when it happened, much less why it happened, but at some point someone decided that TV ratings should be the key factor in evaluating a professional sports championship. 

I have only one question.  Who cares?  As a hockey fan, I really don't care how many people are watching - viewership is not a factor in my enjoyment of the game.

The fact that millions of people (Americans?) opted to tune to learn about Paris Hilton's prison break, instead of watching Anaheim win the Stanley Cup, surely says more about those millions than it does about the NHL?  The TV ratings for game 5 of the NBA's Cleveland-Detroit series were nothing special - does that mean LeBron's 48 point masterpiece is anything less than a performance for the ages?  If more people want to watch the Sopranos than the second game of the NBA finals does that make the San Antonio Spurs any less of a dynasty?  Didn't think so.

Fox Sports seems to take particular delight in ripping into the NHL and its weak TV ratings.  According to Fox, "Anaheim's Stanley Cup-winning victory over Ottawa produced another dismal televising rating."  I wonder if their attitude has anything to do with the fact that Fox doesn't have national NHL broadcast rights?  Maybe their just bitter that they still get mocked for the FoxTrack glowing puck.

Team1200, the local sports radio station in Ottawa, carries syndicated Fox Sports Radio shows between local content.  Since the Ducks' victory Fox has been running a brief "comedy" item that starts with the announcer congratulating Anaheim on winning the Stanley Cup, followed by silence that is interrupted by chirping crickets.  Then the announcer comes back on and says something like "Yeah, right, as if anybody cares about a sport they can only find on the Versus Network."  Hilarious.

Setting aside the fact that the station that calls itself "the home of the Ottawa Senators" is running programming that is openly dismissive and hostile toward hockey, you have to wonder if Fox Sports, the nertwork that brings us inspired programming like Toughest Cowboy, should really be taking runs at Versus. 

Twenty years ago, I was fortunate to have witnessed Roger Clemens' record-setting 20 strikeout performance against the Seattle Mariners.  It was a cool, rainy weeknight game against a weak opponent, and only 13,414 fans passed through Fenway's turnstiles to watch.  There were no radio or television ratings for the game because it wasn't broadcast. 

Since so many of today's sports reporters judge games or even entire leagues based on TV ratings, I have to assume they would trivialize the game and minimize Clemens' feat since very few were able to see it.  Of course that would be absurd, just as it is ridiculous that the NHL gets dismissed by reporters and broadcasters from Fox and other media outlets based on television ratings. 

Comments

[Jason Mandell]

totally agree with everything you say...the criticism about TV ratings is incredibly overblown and tired. In fact, TV ratings for every sport except for football has been in gradual decline for many years as consumers have embraced constantly fragmenting TV and entertainment options.

One correction: pretty sure that Sox game was broadcast on both TV and radio, that's why we've got Ned Martin's voice on the highlights!

[Bob Miller]

Paris Hilton IS more interesting than the sad-sack Senator's collapsing in the playoffs again. What a pathetic performance in the final. They have essentially done this six or so years in a row that it counts as a "rerun" in TV speak.

The free market has spoken, at the least in the U.S., the NHL does not have compelling content to capture attention.

[MT]

Hmmmmm. This comment is interesting on many levels. So the Senator's are a rerun....I suppose the same might be said of the great Oiler teams of the 80s or the NFL's 49ers... I apologize that I just don't get people (like you) who find Paris Hilton compelling. Perhaps I'm some kind of snob or simply out of touch, but I just don't find a no-talent, drunk-driving skank all that compelling. Me? I'd rather watch the Flyers vs Coyotes play a pre-season game.

[Bob Miller]

I totally agree with your statement "I just don't find a no-talent, drunk-driving skank all that compelling".

Dany Heatly was terrible to watch in the final.

[Bob Miller]

The Flyers vs Coyotes in pre season will only be captured on film by each teams coaching staff for analysis, an audience of six ... infomercials for the 'flowbie' would generate more revenue for local TV stations in Phoenix.

Ratings matter because revenues matter. Period.

[MT]

Heatley - 2x50 goal seasons, ties for league lead in playoff scoring playing with fractured ribs & a bruised lung. You're right, he's got nuthin...
I can't help the people of Phoenix, and it seems Wayne can't either. If their retiree eyes can't find the puck ship the team back to Winnipeg - where it belongs - and leave them alone with their flowbies & GeoForeman Grills.