mofong wrote:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_television_ratings#Viewership/rating_by_yearAll-time low ratings for the 5 games played, and all-time low average by a wide margin. Too much social justice preaching amirite?!?!
youareright!
mofong wrote:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_television_ratings#Viewership/rating_by_yearAll-time low ratings for the 5 games played, and all-time low average by a wide margin. Too much social justice preaching amirite?!?!
youareright!
fahrenheit452 wrote:
I don't think politicization had anything to do with declining ratings. There wasn't that much of it apparent in baseball in any case.
Uh, OK. This stuff makes many baseball fans change the channel. It did me. Now you can call me a racist.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.-uzw9xIW41ADKd0vH5aBFgHaHa%26pid%3DApi&f=1https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.ST0T8Vuh58yIMY5GFN5JbwHaEY%26pid%3DApi&f=1I love how a minuscule logo on the mound detracts them from being able to watch baseball. Maybe because there is never anything happening during baseball.
Surely that outfield wall wasn't like that for every game - the old fogies that watch baseball would have had aneurysms.
the decline begins wrote:
Total league payroll across MLB seems to have peaked in 2017 at around $4.2 billion. From 1999 to 2017, total league payroll had been growing - in fits and starts - at about $150 million per year, every year. Since 2017, total league payroll has plateaued, or even dropped a little bit.
Payroll is always related to team and league revenue, generated (in order of importance) by TV deals, licensing agreements for sponsors and merchandise, and stadium ticket/concession sales. With declining interest in baseball over recent years and almost no prospect for expanding TV markets to other countries, let alone younger Americans, is this the beginning of a sustained decline in league payroll? The shortened season is probably the biggest reason for this year's poor ratings - many fans will put a mental asterisk next to this season. Surely ratings would have been better in a 'normal' year.
It is going to be fascinating to watch in the coming years, as revenues from all sources drop and MLB teams try to negotiate with the players for lower salaries. Grown men will cry. And cry and cry. The public whining is going to be spectacular. There will still be enough revenue to pay players very well, but I'd guess that Bryce Harper's 13-year $330 million contract will be the high water mark for salaries. Especially for a player with a, what, WAR of 3?? Extrapolate that, and it's 39 extra wins for the Phillies over the length of his career compared to an 'average' player. That's $8.4 million per win. We won't see that again.
The other big question, aside from total league and team payroll, will be how the huge imbalance in salaries within teams plays out. Sure, some players are better than others and deserve more, but payrolls are comically lopsided when a .301 hitter makes 15 times more than a .279 hitter. Will that just get worse as Scott Boras and other alpha-agents get the most for their clients in a world of dwindling revenue? Or will other forces level the field?
The current plateau in league payroll has nothing to do with free agency - it post-dates that by decades. It has little to do with politicization of sports or of Covid19 - it pre-dates those events. Something else was starting to happen that the league thus far has shown no capacity to address. But they have tried - namely, by new rules to speed up games. But if that's the only problem you've identified - that people are tired of your product and they want to stop watching and go home sooner - you can bet your future is pretty bleak.
Phillies fan. That Harper contract will be massive anchor on the teams ability to field a playoff roster for years.
Brite Bart wrote:
One issue not mentioned which is applicable this year is that the people who would be baseball fans are also those more likely to be hyper focused on the election.
Anectdotally, I can say this is true with some of my acquaintances.
People always point to elections during the Presidential years. But really are you so consumed by it 24/7 that it distracts from normal viewing patterns? Baseballs problems are deep in that when the majority of fans complaint is the game is boring and slow. Like if something is entertaining and fun to watch/play the last thing you'd be saying is "boy I hope this game doesn't go to long because I have better things to do".
Drastic radical change is needed in baseball. The CBA expires at the end of the 2021 season. MLB owners should consider withdrawing recognition of the players union. Whoever heard of a union where each member negotiates his own individual contract. Reducing the number of regular season games to 140 should also be on the table. Pace of play is probably the biggest problem.
The professional sports billionaires are sitting on huge paper profits - they're in it for the sustained increase in value of their franchises. Now they have no visible exit except to sell in a falling market. Unfortunately for them, they are the greater fools who are going to be up to their eyeballs in rapidly depreciating properties. This signals an imminent restructuring of the sports business model, and will be confirmed as they present the millionaires with big cuts in their remuneration. As you note baseball is in bad shape compared to football, and perhaps even worse shape than the NBA or NHL. But it's not just COVID , it's the bloated and over-hyped structure of the professional sports leagues that is finally coming to an end.
I can't wait to hear about how BLM is to blame for this. Lets hear it guys?
Star wrote:
Why do people care so much about these TV ratings anyway?
If you like it, watch it.
If not, don't.
I think we're all fans of running and those ratings are always terrible.
Ratings for all TV shows and sporting events have been declining for years because there are more choices and DVRs.
Great point. If I'm watching the Big Ten Indoor Championships, for example, I never check on what the ratings were for it. I doubt softball or volleyball fans do either. If you love your sport then follow it.
joedirt wrote:
The NFL is the only universally watchable sports league because of how it handles the salary cap. MLB and the NBA have "dynasties" (which basically makes the small market teams glorified minor leagues for the large market teams) because of their soft cap. Spoiler alert, the team with almost quadruple the salary of the other team won the World Series. Actually COVID may narrow the gap between the haves and the have nots because the large market teams are losing the most money this year.
I think one thing the NFL does that no one talks about is for its entirety the vast majority of games are on TV over the air at a time when kids can watch. That attracts the next generation of fans. Groundwork has been put there 20 years ago for today' ratings.
NBA games mostly at night and on cable when kids sleep. Same with every other sport.
NFL OTA during kid friendly times. Think how many more young people get exposed.
wejo wrote:
joedirt wrote:
The NFL is the only universally watchable sports league because of how it handles the salary cap. MLB and the NBA have "dynasties" (which basically makes the small market teams glorified minor leagues for the large market teams) because of their soft cap. Spoiler alert, the team with almost quadruple the salary of the other team won the World Series. Actually COVID may narrow the gap between the haves and the have nots because the large market teams are losing the most money this year.
I think one thing the NFL does that no one talks about is for its entirety the vast majority of games are on TV over the air at a time when kids can watch. That attracts the next generation of fans. Groundwork has been put there 20 years ago for today' ratings.
NBA games mostly at night and on cable when kids sleep. Same with every other sport.
NFL OTA during kid friendly times. Think how many more young people get exposed.
well wejo i think it has another serious level you and everyone else is missing
back in the day basketball could have 3 stars to emulate, the defensive guy, the scoring guy and the rebound guy...now its only the scoring guy
in baseball it used to be 4 stars to emulate; batting, outfield, infield or pitching....now its two, pitching and batting
in football you have lots of "star" positions to emulate thus giving kids way more of a chance to "stand out"
quarterback, running back, tight end, WR, linebacker, defensive end, cornerbacks, kicker, and punt/kick return thats 9 positions that can get you praise from your little league/middle school/high school peers and media. thats why its the most popular
Opposing this kind of stuff from police is what pisses off much of the letsrun crowd. They would rather have this kind of police brutality continue. Or maybe they just want everyone to ignore it.
I am pretty sure the drop in basketball TV ratings was not because of protests.
However if some people want to stop watching basketball because they think opposing racism and opposing police brutality is a bad idea , then they can go. Basketball wont miss them.
Videos such as the one above make you realize that standing on principle is far more important than trying to attract viewers to your sport.
Great interview with Steve Cram - says Jakob has no chance of WRs this year
I’m a D2 female runner. Our coach explicitly told us not to visit LetsRun forums.
RENATO can you talk about the preparation of Emile Cairess 2:06
adizero Road to Records with Yomif Kejelcha, Agnes Ngetich, Hobbs Kessler & many more is Saturday
2024 College Track & Field Open Coaching Positions Discussion
Hats off to my dad. He just ran a 1:42 Half Marathon and turns 75 in 2 months!