ESPN jumps the shark

#26
#26
Yes, if you miss this one, you'll have to wait until tomorrow night for another championship round.
 
#27
#27
allvol123 said:
More like it costs about 2 dollars in production expenses to cover a table and 50 cents to pay somone for the rights. Plus ESPN needs as much filler as they can get.
Click to expand...
ESPN has enough classic footage in the archives, they could run that at no new cost to themselves. They could put all of their radio shows on simulcast and get free programming there. The pure fact is that more people will watch a two year old poker tournament than garbage like the WNBA, women's college hoops, or the NHL.
 
#28
#28
hatvol96 said:
The pure fact is that more people will watch a two year old poker tournament than garbage like the WNBA, women's college hoops, or the NHL.
Click to expand...

That's the comical part. We're not even talking about a live or even a first run event most of the time. We're talking about poker RERUNS getting the better ratings.

If there's nothing else on, I'll turn it to Poker while I'm doing something else just so I can look up when somebody gets really mad.
 
#29
#29
hatvol96 said:
ESPN has enough classic footage in the archives, they could run that at no new cost to themselves. They could put all of their radio shows on simulcast and get free programming there. The pure fact is that more people will watch a two year old poker tournament than garbage like the WNBA, women's college hoops, or the NHL.
Click to expand...

That's why they have ESPN Classic. It costs squat to broadcast a poker game and it fills space.

NHL playoffs are great stuff, it just does not play well on TV.
 
#30
#30
GAVol said:
That's the comical part. We're not even talking about a live or even a first run event most of the time. We're talking about poker RERUNS getting the better ratings.

If there's nothing else on, I'll turn it to Poker while I'm doing something else just so I can look up when somebody gets really mad.
Click to expand...
There's a simple reason for that. People are more likely to watch poker played well than basketball played poorly.
 
#31
#31
GAVol said:
That's the comical part. We're not even talking about a live or even a first run event most of the time. We're talking about poker RERUNS getting the better ratings.
Click to expand...


As if the people watching could even tell it is a rerun. Jethro and the crew think it is high action excitement.
 
#33
#33
They ought to use the NHL as a case study in every college marketing class to show the worst case scenario for marketing decisions. Plus, hockey just doesn't translate well to TV.
 
#34
#34
hatvol96 said:
Exactly. Which is why ESPN shows poker. People watch it. That's kind of the point for a TV network.
Click to expand...

People watch it? Exactly what are the ratings it pulls?

I am sure hockey could pull the same or better but it costs much more to broadcast and pay for.
 
#35
#35
allvol123 said:
GAVol said:
That's the comical part. We're not even talking about a live or even a first run event most of the time. We're talking about poker RERUNS getting the better ratings.

quote]

As if the people watching could even tell it is a rerun. Jethro and the crew think it is high action excitement.
Click to expand...
Yeah, given the large numbers of engineers, mathmeticians, attorneys, and CPAs playing poker, I'm sure it's the same crowd that watches Bassmasters and the Lady Vols.
Click to expand...
 
#36
#36
allvol123 said:
As if the people watching could even tell it is a rerun. Jethro and the crew think it is high action excitement.
Click to expand...

That's the whole point though. It doesn't matter if it's a rerun or not. If the viewer hasn't seen that particular show, the outcomes are all new as far as they are concerned, and it's not covered anywhere else so there are no spoilers.
 
#38
#38
allvol123 said:
People watch it? Exactly what are the ratings it pulls?

I am sure hockey could pull the same or better but it costs much more to broadcast and pay for.
Click to expand...
ESPN's first runs of the WSOP are among their highest rated primetime shows every year. You act as if production costs are this huge expense. Guess what? If people actually watched hockey or women's basketball, the increase in ad revenue would easily offset any increase in production costs.
 
#40
#40
hatvol96 said:
ESPN's first runs of the WSOP are among their highest rated primetime shows every year. You act as if production costs are this huge expense. Guess what? If people actually watched hockey or women's basketball, the increase in ad revenue would easily offset any increase in production costs.
Click to expand...


Hmmm...3 people to cover a table or 30 to trounce back and forth from Canada to the west coast. I would say a pretty large difference. I bet a ladies NCAA basketball championship has pulled higher ratings than any poker episode on ESPN
 
#41
#41
allvol123 said:
hatvol96 said:
So the Lady Vols were on ESPN tonight playing softball. I guess it was on because people watch it. That's what a network is for right?
Click to expand...
No. It's on because ESPN is fulfilling their contract with the NCAA to televise the majority of their championship events. The benefit of having the other title games, for example, the lacrosse finals that draw good ratings and score huge in ESPN's target demographic, outweighs giving away a few tenths of a point in the Arbitrons in a non sweeps period.
Click to expand...
 
#42
#42
Speaking of the WSOP, doesn't it take place in May? Should be getting some new poker shows fairly soon.
 
#43
#43
hatvol96 said:
If people actually watched hockey or women's basketball, the increase in ad revenue would easily offset any increase in production costs.
Click to expand...

Exactly, and it's well known that hockey doesn't draw flies. I'll have to dig around, but I seem to remember reading that last year's Stanley Cup in prime time was the lowest rated prime time sporting event of all time.
 
#45
#45
allvol123 said:
I bet a ladies NCAA basketball championship has pulled higher ratings than any poker episode on ESPN
Click to expand...
Possibly. But take the last 4 women's finals and the last 4 final tables of the WSOP in their first run and see what you get.
 
#46
#46
GAVol said:
Exactly, and it's well known that hockey doesn't draw flies. I'll have to dig around, but I seem to remember reading that last year's Stanley Cup in prime time was the lowest rated prime time sporting event of all time.
Click to expand...

If it was, that would have a lot to do with hockey shooting itself in the foot coming off that strike.
 
#47
#47
hatvol96 said:
Possibly. But take the last 4 women's finals and the last 4 final tables of the WSOP in their first run and see what you get.
Click to expand...

I'd say you would get a pretty close race. So in essence, neither are having people bang their doors down to be seen.
 
#49
#49
allvol123 said:
Hmmm...3 people to cover a table or 30 to trounce back and forth from Canada to the west coast. I would say a pretty large difference. I bet a ladies NCAA basketball championship has pulled higher ratings than any poker episode on ESPN
Click to expand...
I don't mean this in a bad way, but do have any idea the difference in ad value between, say a .5 difference in the Arbitrons? It would pay to fly the entire ESPN staff, equipment and all, to Afghanistan, with a big pile of cash left over.
 
#50
#50
allvol123 said:
I'd say you would get a pretty close race. So in essence, neither are having people bang their doors down to be seen.
Click to expand...

The difference is that 25 to 54 year old men with disposable income watch Poker.
 
New Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

Advertisement



Back
Top