TV Ratings for Nationals | Golden Skate

TV Ratings for Nationals

S

Snowstorm7

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 25, 2008
Here's some good news!

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

The close battle in the women's competition fueled a significant jump in TV ratings. NBC's prime-time telecast of Saturday night's free skate drew a 3.8 overnight rating, a 65 percent increase over the 2.3 rating earned by ABC's telecast of the women's free skate last year. The Saturday afternoon telecast of the pairs free skate earned a 2.0 overnight rating; last year's ESPN coverage, which aired at 10:30 p.m., drew a 0.49 rating. Minneapolis/St. Paul registered a 6.6 rating, the highest of 55 metered markets.
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not bad. skating really didn't have THAT much farther to fall though, to be honest. Of course, considering it aired in primetime it is on the low side, but as long as they are up from last year we're on the right track.
 
Well, for a start, NBC actually PROMOTED the telecast, which helps spread the word and is not limited to hardcore skating fans actually going out of their way to figure out when the skating is on. And secondly, having it in prime time gave it maximum exposure. It's nice to know that the ratings trend for the event has finally been reversed, but it's still far from the 6-9 range that ABC got for its telecasts back in the late 90s/early 2000s.
 
I would love to see an NBC Cheesefest out of this... it would be a great way to promote the "tie" in the men's competition, and it would also be a great way to showcase the stong ladies that we have. And there could be a minicompetition between Keauna and Rockne and the Germans. Imagine the drama!
 
They certaintly used this opportunity to promote the Beijing Olympics! They used Michael Phelps for very promotion. Maybe in 2010 they will use a figure skater.
 
Red Dog said:
Well, for a start, NBC actually PROMOTED the telecast, which helps spread the word and is not limited to hardcore skating fans actually going out of their way to figure out when the skating is on. And secondly, having it in prime time gave it maximum exposure. It's nice to know that the ratings trend for the event has finally been reversed, but it's still far from the 6-9 range that ABC got for its telecasts back in the late 90s/early 2000s.
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Good points... my 10 year old actually told me what time what event came on because it was promoted properly... Its funny though, as a hard core fan, I was very disappointed that we didn't see more skaters in pairs & dance - but for casual fans like my husband, he enjoyed watching it more because it wasn't en couples that all look alike to him...

I also appreciated the second to last flight of ladies' skaters were telecast instead of more short programs - many of whom its probably safe to assume that won't be back next year... it was kinda of an opportunity to say goodbye.

One thing I didn't like: Scott & Sandra... he talks too damn much with over the top enthusiam (YEAH! SHE SKATED LIGHTS OUT!!!) (AWW!!! THAT'S SOOO TERRIBLE! THREE FALLS!!!) and she's just.. never mind children read this board...
 
Actually I DO like Hamilton's enthusiasm. not sure why so many skating fans dock that, but I think it helps add excitement to a live telecast.
 
yeah, i figured it woudl do well, NBC did promote the event, even on other channels, so that must have helped.
 
I have to say that I enjoyed Scott more then Mr. buttons. At least Scott and Sandra knew when to shut up!! AT time Mr. Buttons can go on and on and on during the program!!

I suspect that this lineup will be tinkered with a great deal come 2010!!
 
Red Dog said:
Actually I DO like Hamilton's enthusiasm. not sure why so many skating fans dock that, but I think it helps add excitement to a live telecast.
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I think, for me, he's enthusiam doesn't reflect his knowledge of the sport - which is always weird and a bit jarring... In contrast to Kurt, who doesn't allow his enthusiam to outshine his knowledge of the sport... But I can be picky that way...:laugh:
 
Red Dog said:
Actually I DO like Hamilton's enthusiasm. not sure why so many skating fans dock that, but I think it helps add excitement to a live telecast.
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But he doesn't contribute anything of substance. Why have him there? Why not just randomly mike some hyper fan in the stands. ;)

ETA: I think you've been following skating for a shorter period of time than some of us. We've had longer to grow tired of the same old same old amongst commentators.
 
High TV ratings bring in sponsors to support TV skating. So buy their products as your contribution to keep some skating on TV.

LIVE attendance was much much bigger in Spokane, and it was a smaller city than the two cities holding the recent competition. What does that tell you?

I really don't think you can push the popularity of figure skating. I don't think it will get any lower than it is now. What has to happen is a slow growth back to where it was in the 80s-90s and then more than those two decades. Hopefully the 2010 gives it a good jolt.

Joe
 
I like Scott Hamilton best when he is commentating on lower level skaters. He is SO sympathetic to them when they fall, and SO delighted when they don't. It's like,

"OK, this skater is in 39th place after the short program, but if she can just nail this triple Salch... Awwww.

"OK, she's still in it, and here comes her double Ax.. Awwww."
EWalker said:
I would love to see an NBC Cheesefest out of this... it would be a great way to promote the "tie" in the men's competition, and it would also be a great way to showcase the stong ladies that we have. And there could be a minicompetition between Keauna and Rockne and the Germans. Imagine the drama!
Click to expand...
That totally rocks. That's the main reason right there why figure skating has fallen on hard times. No more cheesefests with Michelle against Slutskaya and all the rest. :cry:

Like after the 1999 season, when Butryskatya upset Kwan at Worlds, and they put on a big revenge match. :rock:

Yeah -- Johnny and Evan, the big throwdown. Toss in Patrick Chan and bring Nobunari Oda over to help him get his head back into international competition. Maybe the new European champion, Verner. I'm lovin' it. :clap:
 
I would love to see an NBC Cheesefest out of this... it would be a great way to promote the "tie" in the men's competition, and it would also be a great way to showcase the stong ladies that we have. And there could be a minicompetition between Keauna and Rockne and the Germans. Imagine the drama!
Click to expand...

gotta agree...actually, I wonder if they will come up with something. Given all the new Japanese and Korean shows, though, it may be tough to import some international competitors to see how they would stack up against our up-and-comers. I think what the USFS has to do first though is to FIND A SPONSOR, because if they can't even get one for their marquee event, forget creating a smaller one. Maybe this ratings boost will help in their negotiations, though.
 
I can't figure out what sports channel NBC has on cable. ABC owns and oversees ESPN so we are alway assured of GPs, and repeats of Nationals and Euros. If NBC has such affiliates, what are they?

Has NBC said anything about Worlds 2009?

Joe
 
NBC has USA, Bravo, MSNBC, CNBC and Universal HD, a digital premium channel that re-shows select NBC Sports programs in HD. I think it's very plausible that we could see Nationals repeats on Universal HD, but I currently don't have access to the channel (I did when I was over at home, though).

I think only during the Olympics does NBC utilize all of its cable properties. But apparently they DID advertise the Nationals on some of them (people were reporting seeing ads on MSNBC and Bravo as well as NBC primetime shows that week.I can confirm the latter since I saw one during "Celebrity Apprentice".)

ETA: A more realistic take from a popular sports blogger: "Skating not ready for prime time"

http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/skating-not-ready-for-prime-time.html
 
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