The effect of ESPN's love affair with SEC-SEC-SEC

[Bqqkie Pimp]

Since ESPN launched the SEC Network, here's the stats on CFB viewership:

These numbers compare the first four weeks of CFB games on ESPN/ESPN2 in 2013 to the first four weeks of 2014.

ESPN Friday Nights
2013 Avg Viewers: 2,083,000
2014 Avg Viewers: 1,295,833
Down 37.80%


ESPN CFB MNF on Labor Day
2013 viewers: 4,470,000 (FSU vs Pitt)
2014 viewers: 3,610,000 (Miami vs. Louisville)
Down 19.24%


ESPN Games on Saturday
2013 Avg Viewers: 3,720,000
2014 Avg Viewers: 2,831,667
Down 23.88%


A couple of games that really hurt them this year: Mizz vs. Toledo (1.23 Mill) & Ole Miss vs Vandy (1.13 Mill)
ESPN Thursday Night Football
2013 Avg Viewers: 2,817,500
2014 Avg Viewers: 2,440,000
Down 13.40%
Despite Aub vs. K-State drawing well with 3.85 Mill.
WE DID OUR PART.


ESPN2 Saturdays
2013 Avg Viewers: 1,335,000
2014 Avg Viewers: 1,144,778
Down 14.25%


Overall viewership across all major networks (Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, FS1) is down about 3% compared to last season.

 

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

Are you saying that they lost a bunch of viewers to the sec network,  or just drove people off altogether?

[MixBerryCrunch]

This has been an abysmal start to the season.  Almost no interesting matchups, storylines or teams.  Can't really blame that on ESPN.

[wiley]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

[Bqqkie Pimp]

Are you saying that they lost a bunch of viewers to the sec network,  or just drove people off altogether?

My belief is that the average mouth-breather will watch what they're sold.  When there was balance in what was promoted the average CFB fan watched what was on.  Now that ESPN has helped convince folks that the SEC is all that matters, why watch the rest of it?

 

[RickRampus]

couldn't wait until Bookie put something like this thread up. 

[KITNfury]

There is no doubt in my mind that espn is pimping the sec more this year to protect their investment. It's annoying, but I understand it. Don't think it's affecting game viewership tho

[MakeItRain]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

[star seed 7]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

Uh, exactly what he said then

[MakeItRain]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

Uh, exactly what he said then

Uh no, its a percentage of people with the ability to watch, not a percentage of Americans. If he doesn't have cable he doesn't exist, he is no different than an infant in an Amish household.

[star seed 7]

You should be more clear with your posts, dax

[AU_Tigers]

Are you saying that they lost a bunch of viewers to the sec network,  or just drove people off altogether?

My belief is that the average mouth-breather will watch what they're sold.  When there was balance in what was promoted the average CFB fan watched what was on.  Now that ESPN has helped convince folks that the SEC is all that matters, why watch the rest of it?

 

Reading this post while watching Oregon - Arizona.

Interesting premise though, although I think it has more to do with the lackluster games so far this season.

[Bqqkie Pimp]

Are you saying that they lost a bunch of viewers to the sec network,  or just drove people off altogether?

My belief is that the average mouth-breather will watch what they're sold.  When there was balance in what was promoted the average CFB fan watched what was on.  Now that ESPN has helped convince folks that the SEC is all that matters, why watch the rest of it?

 

Reading this post while watching Oregon - Arizona.

Interesting premise though, although I think it has more to do with the lackluster games so far this season.

Games are no more "lackluster" than in the past unless, of course, you subscribe to my original point. The only games really getting promoted are SEC conf games and OOC games they (SEC) have a chance to win.  We heard nary a word about OU v UT-lite, but they pimped our game vs AU pretty hard.

[AU_Tigers]

Are you saying that they lost a bunch of viewers to the sec network,  or just drove people off altogether?

My belief is that the average mouth-breather will watch what they're sold.  When there was balance in what was promoted the average CFB fan watched what was on.  Now that ESPN has helped convince folks that the SEC is all that matters, why watch the rest of it?

 

Reading this post while watching Oregon - Arizona.

Interesting premise though, although I think it has more to do with the lackluster games so far this season.

Games are no more "lackluster" than in the past unless, of course, you subscribe to my original point. The only games really getting promoted are SEC conf games and OOC games they (SEC) have a chance to win.  We heard nary a word about OU v UT-lite, but they pimped our game vs AU pretty hard.

OK, you are right. There is a vast conspiracy between the SEC and sports media to make the rest of the college football world irrelevant. You win.

[star seed 7]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

Uh, exactly what he said then

Uh no, its a percentage of people with the ability to watch, not a percentage of Americans. If he doesn't have cable he doesn't exist, he is no different than an infant in an Amish household.

If 100k people drop cable over the course of a year, that's 100k less possible viewers (10% of 1 million is more than 10% of 900k)

[EllRobersonisInnocent]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

Uh, exactly what he said then

Uh no, its a percentage of people with the ability to watch, not a percentage of Americans. If he doesn't have cable he doesn't exist, he is no different than an infant in an Amish household.

If 100k people drop cable over the course of a year, that's 100k less possible viewers (10% of 1 million is more than 10% of 900k)

I'm not exactly sure what you're getting at here. #HAF

[Stevesie60]

Their numbers are probably higher because of all the butthurt losers who tune in praying the SEC team(s) that they hate so much will lose.

[Ich.Gewinne]

Or

Price of cable goes up, up, and awaayyy

[Emo EMAW]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

Uh, exactly what he said then

Uh no, its a percentage of people with the ability to watch, not a percentage of Americans. If he doesn't have cable he doesn't exist, he is no different than an infant in an Amish household.

Hey idiot, the numbers posted were not share or percentage points, they were cumulative viewers. 

[tdaver]

If espn is down 20%ish and all major networks combined are down only 3%, then some off those other networks have to be way up.  So espn could be driving viewers away, or more likely the product is getting spread out more.  In my case I'm watching more Fox/FS1 because more Big 12 games are there.

[Spracne]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

Uh, exactly what he said then

Uh no, its a percentage of people with the ability to watch, not a percentage of Americans. If he doesn't have cable he doesn't exist, he is no different than an infant in an Amish household.

Hey idiot, the numbers posted were not share or percentage points, they were cumulative viewers.

Yeah, wtf MiR?

[wiley]

he is no different than an infant in an Amish household.

 

[MakeItRain]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

Uh, exactly what he said then

Uh no, its a percentage of people with the ability to watch, not a percentage of Americans. If he doesn't have cable he doesn't exist, he is no different than an infant in an Amish household.

Hey idiot, the numbers posted were not share or percentage points, they were cumulative viewers.

Well well well what do you know he did do overall numbers and not ratings (why are we doing that). You've been holding on to that idiot blast for years, grats on finally getting to use it. Just know though this doesn't change the dozens of times I've pointed out the stupid crap you've .

[Emo EMAW]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

Uh, exactly what he said then

Uh no, its a percentage of people with the ability to watch, not a percentage of Americans. If he doesn't have cable he doesn't exist, he is no different than an infant in an Amish household.

Hey idiot, the numbers posted were not share or percentage points, they were cumulative viewers.

Well well well what do you know he did do overall numbers and not ratings (why are we doing that). You've been holding on to that idiot blast for years, grats on finally getting to use it. Just know though this doesn't change the dozens of times I've pointed out the stupid crap you've .

Drop the mic too early there?

[Ich.Gewinne]

Part of it could be people are finding alternatives to cable.  I got rid of mine a few years ago and just go to a bar or friends to watch games im interested in.

That's not how ratings work. If you don't have cable, you don't count.

Uh, exactly what he said then

Uh no, its a percentage of people with the ability to watch, not a percentage of Americans. If he doesn't have cable he doesn't exist, he is no different than an infant in an Amish household.

Hey idiot, the numbers posted were not share or percentage points, they were cumulative viewers.

Well well well what do you know he did do overall numbers and not ratings (why are we doing that). You've been holding on to that idiot blast for years, grats on finally getting to use it. Just know though this doesn't change the dozens of times I've pointed out the stupid crap you've .

Drop the mic too early there?