Say it ain't so! XFL rating plummet 50 percent in one week...

Hmm, maybe my prediction that the XFL will last about 5 minutes will hold true.



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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

 

Of course, the ratings the second week got are not too far out of line with what NBC was hoping for in terms of audience. The fact that more than twice as many people tuned in for the first game to see the spectacle could be seen as simply a bonus.

In reality, two weeks is not enough time to accurately judge the League's television prospects (of course, I think the ratings are going to be even worse next week. We shall see if that holds true).

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Houston Sports Board
The Anti-Bud Adams Page

 

Not to mention
IS WAS ALL STAR WEEKEND

Rocket River

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Do you really think the cable broadcast of a series of lackluster All-Star events (all of which lacked any marquee entrants) had much of an effect on the XFL broadcast ratings?

Don't you think it's more likely that most people who tuned in for Week 1's games were simply of the type who slow down to rubberneck at car crashes, and that now they've had their curiosity sated?

(Excuse the editing and so forth. Now I'm off the gum too and it is a b**** to concentrate).

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"Corpses are icky."

--Chris Robinson

[This message has been edited by BrianKagy (edited February 12, 2001).]

 

Actually, the XFL's ratings are very comparable to what the USFL got when it came into being.

The USFL's ratings dropped 50% from first to second week as well. And the USFL hung around for 3 seasons, only finally dying when it attempted to compete with the NFL straight during the NFL season.

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"Of course, everything looks bad if you remember it!"
Homer Simpson

 

Do you think the USFL's failure was caused by their attempt to compete directly against the NFL?

Or do you think that move was made in desperation once they realized the jig was up?

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"Corpses are icky."

--Chris Robinson

 

Can't wait till McMahon adds his Wrestler buddies to the playing rosters that should help the ratings.

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CUT Tino
These Heaves are just getting Ridiculous!

 

I really couldn't say, Kagy. I was repeating things that I heard on the radio. The USFL was before my time.

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"Of course, everything looks bad if you remember it!"
Homer Simpson

 

Part of the USFL's problem was the idea of competing directly, but also they were overpaying to get bigger name players (to give their league legitimacy) that were out of line with the revenue structure that the League enjoyed. The XFL, with it's single-owner structure and admitted second-tier status won't fall victim to that same problem, but there are other things that could keep the XFL from succeeding, of course.


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Houston Sports Board
The Anti-Bud Adams Page

 

Where's all your talk of media jealously now, ROXRAN??

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Someon who is about to admonish another must realize within himself five qualities before doing so (that he may be able to say), thus:
In due season will I speak, not out of season. In truth will I speak, not in falsehood. Gently will I speak, not harshly. To his profit will I speak, not to his loss. With kindly intent will I speak, not in anger. -from the Vinaya Pitaka

 

The problem is that a network simply won't incur the high production costs of covering a football league without doing better than an average or below-average rating. This is why baseball and basketball media contracts are left to local stations for the most part. Sure, NBC gets to broadcast a couple of games a week (where they pick the matchups they cover), but that's with the lure of being able to cover the NBA Finals on primetime down the line. This league has already seen its high point...it will never get better for the XFL than the rating they had in week 1. I can say that with a fair amount of confidence.

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NBC EXPECTED THESE RATINGS.

NBC wants anywhere in the 4-5 range. They are happy with the 5.1.

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Who's ya daddy?

 

The problem is that a network simply won't incur the high production costs of covering a football league without doing better than an average or below-average rating. This is why baseball and basketball media contracts are left to local stations for the most part. Sure, NBC gets to broadcast a couple of games a week (where they pick the matchups they cover), but that's with the lure of being able to cover the NBA Finals on primetime down the line. This league has already seen its high point...it will never get better for the XFL than the rating they had in week 1. I can say that with a fair amount of confidence. Minor league football is NOT prime time material, no matter how its packaged.

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Kagy

Beleive it or not . . .YES the All Star
Weekend did cut into the XFL
I think we will see the XFL wrapped around
or behind the NBA Games [who else showing them
on the weekend]
What other sport is going on?

If it loses to golf [with out tiger]
then it is as doomed as doomed can be

Rocket River

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The XFL can sustain itself with a 5.1

The XFL cannot sustain itself if they keep putting out a crappy product. Thats why the next XFL draft it will be interesting to see if they go through with the plans to draft players from JUCOs and high schools.

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The Rockets will be the NBA champions. Believe.

 

...offering further proof that its fans do indeed have short attention spans.

It's been a tough week for the kind of people who watch the XFL. First Baywatch gets cancelled, now this.

Don't worry, y'all, "World's Greatest Backyard Wrestling Mishaps and Gruesome Disfigurations" is still on sale.

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"Corpses are icky."

--Chris Robinson

 

Haha.

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RealGM
Rockets Draft Obligations Summary
Gafford Art
Artisan

 

Boo. Hoo.

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Me fail English? That's unpossible.

 

Keep dreaming. No way NBC is happy with a 5.1...and it's a 5.1 right now...what will it be in week 7??? It's not going to get better, I assure you. The production costs are too high covering a sports league to just settle with an average rating. It got murdered by "The Parent Trap" for goodness sake!!! How funny is that? Just run a kid's movie and you'll beat it in the ratings. Yeah, somehow I doubt NBC is real happy with that already happening in week 2.

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