Yes, this ain't NFL football but it is entertaining and will definitely get better. Is the sexual overtones a bit much? Sorry, wrong guy to ask , Does the different camera angles irk you, well get over it. What is this football? Not NFL certainly, but why should it be? I want something different not as a substitute to the NFL, but as a complement. ...But, what is so obvious is that nearly all media has been bashing the XFL. From Jim Rome to FOX channel reporters to the know-it-all yanks who do local radio. Man, I can't understand the blatant jealousy of the success. Let's forget the issue of "quality football" for a second. Think about this: It's February and you have football! You have O, my God-- scantily clad women cheerleaders. You got pyrotechnics, fireworks. You got changes of traditional rules. You got encouragement of celebration, by God! And you know what?...there is a definite market for this. I guess everything comes down to business, and let me ask you something: What is it that every media is concerned about? That's right boys and girls - ratings. And the ratings were not only good, they were through the roof! Double the expectation. Will this thrive in the future? I believe it will, because it has a simple formula which caters to a niche market. The funny thing is that all the media will accomplish is gaining more exposure, which of course is key to ratings . As far as "quality". Yes the play is obviously inferior to the great NFL. However, can a "Kurt Warner" emerge? Can we get glimpses of standout players who can (if they so desire) make the cross over? I do. I just hope the cry-baby whining from media would stop. ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
How can they be jealous of the XFL's success, when the XFL hasn't had any success yet? ------------------ The whole world we travel with our thoughts, Finding nowhere anyone as precious as one's own self. Since each and every person is so precious to themselves Let the self-respecting harm no other being. -from the Samyutta Nikaya
R_A_T_I_N_G_S . Steve, if the XFL contiues to have the ratings, they get success. i.e. money. This is something every media type wants more than anything. Why do you think channel 2, 11, and 13 news fight so hard for your attention? It is'nt because they particularly like you Steve or have this goofy passion to work late or work early. The more people watch, the higher the rating. The higher the rating, the more advertisers are willing to pay to market their product. This is how it works in radio and T.V. land. Remember how much companies were willing to pay to have an advertising spot in the Super Bowl?.. Yes, Steve, the XFL has had success already because of the ratings. How will it not succeed? How will it fail? It doesn't matter if all the players lay down and go to sleep and cuddle with each other. If the people find this fascinating and watch - guess what? High ratings, high success (money) It can only fail if you and me and everyone else decided that this is utter "garbajo" and tuned out. However Steve, it has already attained success. I will watch, I think others will too... ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
Part of the problem may be the fact that one of the partners is NBC -- and the competition between the major networks is starting to really heat up. If you'll notice, there is a huge difference on how the league is covered between NBC / UPN and the other networks. Plus -- the other partner is McMahon, owner of the WWF. Everybody loves to jump on the WWF and wrestling. Everyone criticizes it and ridicules wrestlers. Of course, the WWF loves it -- hey, publicity is publicity, right? Say what you will about the WWF, Vince McMahon in a marketing genius, with an IQ measured in millions of $$. The WWF has a huge following. And even though they are making fun of it, the press is watching, and paying very close attention... ------------------ Stay Cool...
The key phrase in your respone is 'continue to get the ratings.' I was just saying that one week of good ratings is hardly success that should be envied by all other media. IF the XFL makes it long-term, then others will have a reason to be jealous. ------------------ The whole world we travel with our thoughts, Finding nowhere anyone as precious as one's own self. Since each and every person is so precious to themselves Let the self-respecting harm no other being. -from the Samyutta Nikaya
I thought the actual gameplay came off very well -- I'm liking these new rules, 'specially the 'coin toss'. However, the Rock givin' that speech at the outset of the show kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. I get the feeling that as the weeks go by we'll be seeing more of the WWF element infused into the program (ie. more sex, more vignettes, and general buffoonery). Maybe having been raised exclusively by women has clouded my better judgement, but this is s'posed to be football -- the extraneous T&A gives the program that second-rate, late night cable feel. ------------------ Hey now, Hey now, don't Dream it's over...
The "success" of this league is completely illusory at this point. Basing the success of the league on ratings of the very first weekend of the existence of the league, after all the promotion that was done, is not exactly a scientific study! I tuned in...I won't tune in again. I'm sure there are lots of people who will follow that very same pattern. And for how annoying you all may think the media has been responding to this...they come nowhere close to be annoying as the promoters of this league who try to jam the concept down your throat that this is more entertaining than NFL football. Come on! Listening to Governor Ventura (nice going, Minnesota!) say over and over again, "this is why the XFL is better than the NFL..." made me want to throw up. If it's truly better, governor, then you wouldn't have to say it! dcsports -- the press WAS watching. It was the first week. Don't expect the XFL will get the same postgame attention in week 2 that it did in week 1...and that will continue to diminsh as weeks pass. It's a novelty right now...like Pokemon and the Backstreet Boys. The media guys didn't like it...not much more to say than that. I heard my own thoughts echoed over and over again on sports radio all week long by the talk show hosts. Once the gimmicks get old it comes down to the fact that this is still a minor league sport. And quite frankly, it isn't even on the level of AAA baseball...more like AA. The developmental league for the NFL is the WLAF, particularly for QB's. Yes, there will be a couple of success stories where XFL athletes make it to the big time. But they will be few and far between. Ultimately I think America will get bored with minor league football and all the gimmicks. ------------------ [This message has been edited by MadMax (edited February 09, 2001).] [This message has been edited by MadMax (edited February 09, 2001).]
I didn't say they weren't. I just pointed out one possible reason for the negative publicity from most media outlets, and the difference in coverage on those networks that are affiliated with the XFL. Remember though, the XFL doesn't have to have stellar ratings to be a success. Right now, it fills some really crappy time slots, and gets better ratings than what they were showing. Even if it were to have the same, or slightly worse ratings, it would still be cheap programming. Even if it were relegated to second tier networks like UPN or USA -- cheap programming. It could, and probably will, follow the very successful strategies used by the WWF. Second tier networks and Pay-Per-View can make money -- especially in those areas with teams. They are also hinging a lot of the success on the live audiences, and are catering to them. They do put on an exciting show. San Francisco has sold over 25,000 season tickets. The second week games are sold out -- in big stadiums. There is also potential for taking it on the road -- how quickly did the WWF tickets sell for the Astrodome? How fast would Reliant Field sell out it's 69,000 seats? It doesn't have to beat the NFL -- and they don't expect to. They just have to fill a target niche of football fans, "fans with an attitude," to be a success. ------------------ Stay Cool...
Does this mean that there's still hope that those backstreet boys will just go away? Yeah! ------------------ The whole world we travel with our thoughts, Finding nowhere anyone as precious as one's own self. Since each and every person is so precious to themselves Let the self-respecting harm no other being. -from the Samyutta Nikaya
It's funny that it's a success because it beats out all the other crappy shows no one else is watching during the same time slot. How classic is that for a definition of success! As long as they keep their costs down, pride will keep this league alive for a little while. Again..ticket sales are hot, but the product is brand new. See what happens in 2 years from now. Finally...maybe there is a market for it...the same way there's a market for wrestling. It's impossible for me to understand the success of shows like Jerry Springer and WWF...so maybe I'm wrong here too. Certainly wouldn't be the first time. I just think ultimately the press will starve this league of attention they need to pay the costs of putting on their little production. Even if those costs are less than the NFL's. BTW...the Backstreet Boys are going away!!! Their act is already tired among the high school crowd. ------------------
Success is success Maxy. Ratings is ratings. Duke is Duke. And Money is Money!!! ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
I'm in high school and I don't really know anyone that likes them or ever has. ------------------ The whole world we travel with our thoughts, Finding nowhere anyone as precious as one's own self. Since each and every person is so precious to themselves Let the self-respecting harm no other being. -from the Samyutta Nikaya
Week Two ratings have dropped 55% from last Saturday's debut XFL game on NBC... http://www.inside.com/jcs/Story?article_id=23255&pod_id=11 ------------------
Damn..someone beat me to it!!! I was hoping to bring everyone the good news that perhaps our culture isn't as bankrupt as I might have thought! Ratings were cut more than half!!! Woo hoo!!! So substance does matter...flash isn't everything! The ratings were just above average for a normal Saturday night on NBC. If ratings continue to fall, does anyone think NBC will keep up with the high production costs of broadcasting these games?? I doubt it. ------------------
