The recent NFL Draft produced the expected strong ratings, given the lack of live pro sports content we are faced with. However, the success was really in how well the virtual approach came across to the millions of viewers.
Here's hoping that this becomes the way the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB drafts are all conducted moving forward. Having a central location with fans cheering and booing, which often interrupts the important proceedings, is not necessary to the enjoyment of the proceedings.
It became obvious that the networks can utilize unlimited sources thanks to the online technology. Although this might not have been considered acceptable a couple of months ago, by the time sports returns this will seem "normal" and acceptable for years to come.
A virtual setting allows for more interviews and information directly from the teams as well as the analysts and other sources, and more quickly. This also allows for more of the selected players to directly participate, as opposed to only the likely higher picks only.
However, there is room for improvement of this format based on how the NFL Draft telecasts went. It happened far too many times where the "Pick Is In" appeared at the bottom of the screen while viewers had to wait through constant reaction interviews surrounding the prior pick.
If we are fans enough to watch the Draft, we already know that every player has a similar reaction to being selected. Family members screaming and jumping up and down is understandable, but not to the point of seeing it every five minutes hour after hour.
Most fans prefer information about the player's credentials and some video of them in play ahead of seeing just the reactions. This is especially the case after Round 2, when the picks tend to be much less familiar to even the most avid fans.
Data about the player and some video of them in action does not need to take more than one minute. Obviously, ESPN, NFL Network, and ABC were all ready with info about the players chosen. This is not like the old days when even the reporters would ask "Who???" and start their research.
In other words, we should not have to see "Pick Is In". We should be given the pick as soon as it is available. This could move the Draft along more quickly and eliminate time wasted with the same reactions. Saving ten "Pick Is In" delays of two minutes each would knock 20 minutes off of the Draft time.
Perhaps they could add in a 10 to 15 minute "half time" type intermission between rounds. This would give each team the chance to regroup, and give the network(s) covering the Draft the opportunity to present analysis. They could also show us only the "best" player interviews and reaction instead of practically every player's similar one.
Clearly the NFL Draft is the biggest draw of all, but this could also be done moving forward for the other sports. At least that is how it should be. The pick is in.
Meanwhile, Drew Brees is not only ahead of the pack as a QB, but he now is ahead of everything with what appear to be definitive retirement plans. Brees has reportedly been signed as a game analyst by NBC Sports, likely to begin for the 2022 season. His contract with the Saints is for two more years, but we do not know how that might be impacted if there is no NFL season in 2020.
Word is that NBC will be bidding for a 2nd NFL contract, which might open up for Mike Torico and Brees to be the team to call such games. If not, Brees would join Torico waiting in the wings behind Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth.
CHICAGO: The sad news is that Marc Silverman of WMVP ESPN 1000 announced last week that he has been diagnosed with Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. Silverman has been with the station since it began in 1998, and has co-hosted with former Bears receiver Tom Waddle in either afternoon drive or middays since 2007.
SAN DIEGO: The "Mightier" 1090? The word is that a new owner has surfaced for the frequency, which was all sports as the "Mighty 1090" until it went off the air in the spring of 2019. Although Scott Kaplan, who hosted in the "Mighty" days is returning for afternoons, the "Mightier" days may include more than "only" sports.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Friday, April 10, 2020
Islands In The Stream
While we still don't know if and when live sports as we know it will resume, the question remains as to how extreme it will get when the time comes. Sports fans have differing views as to the "value" of airing classic games, especially as the weeks drag on. It is understandable that regional sports networks are showing classic games in a series such as a championship run or themes such as last minute victories. Whether or not people will watch for almost two hours when they know the outcome remains to be seen, but the hours need to be filled.
There is the aspect of the networks offering up their archives for free to explore. It does make sense for sports leagues and organizations to attempt to lure in new fans during this period, since potential fans can use the time to "catch up" on recent history.
For example, MLB-TV has made its archives of regular season games over the past two years available at no cost. During the first two weeks, they reported an 85% increase in views. The NBA and NHL have done the same, with the NFL joining the crowd. Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not the NFL season will take place as originally scheduled or not.
The feeling here is that the NFL is doing this in an effort to hold fan interest their way instead of them not being able to watch NFL games and going over to one of the other sports.
NBC Sports Gold has also been streaming its golf programming at no cost, with a promise to do so until "at least" May 17th. They recently added archives including tournaments going back more than 50 years.
This weekend (April 9 - 12) was supposed to have been The Masters. Tournament officials announced earlier this week that they are looking at rescheduling for later in 2020, hinting at the week of November 9th to 15th. Here is where it gets interesting, in terms of extremes.
Suppose live sports are back by that time. That same week in November could possibly have MLB post-season in the event of a delayed season and post-season games played at warm weather neutral sites. Obviously, the NFL and college football would be in full swing. The NBA and NHL "normally" are into their seasons by mid-November.
Although CBS could possibly reschedule its college football games for that Saturday, it is highly unlikely they would dump out of NFL coverage on that Sunday. Putting the final round of The Masters into prime time would not be feasible given the weather and the darkness at that hour.
As is stands without The Masters, having an abundance of major sports, which relies so much on TV revenue, all going on at the same time would be a crunch for the networks, the advertisers, and even for the viewers. There will be a lot to figure out before any of this happens.
Meanwhile, the announcement from Los Angeles has to rank up there among the most ironic sports media happenings ever. After years of frustration among Dodgers fans while roughly 70% of the market could not get the Dodgers telecasts, now comes the announcement that AT&T and DirecTV are carrying SportsNet LA. In the long run, having the option to get the games throughout the market will be great news for Dodgers fans.
There is the aspect of the networks offering up their archives for free to explore. It does make sense for sports leagues and organizations to attempt to lure in new fans during this period, since potential fans can use the time to "catch up" on recent history.
For example, MLB-TV has made its archives of regular season games over the past two years available at no cost. During the first two weeks, they reported an 85% increase in views. The NBA and NHL have done the same, with the NFL joining the crowd. Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not the NFL season will take place as originally scheduled or not.
The feeling here is that the NFL is doing this in an effort to hold fan interest their way instead of them not being able to watch NFL games and going over to one of the other sports.
NBC Sports Gold has also been streaming its golf programming at no cost, with a promise to do so until "at least" May 17th. They recently added archives including tournaments going back more than 50 years.
This weekend (April 9 - 12) was supposed to have been The Masters. Tournament officials announced earlier this week that they are looking at rescheduling for later in 2020, hinting at the week of November 9th to 15th. Here is where it gets interesting, in terms of extremes.
Suppose live sports are back by that time. That same week in November could possibly have MLB post-season in the event of a delayed season and post-season games played at warm weather neutral sites. Obviously, the NFL and college football would be in full swing. The NBA and NHL "normally" are into their seasons by mid-November.
Although CBS could possibly reschedule its college football games for that Saturday, it is highly unlikely they would dump out of NFL coverage on that Sunday. Putting the final round of The Masters into prime time would not be feasible given the weather and the darkness at that hour.
As is stands without The Masters, having an abundance of major sports, which relies so much on TV revenue, all going on at the same time would be a crunch for the networks, the advertisers, and even for the viewers. There will be a lot to figure out before any of this happens.
Meanwhile, the announcement from Los Angeles has to rank up there among the most ironic sports media happenings ever. After years of frustration among Dodgers fans while roughly 70% of the market could not get the Dodgers telecasts, now comes the announcement that AT&T and DirecTV are carrying SportsNet LA. In the long run, having the option to get the games throughout the market will be great news for Dodgers fans.
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