Ok the rating is down, but what about the share? It was a nice day, maybe less people were watching TV.
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Ok the rating is down, but what about the share? It was a nice day, maybe less people were watching TV.
I really can't find any fault with this post. You're correct. Whether it's General Motors or the IRL, you can't keep looking for excuses or wanting to shoot the messenger. If people keep turning away from what you're offering, at some point you have to look at the product and realize that you're not meeting customer demands.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop
If that's an accurate figure, a 4.0 is the lowest overnight that I think there's ever been. If the number doesn't pick up by the final (once smaller markets are included), Indy could dip into the 3's. So Indy is now approaching what Long Beach used to get back in the early/mid 90's.
So what's the answer? I have no idea. It's not my fault!
I think there's several factors in play, here. ESPN/ABC has not done much in the way of promotion and/or coverage to help IndyCar the past few years, particularly since they got NASCAR back on there. Seriously, seeing Danica/Helio dominate the pre-race coverage and then not seeing guys like Lloyd, Scheckter when he was charging or Simona (your ROY) on screen at all is a complete joke. Unsurprising.
Last year the first ESPN/ABC race was Indy... this year they had two pre-Indy events. Rain-delayed at St. Pete so pushed to Monday and then a Saturday afternoon at Kansas. Neither are particularly great time slots. They had the chance to push Indy promotion there but I am not sure they did enough.
It could be the casual fan is almost devoid of interest for the same product and personalities each year. The Danica luster has worn off, despite her efforts in staying out of trouble and managing the race to wind up with a better finish than she has been all month. Helio's story has been told time and time again, and the tax evasion bit was far more relevant last year than this. And you have four women and yet Danica still gets all the pub. Ridiculous, IMO.
Quite frankly if the coverage remains subpar there's less incentive to want to tune in if they don't tell you enough to want to draw you in. There were plenty of other stories the coverage could capture, but they choose not to.
Attendance-wise, from being at the track, it was not as poor as it seemed from TV. We're talking about what was the hottest 500 on record, 96 degrees at its peak, and metal low seats with obscured or poor vision in the empties. Getting into the track about 6:30 a.m. and the lines were still backed up on 30th and Georgetown Rds. I can only compare it to '08, first year after unification, and it seemed bigger than that.
There's also the American driver bit - there were 9 this year which is the fewest number on record. Does the casual fan want to watch a bunch of turnover and foreigners they know nothing about, even if they are talented and better than we're made to think?
It's a conundrum because IZOD is certainly making an effort but it seems mismanaged. The Race to the Party ad campaign is even worse than last year's oft-repeated ad we saw about 5 million times, and it isn't tracking well in terms of getting people interested. It's an identity crisis because IZOD is pumping the money in, they want to promote the series as sexy again, Bernard wants to make it about the drivers again but RHR is still not confirmed past Texas, yet the tangible results are still measured by ratings and that drives backing more than anything.
Making it "sexy" again is about the drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by fugariracing
It is the Indy 500. Anybody with even a passing interest knew it was Sunday.
ESPN promoted the race a lot and all the airtime on Vs.(I counted 16 hours) was also a huge promotion for the race.
The fact is people weren't interested.
A 4.0 is not a sign that people weren't interested. It is a pretty good number. But it is a sign that many less people were interested in sitting down and watching Indy than perhaps anytime, ever since ratings came about. That being said, aren't all sports and racing in general in a bit of a ratings decline the past few years? NASCAR's ratings are averaging lower this year than last. And last year they were down from the previous year. I feel that it is possible that IndyCar has stemmed the blood loss recently and while it still may be lacking the casual Indy 500 fans it used to have, the hardcore base is perhaps a bit stronger than it was recently. I do not see a series that is getting worse and worse, but one that is perhaps a season or two away from actually GROWING (which would be a huge step). You can feel free to yell the sky is falling, and you certainly have legit reasons to say so, but I respectfully disagree and have optimism for the future of the series. Yes, a new car(s) in 2012 will be a crucial part of the growth, if it is to happen. If the new car does not happen in 2012, then things could be pretty stagnant for awhile if not precariously so.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop
In my opinion part of the problem is that ABC/ESPN still do not know how to cover a race. Poor direction, poor commentators, and far too many commercials at the wrong time. Side by side helps a bit but going to commercial of any type when it is apparent there is likely to be a pass or pit stops is poor directing. In Canada we had a lot of ads that were not side by side. Many were promoting TSN stick and ball shows and even had their Sports Centre updates. If I am watching a race I don't care about the scores of stick and ball from the day before. Commercials could be slotted in during the yellow flag cleanups.
Back to side by side. I have a 32 inch set and with side by side I cannot identify the cars most of the time.
I. personally, was interested in how all the women were doing but there was practically no coverage except of the Princess. I saw Sarah heading for the pits but there was no mention of that. Just shortly thereafter shown on the tape as out.
I did not know until today that she had brushed the wall and the same for Ana.
Someone in the TV control should have picked up on both, or even a pit reporter.
All of the above probably has created some of the disinterest as coverage of other races by other networks is so much better.
It is a rare instance in F1 coverage where any sort of contact is missed totally.
A 4.0 overnight is less than it was last year so I fail to see how they have "stemmed the blood loss"Quote:
Originally Posted by NickFalzone
I wished i could share your optimism but aside from a few extra cars to fill up the back of the grid I fail to see anything positive happening lately.
Since the end of the split the IRL has had to contend with 2 series for the eyes of the TV Motorsports fan. NASCAR and the NHRA. Starting this fall there will be another series on a major Network. It is just going to get tougher.
you cant compare one race to 8 home games :p : thats just not fairQuote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop
have you watched MLB games, Tampa Bay, Toronto, and many others, its almost like they are playing in an empty stadium its that bad.
the Super Bowl will always sell out like all the other championship games because of the appeal to be there for your team, or for teh sake of being there.
but its also true that the Indy 500 is more for the average America's, the ones that get to go to the major Stanley Cup, World Series, Super Bowl games are the Rich *******s who are normally corporate people who have no clue what the game is but they buy these tickets to entertain clients, not for the people who truely root for the teams.
If the casual fan knows nothing about the foreign drivers, isn't that more a reflection on the fans than the quality of the "product"? Either Indy wants to be an all American event, in which case it can't claim to be a globally important race, or it plays in the international pond. Can't have it both ways.Quote:
Originally Posted by fugariracing
In today's economy, to have a single sporting event that pulls in 180,000 to 250,000 is fantastic. All attendaces are down everywhere, Nascar races that always sold out have empty seats, MLB stadiums are nearly empty in some cities, and even a lot of NFL teams are having attendance problems. So you aren't pulling 1995 numbers... well it ain't 1995 right now!
Low TV ratings... TV ratings are low everywhere. A lot fewer people sit down & watch TV events start to finish. The current ABC broadcast team leaves a lot to be desired. Get used to lower ratings, Indycar better get used to attracting people in ways other then just getting them to watch a race broadcast.