06-21-2017, 01:19 PM
I go back-and-forth on whether TV networks are overpaying for CFB content.
Here's some data on average viewership of CFB from a 2016 SI article:
How big or small is that 2 million number? I'm really not sure. On the one hand, it's a lot lower than the top TV programs, according to Nielsen:
On the other hand, I don't know what the average show (I guess I'm thinking more like the median) gets in terms of viewership.
If you look at the dollars paid to broadcast NFL and expect a linear relationship between viewership and dollars paid for broadcast rights, you would probably think CFB remains a bargain. But because the NFL is almost the only "guaranteed" ratings draw--and thus commands a premium--I don't think it makes sense to scale things that way.
So, I think it's at least possible that networks will actually reduce what they're paying to conferences because they're not really buying "hit" shows that draw lots and lots of eyeballs. But I have not really heard that idea broached, so maybe I'm way off.
Here's some data on average viewership of CFB from a 2016 SI article:
Quote: In an email, ESPN released similar findings: To date, college football across all nationally-rated networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and FS1) is averaging 2,011,000 viewers per game (255 games), which is down 27,000 viewers per game from last season (one percent).
How big or small is that 2 million number? I'm really not sure. On the one hand, it's a lot lower than the top TV programs, according to Nielsen:
Quote:Â TOP 10 PRIMETIME TV PROGRAMS OF 2016 - REGULARLY SCHEDULED
Rank Program Originator Persons 2+ Rating Average No. of Viewers
1 BIG BANG THEORY, THE CBS 6.7 19,938,000
2 NCIS CBS 6.7 19,885,000
3 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NBC 6.4 19,283,000
4 WALKING DEAD AMC 6.3 18,824,000
5 BULL CBS 5.8 17,645,000
6 NCIS: NEW ORLEANS CBS 5.2 15,618,000
7 SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK NBC 5.0 14,952,000
8 DESIGNATED SURVIVOR ABC 4.9 14,915,000
9 CBS+NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL CBS 4.9 14,785,000
10 BLUE BLOODS CBS 4.8 14,414,000
On the other hand, I don't know what the average show (I guess I'm thinking more like the median) gets in terms of viewership.
If you look at the dollars paid to broadcast NFL and expect a linear relationship between viewership and dollars paid for broadcast rights, you would probably think CFB remains a bargain. But because the NFL is almost the only "guaranteed" ratings draw--and thus commands a premium--I don't think it makes sense to scale things that way.
So, I think it's at least possible that networks will actually reduce what they're paying to conferences because they're not really buying "hit" shows that draw lots and lots of eyeballs. But I have not really heard that idea broached, so maybe I'm way off.