Infomercials get better TV ratings than Florida Panthers games

[sonny side up]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/24/2084384/miami-heat-is-hot-with-local-and.html

At the opposite extreme are the Panthers, who are drawing a slightly smaller average local rating than last weekend’s infomercial hawking an ice-crushing blender.

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[GSC2k2*]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/24/2084384/miami-heat-is-hot-with-local-and.html



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You understand that is just hyperbole, I hope (not to say that the ratings are any good).

 

[Confucius]

I heard test patterns used to get higher ratings. I guess a few people fell asleep while the tv was going

 

[MayDay]

You understand that is just hyperbole, I hope (not to say that the ratings are any good).

Not hyperbole, fact. Did you read the article?

To give you some perspective on how few people watch the Panthers, consider this: Their .19 local rating was the worst in the NHL among the 22 teams studied by Sports Business Daily (numbers for Carolina, Nashville and Canadian teams were not available).

That’s lower than the rating for a kid’s show named Doodlebops at 7 a.m. Sunday on WFOR-4, lower than an AbCoaster exercise equipment infomercial on WFOR last Sunday, and lower than the Ninja Professional Blender, Chopper and Ice Crusher infomercial on WPLG-10.

 

[Telfo]

while its bad, you cant really compare broadcast networks and obscure cable channels regardless of programming or time of day

 

[Wham City]

Maybe the Shamwow guy can replace DeBoer. I'd watch that.

 

[y2kcanucks]

Not to mention they have 2 for 1 ticket promotions and still aren't selling out.

...but hockey is working in Florida, right?

 

[cbcwpg]

To be fair, the U.S. Home Shopping Network probably gets better ratings than most sports teams in any league.

 

[danishh]

i'm not sure whether this is a statement about the panthers or a statement about the type of people that watch TV in florida.

 

[throatguzzler]

Floridans are a weird bunch. They don't support the MLB either... so don't think it's just one sport.

 

[CBJ goalie]

while its bad, you cant really compare broadcast networks and obscure cable channels regardless of programming or time of day

Why not?
They're just gauging the interest of the local populace - in this case, Miami-area residents prefer watching a guy in a bad sweater hock crappy products vs. watching professional athletes chase a small black piece of rubber on an ice surface.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

while its bad, you cant really compare broadcast networks and obscure cable channels regardless of programming or time of day

When a NHL game gets beaten by a ****ing damn blender infomercial you absolutely can compare it.


That is just pathetic.

 

[jessebelanger]

Not to mention they have 2 for 1 ticket promotions and still aren't selling out.

...but hockey is working in Florida, right?

What metric are you using to determine whether or not hockey "works".

Please let me know what you believe the guidelines are to determining that hockey "works" or "does not work" in a market.

 

[Dado]

Please let me know what you believe the guidelines are to determining that hockey "works" or "does not work" in a market.

People lined up to buy the franchise to keep it from relocating.

 

[J17 Vs Proclamation]

When a NHL game gets beaten by a ****ing damn blender infomercial you absolutely can compare it.


That is just pathetic.

I know we hear the argument about not winning from defensive fans when their team has an inability to draw on TV or live but it is pretty apt here.

It isn't a great market. But Florida is the worst run organisation in the NHL bar none. It's been irritating to see Oiler fans whining about how bad they've had it considering they actually made the finals not so long ago. We've had ten + years of this and we aren't done yet. Look at Tampa, Carolina, Nashville, Dallas, Colorado or San Jose. They all differ, but by and large they've been solidly run and have managed to establish themselves as viable. This market has literally been destroyed by its ownership. It just doesn't stand a freakin chance.

 

[y2kcanucks]

What metric are you using to determine whether or not hockey "works".

Please let me know what you believe the guidelines are to determining that hockey "works" or "does not work" in a market.

1) Are fans attending games?
2) Are fans watching games on TV?
3) Is the operation profitable?
4) Is the lack of profits a result of lack of fan support? Corporate support?
5) What is the general awareness of the team like? Do they take a back seat to lawn bowling and informercials? Or is it front page of the sports news?

 

[Alan Jackson]

What metric are you using to determine whether or not hockey "works".

Please let me know what you believe the guidelines are to determining that hockey "works" or "does not work" in a market.

It's one thing to not attend the games, it's quite another that people can't even be bothered to flip on the TV.

 

[Dado]

But Florida is the worst run organisation in the NHL bar none.

Folks in Atlanta claim Atlanta is the worst.

Folks on Long Island claim the Islanders are the worst.

Folks in Arizona claimed Moyes was the worst.

Seem to be an awful lot of "bar none" worsts out there...maybe it's a sign the league needs to contract as clearly there just aren't enough competent owners for this many teams.

 

[y2kcanucks]

I know we hear the argument about not winning from defensive fans when their team has an inability to draw on TV or live but it is pretty apt here.

It isn't a great market. But Florida is the worst run organisation in the NHL bar none. It's been irritating to see Oiler fans whining about how bad they've had it considering they actually made the finals not so long ago. We've had ten + years of this and we aren't done yet. Look at Tampa, Carolina, Nashville, Dallas, Colorado or San Jose. They all differ, but by and large they've been solidly run and have managed to establish themselves as viable. This market has literally been destroyed by its ownership. It just doesn't stand a freakin chance.

6 years ago?

The Edmonton Oilers have been by far the worst team in the NHL over the past 2 seasons and that's something not even the Florida Panthers can match. A couple years ago Florida finished tied in points with the 8th place Montreal Canadiens, yet there was no fan support. For several seasons before that, Florida finished above .500 and while out of the playoffs, reasonably close to making them.

Edmonton sells out, and has good ratings. Florida is a deserted arena with no ratings.

 

[unstuck]

Seem to be an awful lot of "bar none" worsts out there...maybe it's a sign the league needs to contract as clearly there just aren't enough competent owners for this many teams.

Yes, but it also irks me -- and I say this with all due respect to fans of the Florida Panthers and TB - that the state of Florida has two NHL hockey teams, while the province of Quebec -- the very cradle of the game -- has only one. It's just not right.

 

[J17 Vs Proclamation]

6 years ago?

The Edmonton Oilers have been by far the worst team in the NHL over the past 2 seasons and that's something not even the Florida Panthers can match. A couple years ago Florida finished tied in points with the 8th place Montreal Canadiens, yet there was no fan support. For several seasons before that, Florida finished above .500 and while out of the playoffs, reasonably close to making them.

Edmonton sells out, and has good ratings. Florida is a deserted arena with no ratings.

This isn't a contest of who has the bigger fan base. Edmonton >>>>> Florida as a market. This isn't my agenda.

I am simply emphasising that for all Edmonton fans think they've had it bad, Florida fans have had it worse. By far the worst team in the league for 2 years? Try 1 and 1/2 and in those years guess what, Florida has also been one of the worst teams in the league. Lets extend back even further ; Edmonton has a finals appearance this century. Florida doesn't even have a playoff appearance. It's not even arguable which is the worse run and which fan base has had more misery. Edmonton have had golden years compared to Florida.

No team in the NHL outside of Columbus ranks near Florida in terms of pure misery for the last 10 years.

 

[berklon]

It's obvious what the NHL needs to do. Put another team in Florida.

 

[Jeremy Hronek]

6 years ago?

The Edmonton Oilers have been by far the worst team in the NHL over the past 2 seasons and that's something not even the Florida Panthers can match. A couple years ago Florida finished tied in points with the 8th place Montreal Canadiens, yet there was no fan support. For several seasons before that, Florida finished above .500 and while out of the playoffs, reasonably close to making them.

Edmonton sells out, and has good ratings. Florida is a deserted arena with no ratings.

I guarantee you that if the Canucks hadn't made the playoffs in 10 years their attendance would be terrible too.

 

[unstuck]

I guarantee you that if the Canucks hadn't made the playoffs in 10 years their attendance would be terrible too.

really? Good thing the Leafs are so good then! wait...

 

[cbcwpg]

No team in the NHL outside of Columbus ranks near Florida in terms of pure misery for the last 10 years.

As of Apr 15, 2010

there were 3 teams with worse historical records than Florida.

Columbus
Atlanta
Tampa Bay

http://statshockey.homestead.com/alltimestandings.html