discostu
Registered User
Jaded-Fan said:Sports became attractive to advertisers because of a few crucial demographic facts. To begin with, American males between 18 and 49 don't watch as much television as other groups. But they do watch sports. Therefore sports have become a palatable and profitable way to capture their attention.
http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article206.html
If ESPN wants to dick around over $2 million a team, let 'em. There will be plenty of others lining up to take their place at such a bargain price.
What makes sports such an attractive advertising vehicle is partly the demographics, but it goes a little further. It's the passion of the fan watching a hockey game versus, that same person watching a regular television show, like say, Everybody Loves Raymond. Because a sports fan is often very attached to his team, he is more susceptible to advertising messages that are associated with his team.
However, the length of the work stoppage greatly impacts how much attachment people will have to their teams, so it all adds up to lower revenues, once the NHL does resume, but I do agree with the point that actual rating points aren't the be all and end all.