Comments on: NBA Finals: Nielsen Nation Says, “Where Have You Gone Michael Jordan? Our Nation Doesn’t Turn Its Lonely Eyes to Kobe and KG”

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:50:06 +0000

Agree that the Super Bowl isn't a direct (or “fair”) comparison. But I have trouble attributing 100% better ratings 10 years ago for the NBA finals completely to fragmentation. Stars definitely draw in the more casual viewer. Of course I haven't seen last night's ratings yet and if Lakers can win 2 or 3 games in LA, the gap between 1998 will surely narrow at least a bit.

By: Josh Catone

Josh Catone — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:39:04 +0000

Certainly a solid point — I know I won't be as interested in the US Open this year if Tiger's not in the hunt on Sunday.

That said, I'm not sure if you can compare the Super Bowl (a one-off event) so well with the NBA Finals (dragged out over 2 weeks).

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:23:06 +0000

Catone,

There was Yahoo Sports *and* if you can believe it, TiVo (though only about 12 of us) in 1998! I respectfully disagree somewhat about star power. Tiger Woods *still* makes a huge difference in ratings for Golf in 2008. The drop off in ratings if TW isn't in the tournament (or even in the running the final day) is immense.

Fragmentation is an issue in the aggregate, but if it mattered that much the February 2008 Super Bowl wouldn't have had record TV viewers.

By: Josh Catone

Josh Catone — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:34:46 +0000

Actually, we probably did have Yahoo! Sports… but… still.

By: Josh Catone

Josh Catone — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:33:55 +0000

You can't really say it's all “Kobe and KG vs. MJ” … every decade we're inundated with more and more entertainment options. We didn't have Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, etc. in the mid-90s when Jordan was doing his thing. We also didn't have Tivo, Yahoo! Sports, trillions of blogs, and 42 Sportscenter broadcasts every night. The same way a hit sitcom these days will never score viewer numbers like MASH, and no movie will ever put together a box office run like Titanic, the 25 million viewers for the NBA finals isn't gonna happen — unless maybe Jesus straps on his sandals and comes out of retirement.

This is more a story about viewer fragmentation than star quality.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:50:06 +0000

By: Josh Catone

Josh Catone — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:39:04 +0000

Certainly a solid point — I know I won't be as interested in the US Open this year if Tiger's not in the hunt on Sunday.

That said, I'm not sure if you can compare the Super Bowl (a one-off event) so well with the NBA Finals (dragged out over 2 weeks).

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:23:06 +0000

By: Josh Catone

Josh Catone — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:34:46 +0000

Actually, we probably did have Yahoo! Sports… but… still.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:03:31 +0000

gsilver, I guess people like voting in polls better than commenting! I think your pick is probably right though, at least if the series goes more than 5 games and it is the “wisdom of the crowds” pick!

By: glsilver497

glsilver497 — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:08:14 +0000

309 votes and no comment?come on people.i take 15–17million.it will get a better rating today.