Playoffs on New Years Eve turned into ratings Titannic

Tskware

Heisman
Jan 26, 2003
25,075
21,565
113
Just read in the LHL that viewership of the two playoff games took a huge ratings hit this year, 15M less than last year. Whose bright idea was it to put these games on New Years Eve, a night when traditionally everyone attends a party? I heard a ton of fans complain about it the week before the games. Leave them on NYD where they belong so you don't have to catch "ish" from your wife as you sit in the corner of a party glued to the Cotton Bowl. Yet naturally, they have already announced that 7 of the next 10 playoff semifinals will be on NYE. :cry:

On another note, I was curious how well attended the other major bowls would be, and was pleasantly surprised to see full or nearly full stadiums at all the bigger bowl games, e.g., Peach, Outback, Citrus, Rose, Sugar and Fiesta. My take is that the bowl system is fine as is, and the good matchup still draw a crowd. I would leave the final four as is, but way too many small potato bowls that draw crowds of dozens and little to no fan interest.
 

vhcat70

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
57,418
38,482
0
As part of the playoffs deal, Rose Bowl & Sugar Bowl insisted on their time slots whether part of playoffs or not. So playoff games that don't include those two bowls have to scheduled around them. Agree that NYE playoffs hurt ratings.
 

fuzz77

All-Conference
Sep 19, 2012
12,163
1,423
0
As part of the playoffs deal, Rose Bowl & Sugar Bowl insisted on their time slots whether part of playoffs or not. So playoff games that don't include those two bowls have to scheduled around them. Agree that NYE playoffs hurt ratings.
I don't agree that you have to schedule around them. Schedule them on New Year's day and let the viewers choose which game they want to watch. Personally, I think that a better option would have to play those games on the Saturday before Christmas and then play the championship game on New Year's.
 

theoledog

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2008
4,306
1,444
0
Just read in the LHL that viewership of the two playoff games took a huge ratings hit this year, 15M less than last year. Whose bright idea was it to put these games on New Years Eve, a night when traditionally everyone attends a party? I heard a ton of fans complain about it the week before the games. Leave them on NYD where they belong so you don't have to catch "ish" from your wife as you sit in the corner of a party glued to the Cotton Bowl. Yet naturally, they have already announced that 7 of the next 10 playoff semifinals will be on NYE. :cry:

On another note, I was curious how well attended the other major bowls would be, and was pleasantly surprised to see full or nearly full stadiums at all the bigger bowl games, e.g., Peach, Outback, Citrus, Rose, Sugar and Fiesta. My take is that the bowl system is fine as is, and the good matchup still draw a crowd. I would leave the final four as is, but way too many small potato bowls that draw crowds of dozens and little to no fan interest.
Tsk.... I watched, sparingly, some of the NYEve games.... Agree with you and many others as it was one of them "fly on the wall" decisions.... But looks like they're doubling down on stupid... 2016.
 
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