Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Kansas City Not Looking So Hot
Ratings for the NHL all-star game, which was broadcast on the Versus channel last Wednesday, have indicated what media executives have known for quite some time—hockey may be worse off than ever on TV. According to Nielson Media the game garnered a 0.7 household rating, which translates to only 474,000 viewing homes across the country.
For the 2006-2007 season, games on the Versus network are averaging a 0.2 rating, while NBC’s first weekend of coverage earned a 1.1 rating. These dismal showings are lending credence to the notion that hockey just isn’t interesting to the vast majority of American TV viewers—at least in those areas without a hockey tradition. As a result, teams in the NHL need to maximize local revenues since there isn’t much national TV money to be had.
Even among cities with NHL franchises, the all-star game did not fare well. It did not place among the top 20 cable shows in markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, and Miami. However it was the number one rated cable show in Pittsburgh, earning a 2.8 rating, behind only Buffalo’s 7.1 rating among NHL markets. While all-star game ratings for Kansas City are not available, the next closest NHL market, St. Louis posted a rating of 1.1 (sixth highest rated cable show), well behind the Pittsburgh rating. It seems unlikely that Kansas City would have been able to match St. Louis’rating.
Nielson Media rates the Pittsburgh television market ahead of the Kansas City market (22nd vs. 31st). Given the larger market and more dedicated fan base, the Penguins should be able to realize higher revenues in Pittsburgh. Yet this realization hasn’t dawned on team ownership as they continue to balk at the Governor’s more than generous offer for a new arena. Assuming the Penguins believe the arena deal in Kansas City is slightly better than what’s being offered in Pittsburgh, the difference can be made up through the greater local television market and loyal fan base.
For the 2006-2007 season, games on the Versus network are averaging a 0.2 rating, while NBC’s first weekend of coverage earned a 1.1 rating. These dismal showings are lending credence to the notion that hockey just isn’t interesting to the vast majority of American TV viewers—at least in those areas without a hockey tradition. As a result, teams in the NHL need to maximize local revenues since there isn’t much national TV money to be had.
Even among cities with NHL franchises, the all-star game did not fare well. It did not place among the top 20 cable shows in markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, and Miami. However it was the number one rated cable show in Pittsburgh, earning a 2.8 rating, behind only Buffalo’s 7.1 rating among NHL markets. While all-star game ratings for Kansas City are not available, the next closest NHL market, St. Louis posted a rating of 1.1 (sixth highest rated cable show), well behind the Pittsburgh rating. It seems unlikely that Kansas City would have been able to match St. Louis’rating.
Nielson Media rates the Pittsburgh television market ahead of the Kansas City market (22nd vs. 31st). Given the larger market and more dedicated fan base, the Penguins should be able to realize higher revenues in Pittsburgh. Yet this realization hasn’t dawned on team ownership as they continue to balk at the Governor’s more than generous offer for a new arena. Assuming the Penguins believe the arena deal in Kansas City is slightly better than what’s being offered in Pittsburgh, the difference can be made up through the greater local television market and loyal fan base.
