NBC Sports Network Off to Rocky Start With Abysmal Ratings
NBC Sports rebranded Versus as the NBC Sports Network last month. If you did not notice this, you weren’t alone. Sports Business Journal has the January ratings, and the purported ESPN competitor is not off to an auspicious start.
The network averaged just 62,000 viewers, eighth-place among the sports networks participating in Nielsen and a 20.5 percent decline from Versus’ ratings last January. The Costas Tonight debut drew 108,000 viewers, the same number that watched a World Series of Poker rerun during the NFC Championship Game, ESPN’s lowest rated program of the month. NBCSN is in 75 million homes. Whether those homes know where to find it is another matter.
Why is NBCSN in this rut?
Poor Rights Deals: Sports networks are driven by live sports. Though NBCSN should see a spike during the NHL playoffs and the Olympics, their year-round rights deals are few and mediocre at best. The VIPs are their “exclusive” upfront at the Super Bowl emphasized this.
To that end, NBC Sports held an exclusive invite-only “upfront” event for about 250 guests in Indianapolis on the Saturday before the Super Bowl to lay out the NBC Sports Group’s vision. The event attracted elite sports industry executives, including advertisers, media buyers and league commissioners like the NHL’s Gary Bettman and MLS’s Don Garber, as well as IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard.
The network has a collection of second and third-tier properties (the polite way of putting it). It should aim higher than the Colonial Athletic Association. Big East Football is a reasonable target, though an audacious bid for MLB or NASCAR might change their outlook dramatically.
Incoherent Programming: The network’s supplementary programming has resembled the Island of Misfit Toys. Praiseworthy efforts such as Costas, NFL Turning Point and documentaries have been paired with poor ESPN knockoffs, projects doomed at conception (Sports Jobs with Junior Seau, the T. Ocho Show) and ratings cataclysms (Sports Biz: Game On with Darren Rovell). Outdoor programming predating NBC’s involvement (North to Alaska, City Limits Fishing, Quest for the One) provides the network’s three highest-rated shows not directly affiliated with NHL games. That’s precisely with NBC wants to phase out.
NBCSN speaks of shows being “off-brand” but clearly needs to figure out what the “brand” is. Challenging ESPN will mean a focused approach, targeting a specific audience by doing something ESPN does better. Right now it looks like NBCSN is just compiling crap the hegemon sets aside. It did take ESPN a while to get off the ground, though ESPN was creating a marketplace. NBCSN must wrest space in a competitive one.
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February 21st, 2012 at 4:12 PM
The Costas Tonight debut drew 108,000 viewers
I had no idea such a thing existed. I better steer clear of it. My tv can’t handle smug very well.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:12 PM
Yeesh. They need to slow down if there’s any expectation of challenging ESPN. That’s a very long-term goal. Maybe they could steal something off the edges and promote the shit out of it, like lacrosse and strong man competitions, before trying to move on MLB. NASCAR might seem like a coup and would boost the ratings without the kind of killer competition for bids that MLB gets/will get.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:13 PM
I actually like the 6 PM show. It’s easier to watch than SC for the most part.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:15 PM
So they’re going to get rid of fishing? I don’t need another shitty ESPN. Or pompous midgets telling me about a sport they can’t play.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:15 PM
NBCSN and NHLN should probably work out a deal where they’re not playing both of their live studio shows at the same time.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Oh gawd , who thought this was a good idea? Speak up.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Sports Biz: Game On with Darren Rovell
Oh gawd , who thought this was a good idea? Speak up.
I just thought those two things were born to be together
February 21st, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Rovell!
February 21st, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Speaking of outdoors shows, when I was going through all the Fox regional networks that I get through DirecTV a couple of years ago, I saw that Kent Hrbek has (or had) his own outdoors show. He went hunting for wild turkeys but never saw one. If that was the footage they left in, I can’t imagine what they edited out.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:23 PM
NBCSN needs to show Aussie Rules Football!
They show Mountain West basketball games Sat. afternoon. The presentation is not bad, and the announcers arent annoying. I watched a lot of Rubgy Sevens when they showed that a few weeks back.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:23 PM
I watch NHL Overtime and when the Hawks play on there but most hockey fans have NHL GameCentre and get their hockey fix that way. NBCSN would be wise to see if they can cut a deal for some weekday MLB games. They’ll never get the NFL or wrestle the NBA away from ESPN. Just work with what you have and settle into that niche.
Challenging ESPN is a misguided goal, if, that is in fact their goal.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Hunting and fishing shows are awesome. Especially some of the big game hunting shows in HD.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Sports Jobs with Junior Seau
this, too, was a terrible knockoff with a far less charismatic (but more famous, football wise) lead guy.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:26 PM
I’m playing golf tomorrow. GOLF.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:27 PM
Rovell ever Tweet out how much he gets paid per viewer?
February 21st, 2012 at 4:27 PM
Hunting and fishing shows are awesome. Especially some of the big game hunting shows in HD.
/says less than 1% of the viewing public, and not a single woman
February 21st, 2012 at 4:27 PM
Honestly if they just ran a fluff free highlight show in the morning like ESPNnews or like how SportsCenter was in the glory days I’d only watch ESPN for live games. Just showing thorough comprehensive highlights, with a graphic containing an expanded box score would be tremendous.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:29 PM
It did take ESPN a while to get off the ground,
did somebody say Aussie Rules reruns? Sadly, no, they said sparsely attended rugby sevens tournaments.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:29 PM
Under pain of death, forced to watch that or Joe Buck Live what would you choose.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:30 PM
I would rather eat glass than watch Bob Costas.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:30 PM
the hegemon sets aside
I’ll just assume that’s an off branded version of Pokeman.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Keep showing rodeo, you pack of assholes! People LOVE to tune in and see farm animals getting tortured.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:31 PM
Under pain of death, forced to watch that or Joe Buck Live what would you choose.
can your other choice be a 30 minute parting shot from Mike Lupica?
I’d watch Joe Buck myself.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:32 PM
Keep showing rodeo, you pack of assholes! People LOVE to tune in and see farm animals getting tortured.
One thing that has been missing from the TBL comments is the PETA crowd.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:32 PM
I tried watching it, since I’m always whining about ESPN – all I saw was King and Florio. That’s no better and no more credible that what I see on ESPN.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:32 PM
I would rather eat
glass than watch Bob Costas./coop’d
February 21st, 2012 at 4:33 PM
I’d rather go over to suckingcock.com
February 21st, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Under pain of death, forced to watch that or Joe Buck Live what would you choose.
Death?
February 21st, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Keep showing rodeo, you pack of assholes! People LOVE to tune in and see farm animals getting tortured.
One thing that has been missing from the TBL comments is the PETA crowd.
which animals get tortured? And don’t say the bucking bulls. They have to get their nuts viced up for a really short time, but they live like princes most of the time. They just need to get fired up to do their job, and they’re free to seek revenge on a guy who’s 1800 pounds lighter, and hanging on with one hand.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:34 PM
The Red Wings just traded a 1st round pick for a guy they waived a couple years ago…..
February 21st, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Real Time with Bill Maher and I hate Bill Maher.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Why is NBCSN in this rut?
It isn’t really in a rut, it hasnt even gotten off the ground yet. I would imagine the ratings will get a bump when the Olympics come about.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:35 PM
I don’t even know what channel this is on Direct TV. I actually LIKE Costas and would check his show out.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:36 PM
which animals get tortured?
The cowboys and clowns.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:37 PM
Sophomore year of college I took a girl on a date to the Mesquite rodeo. She being from Chicago had never seen a rodeo before. We walked in during the solo calf roping just as the calf got roped on the horns and flew up in the air. She freaked out. It was great.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:37 PM
I think its like 607 or so. I’m not sure. I don’t watch ice stick.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:38 PM
I actually LIKE Costas and would check his show out.
Because you don’t find him intimidating?
February 21st, 2012 at 4:38 PM
I’m not sure. I don’t watch ice stick.
And yet the NHL insists on having a team in Arizona.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:39 PM
With ratings that bad, I’m not even gonna bother sending my tape in (but seriously, who’s my contact over there?)
February 21st, 2012 at 4:39 PM
like cesar said in Rome…I didn’t he existed until he didnt
February 21st, 2012 at 4:40 PM
know
February 21st, 2012 at 4:40 PM
Under pain of death, forced to watch that or Joe Buck Live what would you choose.
Real Time with Bill Maher and I hate Bill Maher.
Costas is at least smart AND smug, so I’d take him. Buck is just bland and stupid. Maher can go get sluiced at a meat factory.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:40 PM
I don’t speak for all the people in Arizona. Just the white ones.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:41 PM
I have no sympathy for rodeo cowboys who get injured by bucking bulls. Fuck that, I can literally think of a million things I’d rather do than jump on a ton of animal who mad because he doesn’t understand why you fucked with his testicles, but he’s going to let you know he didn’t appreciate it. Fuck that.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Sophomore year of college I took a girl on a date to the Mesquite rodeo. She being from Chicago had never seen a rodeo before. We walked in during the solo calf roping just as the calf got roped on the horns and flew up in the air. She freaked out. It was great.
caught the cheyenne roundup one year. one of the warmups was a wild horse race. contestants had to break a horse then ride it for a lap. crazy fucking mustangs
February 21st, 2012 at 4:42 PM
People LOVE to tune in and see farm animals getting tortured.
I can’t argue that. I personally like it when lower primates are tortured because it seems more fair. What are some other people’s faves?
February 21st, 2012 at 4:42 PM
Costas Tonight
His “Later” show in 90′s was great.
People stayed up until 12:30 to watch.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:42 PM
So about 12%?
February 21st, 2012 at 4:43 PM
I don’t speak for all the people in Arizona. Just the white ones.
Well played.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:43 PM
I like Maher’s show in spite of him if he has a good panel on…plus what can I say, I like a show filled with jokes about Republicans
February 21st, 2012 at 4:44 PM
Same with those asshole bullfighters that get gored to death.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:44 PM
If that was the death knell this site would have imploded long ago.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:45 PM
I have no sympathy for rodeo cowboys who get injured by fucking bulls
more fun
and yysa, the wife is irish as hell, i’m the hispanic
February 21st, 2012 at 4:45 PM
Team Bulls
February 21st, 2012 at 4:47 PM
I hear ya, MP
February 21st, 2012 at 4:47 PM
Speaking of bullfights, has anyone here had Rocky Mountain oysters? Just wondering how they taste.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:47 PM
The Irish are the hispanic white folks of England. So I stand by my theory.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:48 PM
I like Maher’s show in spite of him if he has a good panel on
He could have Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Walt Whitman, Thomas Jefferson and a naked Faye Reagan dancing in a corner and I still wouldn’t willingly watch his show.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:48 PM
Rocky Mountain oysters?
prairie oysters in nebraska. they were ok. novelty more than gourmet
February 21st, 2012 at 4:49 PM
The Irish are the hispanic white folks of England. So I stand by my theory.
i don;t want to seem dumb or uncool, so…hahahahahahaha
February 21st, 2012 at 4:51 PM
Rocky Mountain oysters?
prairie oysters in nebraska. they were ok. novelty more than gourmet
Calf fries here. Some call it RM oysters. We just through the balls to the dogs after extraction. I have never had one. I agree with the novelty thing.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:51 PM
Faye Reagan
Had to look her up. No Gingers please.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:51 PM
through
threw.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:51 PM
fire costas. go back to being VS. Profit.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:52 PM
I had those and rattlesnake at Rawhide here not too long ago. Not bad. The texture is different but its still battered and fried beef. And Rattlesnake tastes like chicken.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:52 PM
I’ll go ahead and engage a bit here…
Hardly a PETAite here (or whatever). I love animal flesh on my dinner plate, I love animal skins on my feet and holding up my pants, and I enjoy animals in the crosshairs of my .30-06 as I’m getting thrilled about the prospect of venison chili and venison sausage. However, killing a sentient being comes with (I think) a duty to the Creator who put this whole thing together. Hunting for entertainment cheapens the life and just doesn’t fit my philosophy.
Nuts in a vice not torture? So you’d be willing to try it to “get you fired up for your job”? With that logic, I think MMA could use a little pre-game cinching to increase the “intensity” of their fighters, if you know what I mean. How about the calves who get chased down, slammed to the ground, and hog-tied? Torture? Probably not, but I don’t think distressing an animal in that fashion is “entertainment.” If you did it with juvenile delinquents however….
February 21st, 2012 at 4:52 PM
I can’t get into Bill Maher at all for the same reason I don’t watch FoxNews or MSNBC. Way too much preaching to their own converted. But that’s really not what bothers me.
I am far more offended by the fact that Bill Maher is simply not funny.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Hunting for entertainment cheapens the life and just doesn’t fit my philosophy. Patrick
I hunt for entertainment. Comradeship. To balance out non-healthy populations (like deer.) But I eat what I kill. The PETA thing was just a joke.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:56 PM
a naked Faye Reagan
new favorite
February 21st, 2012 at 4:56 PM
I’ll go ahead and engage a bit here…
One thing that has been missing from the TBL comments is the PETA crowd.
Hardly a PETAite here (or whatever). I love animal flesh on my dinner plate, I love animal skins on my feet and holding up my pants, and I enjoy animals in the crosshairs of my .30-06 as I’m getting thrilled about the prospect of venison chili and venison sausage. However, killing a sentient being comes with (I think) a duty to the Creator who put this whole thing together. Hunting for entertainment cheapens the life and just doesn’t fit my philosophy.
which animals get tortured? And don’t say the bucking bulls. They have to get their nuts viced up for a really short time, but they live like princes most of the time.
Nuts in a vice not torture? So you’d be willing to try it to “get you fired up for your job”? With that logic, I think MMA could use a little pre-game cinching to increase the “intensity” of their fighters, if you know what I mean. How about the calves who get chased down, slammed to the ground, and hog-tied? Torture? Probably not, but I don’t think distressing an animal in that fashion is “entertainment.” If you did it with juvenile delinquents however….
when we did leave no trace camping for a NOLS trip, they didn;t let you wear orange in the pristine wilderness, for fear of freaking out the animals with the unnatural colors
February 21st, 2012 at 4:56 PM
Oh yeah, the worst thing about the show is his crowd…best moment in the show’s history was when Christopher Hitchen flipped them off and kept saying “Fuck you”
February 21st, 2012 at 4:56 PM
Hardly a PETAite here (or whatever). I love animal flesh on my dinner plate, I love animal skins on my feet and holding up my pants, and I enjoy animals in the crosshairs of my .30-06 as I’m getting thrilled about the prospect of venison chili and venison sausage.
I read this part like Mike Gundy responding angrily to questions at a post-game press conference.
/I’m a man!
//you know, in case you doubted it
February 21st, 2012 at 4:56 PM
I feel this way as well.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:57 PM
For some reason, this line annoys me even when it’s written about stand-up acts that I too don’t find funny. Anyone who’s done stand up for 30 years, I have to give them a nod that somewhere along the way, they’ve had to be pretty funny. Tough to fake it and be successful over that span of time. Obviously when someone does political humor, that immediately turns off a large portion of the audience as well, whether or not their lampooning is funny.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:58 PM
Oh yeah, the worst thing about the show is his crowd…best moment in the show’s history was when Christopher Hitchen flipped them off and kept saying “Fuck you”
That I could watch over and over again. Maher was so shocked that someone insulted him to his face, especially someone he clearly thought highly of, that he tripped over his next words.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:59 PM
Had to look her up. No Gingers please.
I didn’t realize I was fulfilling requests.
February 21st, 2012 at 4:59 PM
kc, patrick division, you fans of guided hunts?
i suppose there are some that lead you right to a nest or herd of whatever, ensuring a kill, and just as many who are there if you have questions but otherwise let you do the work
February 21st, 2012 at 4:59 PM
I find that some humans find certain comedians funny and some humans do not.
February 21st, 2012 at 5:01 PM
I find that some humans find certain comedians funny and some humans do not.
How dare you attack my value system!
/nukes Arizona
February 21st, 2012 at 5:01 PM
I know I have, but all I can recall is that they tasted like bland fried stuff and I had been drinking. There was a bar near where I grew up that was famous for them, evidently, but it’s gone now.
Re rodeos: rodeos are about one thing and one thing only, and that’s mutton bustin’.
February 21st, 2012 at 5:01 PM
I think of Maher’s act the same as I do about late stage Carlin, more social commentator than stand-up…neither is enjoyable
February 21st, 2012 at 5:03 PM
Carlin was always preachy though, but he was able to pull it off because he had original thoughts and didn’t just say that some aspect of our system or society was “bullshit” over and over again to applause.
/glares at Lewis Black
February 21st, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Maher and Hitchens on the same stage could have caused a self-satisfied blowhard wormhole. The set would have disappeared into itself and turned into an episode of “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.”
February 21st, 2012 at 5:05 PM
hey gp, have you got 2-minute warning by angel city? if not, do so, can probably find it for 2 bucks at amazon used
February 21st, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Maher and Hitchens on the same stage could have caused a self-satisfied blowhard wormhole. The set would have disappeared into itself and turned into an episode of “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.”
but hitchens earned his smug
February 21st, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Maher and Hitchens on the same stage could have caused a self-satisfied blowhard wormhole.
Certainly. Though Hitchens was such a brilliant debater than I can forgive some of his smugness.
February 21st, 2012 at 5:08 PM
nods at ms
February 21st, 2012 at 5:10 PM
Vezbeast, nah, haven’t heard it. Kinda stuck with music buying at the moment because I’ve filled my pod…time to upgrade, or switch back to the ol’ Walkman.
February 21st, 2012 at 5:12 PM
no namby pamby excuses, get it
February 21st, 2012 at 5:16 PM
from 1984, australia. go to youtube, they are also known as the angels. i only have two minute warning and i don’t care if everything else was crap (idk if it was just saying). check out underground, look the other way, walking to babylon. great lyrics. great sounds from the guitar
February 21st, 2012 at 5:20 PM
I’ll check it out. The Aussies had some weirdly hardcore shit in the late 70s/early ’80s. Saints, Radio Birdman, Beasts of Bourbon…
February 21st, 2012 at 5:21 PM
I used to hate Bill Maher back in the day. did a 180 on him.
February 21st, 2012 at 5:24 PM
Radio Birdman,
he’s the top man in the language department!
/greatest hits are in the minivan right now
February 21st, 2012 at 5:28 PM
rebranding was stupid. you don’t do a rebrand unless you are completely changing like TNN going to Spike.
February 21st, 2012 at 5:51 PM
kc, patrick division, you fans of guided hunts?
i suppose there are some that lead you right to a nest or herd of whatever, ensuring a kill, and just as many who are there if you have questions but otherwise let you do the work Vezina
Never been on one. I grew up in Western Kansas and my dad was a crop duster. He knew every farmer in five counties. I did do a guided fishing trip in college and guide wouldn’t let us drink beer and we didn’t catch dick.
February 21st, 2012 at 7:34 PM
And yet the NHL insists on having a team in Arizona.
I don’t speak for all the people in Arizona. Just the white ones.
Nope. Not this one.
February 21st, 2012 at 8:20 PM
The inability to recognize sarcasm is amusing.
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Costas has lost his fastball.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:22 AM
This is an excellent illustration of Duffy’s 98 cent writing style. He is mostly writing at the typical sports fan level – but then tries too hard to throw in some sophistication. It doesn’t flow. Speaking of Costas, his use of vocabulary (as well as those of Al Michaels – in the tradition of Howard Cosell) is both sophisticated and flows. With Duffy – it’s too forced. On the other hand, if Duffy wanted to show off a hidden skill – then let the entire piece be Buckley-esque; teeming with erudite words and sentences.
Not that hegemon is a bad word, per se. It just doesn’t fit well here – given the overall level. Ironically, the best observation of the piece is a fitting description of the above sentence: