Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times published an article regarding NFL TV ratings. The viewing numbers are down in the United States. “Thursday Night Football was down 18 per cent compared with last year, Sunday Night Football had dropped 19 per cent and Monday Night Football had slipped 24per cent.”
Does this sound familiar?
Rogers was dealing with declining numbers when it came to NHL coverage in Canada last season.
Thursday Night Football has been on the air for 10 years now. It was a little over two years ago that Rogers decided to blanket channels such as City TV and FX Canada with NHL games. There is also no end to regional hockey coverage.
Then there is social media. Scores and even highlights of games can be seen on phones immediately after a big play happens.
Networks on both sides of the border need to learn that “more isn’t always more.” In the end it’s the quality of a broadcast, not quantity of multiple broadcasts, that will win with viewers.