6/15/04

SCHEDULING IS CRITICAL TO TV RATINGS #1

I was reading the Agent 1320 notes (a daily click of mine) when I came across the reference to an article by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal concerning the loss in viewers this year. I can see how this can happen just by looking at the TV schedule that the NHRA provides. [http://www.nhra.com/2004/tvschedule.html] Look at the times that the events are aired. Even when the times are to be at a decent hour such as 8pm to 10pm or 9pm to 11pm we seem to get bumped back. In NHRA's defense, weather has been a issue. Maybe trying to put the actual air-time of the coverage with the viewer gain / loss over the course of the year would be an indication of how the time slot affects these numbers. Looking at the schedule for the rest of the season the air times seem to be at a decent hour. I know NHRA put the penalties and "between round time" limits to help their TV program schedule, but for years Diamond P covered the events and never had a problem.

One other point to consider would be from the advertising standpoint. When the show is on at a decent time, I try to watch the full coverage and even if I get up to get a drink, the TV volume stays the same and the commercial may have some subliminal impact on me. Do you know how many commercials I hear the next day when I am watching the TV coverage on tape? 0. I fast forward through every commercial and a majority of the interviews to get to the part I want to see. I don't know if they can tell when the viewer is actually watching the show vs. a household that is taping it, but I know they can track TIVO. It would be interesting to see the number of households that TIVO compared to the overall number of households. I am sure the advertisers are losing far more exposure than what the ratings are showing because of the coverage not being viewed at full length.

Just a thought.

Billy Carroll

SCHEDULING IS CRITICAL TO TV RATINGS #2

1.Maybe if ESPN would show NHRA events at a time us fans could watch the numbers would go up!

2. Maybe if it would not rain the numbers would go up. Last but not least if anyone watched Sundays race they would be hooked on NHRA Drag Racing. That was the best race I have seen all year, the Force drama is great.

Scott Kloberdanz

SCHEDULING IS CRITICAL TO TV RATINGS #3

In your article it states that the tv ratings for NHRA are down a considerable amount compared to last year. I believe this is a result from the air-time being changed from prime time to late at night! It is crazy to have qualifying at 3:00 in the morning and Sunday finals starting at 11:00 at night. ESPN and NHRA need to look at this. Thanks.

Dan Parker

SCHEDULING IS CRITICAL TO TV RATINGS #4

Jeff, one thing that's been overlooked in this NHRA TV ratings ordeal is the Broadcast times! I'd sure like to know how the ratings are for shows that play before 9 PM ET??? Time slots are everything! What kind of ratings do you think NASCAR would get at 12 Midnight???

Joe Sherwood

WHO'S LAUGHING NOW?

Just when every nitrous guy was crying then WHAM they win in Chicago! When will the organizers realize we love them fast with both Blown and Laughing Gas!!

Bryan Kelley