BillsFever
06-25-2003, 05:45 PM
One of our readers raised an excellent question on Monday.
"Why does the NFL want to return to L.A.?"
On the surface, the answer seems easy. The networks are taking a bath on the current TV deal (which was negotiated while companies actually had money to spend on advertising), and the NFL has declined to give the networks any relief. Thus, in order to keep/preserve the billions that the league is receiving when the contracts expire after the 2005 season, the NFL needs to have at least one team in the nation's No. 2 market.
But here's the catch -- if there's a local team, SoCal butts have to be in all of the seats before the home games will make it to the local airwaves.
The L.A. Times recently reported that NFL games in 2002 drew a 9.5 rating in Los Angeles -- higher than the combined ratings generated by the Lakers (6.0), the Dodgers (3.3), and the Kings (1.1). Heck, the NFL ratings in L.A. were higher even than the NFL ratings in New York (9.3).
Apparently, the NFL is banking on its ability to place in Los Angeles a team and a stadium that will draw consistent sellouts -- and on the fact that the presence of a local team to root for will make the current 9.5 ratings go even higher.
As we see it, however, it's by no means a sure thing. The 9.5 rating likely is due to the fact that the local Fox and CBS affiliates are putting the best games on the air. If the home team sucks, the interest likely won't be there.
http://profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
"Why does the NFL want to return to L.A.?"
On the surface, the answer seems easy. The networks are taking a bath on the current TV deal (which was negotiated while companies actually had money to spend on advertising), and the NFL has declined to give the networks any relief. Thus, in order to keep/preserve the billions that the league is receiving when the contracts expire after the 2005 season, the NFL needs to have at least one team in the nation's No. 2 market.
But here's the catch -- if there's a local team, SoCal butts have to be in all of the seats before the home games will make it to the local airwaves.
The L.A. Times recently reported that NFL games in 2002 drew a 9.5 rating in Los Angeles -- higher than the combined ratings generated by the Lakers (6.0), the Dodgers (3.3), and the Kings (1.1). Heck, the NFL ratings in L.A. were higher even than the NFL ratings in New York (9.3).
Apparently, the NFL is banking on its ability to place in Los Angeles a team and a stadium that will draw consistent sellouts -- and on the fact that the presence of a local team to root for will make the current 9.5 ratings go even higher.
As we see it, however, it's by no means a sure thing. The 9.5 rating likely is due to the fact that the local Fox and CBS affiliates are putting the best games on the air. If the home team sucks, the interest likely won't be there.
http://profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm