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MUScoop => The Superbar => Topic started by: Tugg Speedman on February 17, 2017, 11:17:36 PM

Title: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: Tugg Speedman on February 17, 2017, 11:17:36 PM
Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
February 15, 2017

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170215/BLOGS04/170219921/chicago-bulls-tv-ratings-continue-to-fall

The Chicago Bulls have made no shortage of headlines this season with the arrival of Dwyane Wade, plenty of locker room drama and the curious benching of a point guard they are paying $14 million this season.

But all of that apparently hasn't been enough to keep people watching their games on TV.

Through 30 broadcasts on CSN Chicago, the middling Bulls have posted an average TV rating of 2.12, or about 74,000 Chicago-area households per game.

That's down 28 percent compared with the final season average and puts the team on pace to endure its lowest TV viewership average in nearly a decade on the network, which is co-owned by the Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox and NBCUniversal.

Some factors having nothing to do with the team's poor performance on the court have dragged down the ratings on the regional network, which has the rights to 42 Bulls games this season.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: JWags85 on February 18, 2017, 10:41:57 AM
Besides the fact that the Bulls are flat out mediocre, this is a knowledgeable basketball town and fans know the team is running by fools with no purpose or direction, add to that the very public PR messes and its a reciepe for the casual fan to tune out.  Especially when the rest of the NBA product is so good and entertaining right now, plenty of other teams that are infinitely more enjoyable to watch.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: ChitownSpaceForRent on February 18, 2017, 10:53:16 AM
NBA sucks anyways.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: GGGG on February 18, 2017, 11:14:31 AM
NBA sucks anyways.

Most people who watch basketball disagree with this.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: ChitownSpaceForRent on February 18, 2017, 11:55:37 AM
Most people who watch basketball disagree with this.

Ive grown up on basketball and I just cannot get into the NBA for whatever reason, even after the (admittedly) very entertaining finals from last year. My ranking for sports to watch.

1. NCAA Basketball
2. NFL
3. NHL
4. Volleyball
5. International Rugby
6. MLB
7. Premier League
8. High School Basketball
9. NCAA Football
10. Probably the NBA

Hell, I may put on a cricket match before an NBA game depending on my mood.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: JWags85 on February 18, 2017, 04:56:18 PM
Ive grown up on basketball and I just cannot get into the NBA for whatever reason, even after the (admittedly) very entertaining finals from last year. My ranking for sports to watch.

1. NCAA Basketball
2. NFL
3. NHL
4. Volleyball
5. International Rugby
6. MLB
7. Premier League
8. High School Basketball
9. NCAA Football
10. Probably the NBA

Hell, I may put on a cricket match before an NBA game depending on my mood.

But did you grow up on the crotchety "they dont play defense in the NBA" or "its a bunch of overpaid superstars who dont try hard" hot takes that always come from so called "basketball purists" about the NBA?

Cause saying you grew up on basketball and put the NBA below HS basketball is bonkers.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: ChitownSpaceForRent on February 18, 2017, 05:58:33 PM
But did you grow up on the crotchety "they dont play defense in the NBA" or "its a bunch of overpaid superstars who dont try hard" hot takes that always come from so called "basketball purists" about the NBA?

Cause saying you grew up on basketball and put the NBA below HS basketball is bonkers.

To be fair, im only 23 so Ive grown up in the current era.

I like imperfection. It annoys the hell out of me watching Curry pull up from 40 feet or to see a guy shoot a 25 foot turnaround fadeaway only for them to make it, I dont enjoy that kind of basketball. Constant iso plays annoy me and the whole guys taking five steps without dribbling pisses me off as well.

Give me high school basketball any single day of the week.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: buckchuckler on February 19, 2017, 12:32:05 PM
To be fair, im only 23 so Ive grown up in the current era.

I like imperfection. It annoys the hell out of me watching Curry pull up from 40 feet or to see a guy shoot a 25 foot turnaround fadeaway only for them to make it, I dont enjoy that kind of basketball. Constant iso plays annoy me and the whole guys taking five steps without dribbling pisses me off as well.

Give me high school basketball any single day of the week.

Yeah.  Sucks when the players are great.  Nothing worse than that.  Give me a pickup game at the Y over NBA anyday.  Much more entertaining. 

As for the Bulls, they are mediocre (at best) and uninteresting.  That is reflected in the ratings, and not at all surprising. 
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: brandx on February 19, 2017, 02:19:44 PM
Real Americans don't watch sports anymore.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: ChitownSpaceForRent on February 19, 2017, 05:55:52 PM
Yeah.  Sucks when the players are great.  Nothing worse than that.  Give me a pickup game at the Y over NBA anyday.  Much more entertaining. 

As for the Bulls, they are mediocre (at best) and uninteresting.  That is reflected in the ratings, and not at all surprising.

Just a personal preference mate. I think the NBA is a terrible product. Have not watched a single NBA game this year versus about 30 college games and 20 high school ones.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: GGGG on February 19, 2017, 05:58:41 PM
Just a personal preference mate. I think the NBA is a terrible product. Have not watched a single NBA game this year versus about 30 college games and 20 high school ones.


So the NBA is a terrible product because the players are too good at playing basketball?
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: ChitownSpaceForRent on February 19, 2017, 06:04:10 PM

So the NBA is a terrible product because the players are too good at playing basketball?

I find it dull. Lemme know when they stop letting everybody take five steps towards the basket for a layup.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: GGGG on February 19, 2017, 06:13:46 PM
I find it dull. Lemme know when they stop letting everybody take five steps towards the basket for a layup.

I feel like I am arguing with my 80 year old father who hasn't watched an NBA game since 1982.  He doesn't like the NBA, but he does a terrible job telling you why.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: ChitownSpaceForRent on February 19, 2017, 07:38:50 PM
I feel like I am arguing with my 80 year old father who hasn't watched an NBA game since 1982.  He doesn't like the NBA, but he does a terrible job telling you why.

To be fair, that's a pretty apt comparison. I'm tend to be a crabby person.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: bradley center bat on February 20, 2017, 11:19:46 AM
NBA sucks anyways.
It sure does!! I will take my 1,000 games per year of college ball.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MerrittsMustache on February 20, 2017, 11:29:54 AM
In the current NBA, being mediocre is worse than being terrible. There used to be a lot of excitement around NBA teams making the playoffs. The fan mindset was closer to that of MLB and NFL fans where if you can get in, you've got a chance. Fans are smarter now and understand that there are only a handful of teams capable of winning a championship each season and that the best way to become one of those teams is to be as bad as possible and draft a franchise player. Losing 60 games is better than being the #6 seed.

Unfortunately, not all NBA front offices have come around to that way of thinking and/or not all owners are willing to deal with several years of losing while attempting to sell hope in order to fill seats.

Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: cheebs09 on February 20, 2017, 12:10:52 PM
I started watching the NBA agin with Novak on the Knicks. I've gone to a decent number of Bucks games the last few years now that they are a bit more interesting to watch. I think it's a good product. To each their own.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: Galway Eagle on February 20, 2017, 08:10:43 PM
I watch the NBA as entertainment but it's hard to be super passionate about it. First the crowds are nowhere near as loud as college. Second, the lack of traveling calls is terrible. Finally being foul happy because of love for the stars drives me insane.

I also back up Chitown about HS Ball. Maybe y'all didn't grow up in strong basketball areas but I'd prefer watch my old high school's team over most NBA games.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: GGGG on February 20, 2017, 08:20:49 PM
I also back up Chitown about HS Ball. Maybe y'all didn't grow up in strong basketball areas but I'd prefer watch my old high school's team over most NBA games.


When my kids stopped playing it, I stopped watching it.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: Galway Eagle on February 21, 2017, 07:49:33 AM

When my kids stopped playing it, I stopped watching it.

Can I ask you what league that was? Because I'm quite certain there's a big drop off in seeing Simeon vs Whitney young and most other leagues around the country.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: GGGG on February 21, 2017, 08:41:00 AM
Can I ask you what league that was? Because I'm quite certain there's a big drop off in seeing Simeon vs Whitney young and most other leagues around the country.


It doesn't really matter.  I watched because my kids were playing.

I watch a lot more NBA than I do college basketball.  Outside of Marquette, I really only watch two or three other college basketball games during the week.  Come NBA playoff time, I am watching regularly pretty much every night.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: CreanLover on February 21, 2017, 10:40:52 AM
The NBA has a problem in that everybody already knows who is going to play in the Finals. It's less competitive than its ever been.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: StillAWarrior on February 21, 2017, 11:19:14 AM
To be fair, im only 23 so Ive grown up in the current era.

I like imperfection. It annoys the hell out of me watching Curry pull up from 40 feet or to see a guy shoot a 25 foot turnaround fadeaway only for them to make it, I dont enjoy that kind of basketball.

Sounds like you would love the Bulls, then.


/Sorry.  Low hanging fruit.  I couldn't help myself.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: CTWarrior on February 21, 2017, 11:34:14 AM
The NBA has a problem in that everybody already knows who is going to play in the Finals. It's less competitive than its ever been.

This is always my problem with the NBA.  Even in a competitive year, you know the 4 or 5 teams with a real chance 20 games into the season, and there are still more than 60 games to go which don't really mean anything.  As others have stated, making the playoffs aren't a big deal if you're not one of those top few teams and it costs you a chance at the lottery, and even watching young players develop isn't as exciting, important or interesting as it is in other sports, because a guy like Jimmy Butler raising his game to an All Star level still isn't going to help you get a championship.

So you have to enjoy each game for its own sake, rather than where it fits in the larger picture.  Once I arrived at college, I stopped being much of a regular season watcher, but I always watched a lot of the playoffs.  Last year I watched all of the finals, but not much else, as it felt like a forgone conclusion as to what the matchup was going to be. 

Also, I prefer team ball to individual skill (which is what the NBA is selling).  So if I stumble across a Spurs game, I will watch.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MU82 on February 21, 2017, 12:59:04 PM
From USA Today:

Sunday night's All-Star Game on TNT — which the West won in a shootout, 192-182 — was the most-watched All-Star Game telecast since 2013, according to Nielsen Fast National ratings, with an average of 7.8 million total viewers.

So I guess Smuggles' hypothesis that every sport is on a never-ending downward spiral when it comes to TV viewers needs a slight reboot.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MerrittsMustache on February 21, 2017, 01:17:37 PM
From USA Today:

Sunday night's All-Star Game on TNT — which the West won in a shootout, 192-182 — was the most-watched All-Star Game telecast since 2013, according to Nielsen Fast National ratings, with an average of 7.8 million total viewers.

So I guess Smuggles' hypothesis that every sport is on a never-ending downward spiral when it comes to TV viewers needs a slight reboot.

For the sake of comparison...

2011: 9.1 million
2012: 7.1 million* (-22.0%)
2013: 8.0 million (+12.7%)
2014: 7.5 million (-6.25%)
2015: 7.2 million (-4.0%)
2016: 7.6 million (+5.6%)
2017: 7.8 million (+2.6%)

* - on opposite The Academy Awards
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MU82 on February 21, 2017, 01:38:35 PM
For the sake of comparison...

2011: 9.1 million
2012: 7.1 million* (-22.0%)
2013: 8.0 million (+12.7%)
2014: 7.5 million (-6.25%)
2015: 7.2 million (-4.0%)
2016: 7.6 million (+5.6%)
2017: 7.8 million (+2.6%)

* - on opposite The Academy Awards

So, trending upward and almost where it was in '13. Not bad considering nobody is watching these events anymore.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: buckchuckler on February 21, 2017, 03:14:55 PM
forget it...
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: Tugg Speedman on February 23, 2017, 10:17:22 PM
From USA Today:

Sunday night's All-Star Game on TNT — which the West won in a shootout, 192-182 — was the most-watched All-Star Game telecast since 2013, according to Nielsen Fast National ratings, with an average of 7.8 million total viewers.

So I guess Smuggles' hypothesis that every sport is on a never-ending downward spiral when it comes to TV viewers needs a slight reboot.

But you agree with me!

Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: Tugg Speedman on February 23, 2017, 10:20:22 PM
The Bulls run up the white flag ...

Thunder get Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, 2nd-rounder from Bulls

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18750420/chicago-bulls-trade-taj-gibson-doug-mcdermott-oklahoma-city-thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder have completed a trade that sends Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow to the Chicago Bulls for Doug McDermott, Taj Gibson and an unprotected 2018 second-round pick.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: brandx on February 24, 2017, 07:50:29 AM
The Bulls run up the white flag ...

Thunder get Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, 2nd-rounder from Bulls

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18750420/chicago-bulls-trade-taj-gibson-doug-mcdermott-oklahoma-city-thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder have completed a trade that sends Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow to the Chicago Bulls for Doug McDermott, Taj Gibson and an unprotected 2018 second-round pick.

Trading 2 bench players now qualifies as running up the white flag?

The Bulls are bad, but this won't really affect them one way or the other.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MerrittsMustache on February 24, 2017, 08:33:03 AM
Trading 2 bench players now qualifies as running up the white flag?

The Bulls are bad, but this won't really affect them one way or the other.

Exactly. Gibson was gone via free agency and McDermott can't play. They dumped them in hopes of at least getting something in return, which they didn't do with Gasol last season.

Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: GGGG on February 24, 2017, 08:52:29 AM
Exactly. Gibson was gone via free agency and McDermott can't play. They dumped them in hopes of at least getting something in return, which they didn't do with Gasol last season.


I disagree with you that McD can't play.  Now he wasn't worth the 11th pick in the draft, but he isn't exactly bench fodder either.  He played a bigger role on the Bulls this year than any of the three guys they picked up from the Thunder. 
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: brandx on February 24, 2017, 09:55:12 AM

I disagree with you that McD can't play.  Now he wasn't worth the 11th pick in the draft, but he isn't exactly bench fodder either.  He played a bigger role on the Bulls this year than any of the three guys they picked up from the Thunder.

He also played a lot less defense than any of the guys they picked up from the Thunder. :D
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: JWags85 on February 24, 2017, 11:31:05 AM
The point isn't directly the trade, you can argue its merits.  The point is its further emblematic of Gar/Pax being completely clueless.  You traded 3 draft picks for McD 2 years ago and now traded him essentially straight up for a bench player.

Its not a white flag, its just further evidence of no real plan or direction.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: brandx on February 24, 2017, 11:35:00 AM
The point isn't directly the trade, you can argue its merits.  The point is its further emblematic of Gar/Pax being completely clueless.  You traded 3 draft picks for McD 2 years ago and now traded him essentially straight up for a bench player.

Its not a white flag, its just further evidence of no real plan or direction.

Couldn't agree more. Only difference is that I blame Reinsdorf at least as much as Gar/Pax.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: JWags85 on February 24, 2017, 05:52:01 PM
Couldn't agree more. Only difference is that I blame Reinsdorf at least as much as Gar/Pax.

Agreed.  They are starting to resemble the Bears, ownership is stubborn and clueless and its trickling down.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MU82 on February 24, 2017, 06:37:03 PM
My opinion of Pax changed (for the worst) when he refused to include Donyell Marshall in a trade that would have brought Wade to the Bulls in the 03 draft. They had an OK run a few years ago despite their poor management, but otherwise there haven't been many reasons for joy in Bullyland.

As for whether or not McDermott can play, he has averaged about 10 pts over the last 2 years and is a career 40% 3pt shooter. Those are not "he sucks" numbers in the NBA. He certainly is nothing more than a role player off the bench, though.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MerrittsMustache on February 27, 2017, 08:20:39 AM
My opinion of Pax changed (for the worst) when he refused to include Donyell Marshall in a trade that would have brought Wade to the Bulls in the 03 draft. They had an OK run a few years ago despite their poor management, but otherwise there haven't been many reasons for joy in Bullyland.

As for whether or not McDermott can play, he has averaged about 10 pts over the last 2 years and is a career 40% 3pt shooter. Those are not "he sucks" numbers in the NBA. He certainly is nothing more than a role player off the bench, though.

The "Paxson refused to include Marshall for Wade" rumor is false. It's obviously been around for a long time but there's no truth to it. The fact is that Miami was expected to take Chris Kaman at 5 and Wade never even worked out for the Clippers (who were at 6) so both the Bulls' FO and Wade expected him to be there at 7. If you want to question Paxson for not doing more to ensure that his team was in position to get the player they coveted, that's fine but the nixed trade with Toronto story isn't true.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: ChitownSpaceForRent on February 27, 2017, 09:53:38 AM
There have been a lot of poor management decisions from the Bulls. Some you cant fault them for like the Jay Williams accident, or even Eddie Curry and his heart condition. I know, Tyson Chandler and all but Curry was the Bulls leading scorer.

However, Pax has had some absolute shockers, such as McDermott for 2 first rounders, the current incarnation of the Bulls, Tyrus Thomas for Lamarcus Aldridge. How he still has a job with organization is beyond me.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MerrittsMustache on February 27, 2017, 10:20:57 AM
There have been a lot of poor management decisions from the Bulls. Some you cant fault them for like the Jay Williams accident, or even Eddie Curry and his heart condition. I know, Tyson Chandler and all but Curry was the Bulls leading scorer.

However, Pax has had some absolute shockers, such as McDermott for 2 first rounders, the current incarnation of the Bulls, Tyrus Thomas for Lamarcus Aldridge. How he still has a job with organization is beyond me.

Even when Derrick Rose fell into their laps by "chance" in the lottery, they won nothing before eventually botching that whole situation. Granted, much of that cluster was the doing of Derrick and his people, but Bulls' management certainly didn't do anything to make it better...or to even make is less bad and bizarre.

Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MU82 on March 01, 2017, 03:42:09 AM
The "Paxson refused to include Marshall for Wade" rumor is false.

Says who? Pax? I happen to know it's more than a rumor. But you are free to believe whatever you'd like.
Title: Re: Bulls TV ratings continue to fall
Post by: MerrittsMustache on March 01, 2017, 08:26:50 AM
Says who? Pax? I happen to know it's more than a rumor. But you are free to believe whatever you'd like.

Believe what you want but it's 100% fiction.