Masters ratings down 22% without Tiger

DuffMan

DuffMan

Well-Known Member
Bubba Watson won what was by all accounts an exciting Masters... and nobody cared. Ratings were down 22% over last year, and it was the lowest Masters rating in nearly a decade. Meanwhile ESPN's Friday TV ratings were it's second highest golf rating ever (second only to the 18 hole US Open playoff a few years ago). What could have been possibly going on that Friday? Ohh yeah, that Tiger guy. He was out there hacking it up, throwing clubs, and swearing up a storm... and people all over tuned in. Ohhh BTW the ESPN numbers don't even count all the guys who pretended to work while watching Tiger online at Masters.com

Masters TV Ratings Fall 22% as Bubba Watson Wins in Playoff - Bloomberg

Ratings - ESPN Has Record-Setting Friday Masters Audience | TheFutonCritic.com

And to think there are people on here who would have you believe that Tiger dominating turns viewers away.
 
imported_ankle23 said:
bingo.

if anything, i'd think more people would be watching for the possible train wreck that he is.
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He wasn't on tv at all Sunday. He finished just about the time the TV coverage started. The people showing up to view the train wreck are those that made Fridays coverage the 2nd highest viewed golf program ever on ESPN.
 
pistons said:
Tiger Woods is now the Villian everyone lose to cheeR AGAINST HIM!
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I'm just the opposite, I used to cheer against him always. I now pull for him. He's not my favorite but he's obviously great for golf. I'd like to see him contending in majors again.
 
DuffMan said:
He wasn't on tv at all Sunday. He finished just about the time the TV coverage started. The people showing up to view the train wreck are those that made Fridays coverage the 2nd highest viewed golf program ever on ESPN.
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that is my point, poorly communicated.

i think people watched for different reasons than you are implying. i.e. not to see 'good golf', but to see a car run into a track drying machine and the subsequent explosion.

i think it was down sunday for different reasons altogether than tigger not ranting.

that being said, i wouldn't waste a minute of my life watching that stuff.
 
I never implied they watched to see good golf. I'm saying they watched because he's still THE transcendent person in golf. And I'm implying golf is far better when Tiger is involved.

Please share with us your reasons why it was down cause as I've shown it wasn't all about Easter.
 
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DuffMan said:
I never implied they watched to see good golf. I'm saying they watched because he's still THE transcendent person in golf. And I'm implying golf is far better when Tiger is involved.

Please share with us your reasons why it was down?
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Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early riser and liked to pack in the morning. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do know is that he was set to leave the base at 0600. Now, are these the questions I was really called here to answer? Phone calls and foot lockers? Please tell me that you have something more, Lieutenant. These two Marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill.

Except apply this to peoples reasons for watching the Masters. All I know is that I was glued to the TV all afternoon.....
 
deanvogs said:
Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early riser and liked to pack in the morning. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do know is that he was set to leave the base at 0600. Now, are these the questions I was really called here to answer? Phone calls and foot lockers? Please tell me that you have something more, Lieutenant. These two Marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill.

Except apply this to peoples reasons for watching the Masters. All I know is that I was glued to the TV all afternoon.....
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I'm telling you the reason. Viewership was down because Tiger wasn't involved. Tiger = eyeballs.
 
DuffMan said:
I never implied they watched to see good golf. I'm saying they watched because he's still THE transcendent person in golf. And I'm implying golf is far better when Tiger is involved.

Please share with us your reasons why it was down cause as I've shown it wasn't all about Easter.
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i just don't care enough about the topic.

hell, maybe viewership was up because of Easter.
 
Does the down 22% number include only US viewership or global viewership? Tiger is the only golfer and only one of a handful of athletes ever that moves the needle globally. The reason the golf purses have grown to the level they have since 1997 are due to Tiger Woods and Tiger Woods alone. It is because he draws the masses in the US and globally especially Asia.
 
azhawkphan said:
Does the down 22% number include only US viewership or global viewership? Tiger is the only golfer and only one of a handful of athletes ever that moves the needle globally. The reason the golf purses have grown to the level they have since 1997 are due to Tiger Woods and Tiger Woods alone. It is because he draws the masses in the US and globally especially Asia.
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Those are US numbers only.
 
Regardless of personal feelings, there's no denying that Tiger's presence brings more attention to the game.
 
imported_ankle23 said:
[/B]

i just don't care enough about the topic.

hell, maybe viewership was up because of Easter.
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So you care enough to click on it, weigh in, and make a claim that the lack of Tiger (sic) wasn't the cause of the decline in ratings, but not enough to actually give a reasonable alternative hypothesis or any justification of why you hold that belief?
 
To a golfer, the game is bigger than Tiger. It will still be here after he's gone. It may not get the coverage and enjoy the popularity as it has under Tiger's domination, but the game will survive. To many who enjoy golf, that may be a good thing.
 
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