"Bambino" curse gone, Fox baseball ratings slide

[GaryMrMets]

"Bambino" curse gone, Fox baseball ratings slide

By Michele Gershberg

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shoeless Joe Jackson has proven no match for the curse of the Bambino, at least when it comes to World Series television ratings.

The Chicago White Sox, hoping to clinch their first Fall Classic since Shoeless Joe and seven teammates were accused of "throwing" the baseball championship in 1919, drew sharp year-to-year ratings declines in their first two World Series matchups against the Houston Astros.

Game 1 and Game 2 in the best-of-seven series airing on the Fox network averaged 16 million viewers, down more than 8 million from the number tuning in to watch the first two contests between the Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals in last year's fateful series, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The opening White Sox victories over the Astros on Saturday and Sunday also were down nearly 40 percent from Games 1 and 2 last year in ratings for viewers aged 18 to 49, the target audience for most networks and the demographic most prized by advertisers.

Broadcaster Fox, part of News Corp , enjoyed banner ratings last year when the Red Sox finally overcame their fabled "curse of the Bambino" to post their first World Series victory since 1918. The curse refers to their trade of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1920.

"The drop-off isn't unexpected. Are we surprised at the level? That's fair to say," Fox Sports spokesman Lou D'Ermilio said Tuesday. "The story surrounding the Red Sox and World Series transcended the sports pages last year ... that kind of buzz is tough to replicate."

This year's series, the first ever for the Astros and the first for the White Sox since they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959, has failed to generate nearly the same level of excitement. The White Sox' last World Series victory came in 1917, two years before the so-called "Black Sox" scandal.

Only the cross-town Chicago Cubs, a far bigger draw for Midwestern baseball fans, have waited longer between World Series championships, having last won in 1908.

Fox sold advertising time during this year's World Series based on lower assumptions for viewership but would not say whether the early Nielsen data undercut those estimates.

Total viewership from Saturday's Game 1 fell to 15 million from more than 23 million a year ago, while Sunday's Game 2 dropped to some 17 million viewers from 25.5 million a year ago, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. Ratings for viewers aged 18 to 49 declined 42 percent for Game 1 this year and 37 percent for Game 2.

Nevertheless, Fox said Game 1 gave the network its highest Saturday night marks in nine months in 18-49 ratings. Sunday's Game 2 also ranked ahead for male viewers 18 to 49 and put Fox second to Walt Disney Co.'s ABC.

For the week ended Oct 23, Fox ranked second in total prime-time viewers and third for adults 18 to 49.

Reuters/VNU

10/25/05 19:59 ET

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[Nanner]

FOX may be telling itself that it's the fact that the Red Sox aren't in the Series that has had such a drastic effect on their ratings.

I prefer to think that people have finally had enough of their stupid, Scooter-filled, McCarver/Buck, desperate pandering to the "we need to be entertained" faction of the viewing public, and are listening on the radio.






:D

[Timberwolf]

It's too bad that people are going to view this World Series as an awful World Series like last year. I don't think that's the case. The Astros played hard and well. The White Sox just played better. That's just the way it is.

I have to admit I did not watch any of the World Series. I don't care for the White Sox and I just couldn't bear to watch. With that said, it was a good World Series despite the sweep.

It's a shame baseball need the marquee teams which has a big fan following like the Red Sox, Mets, Yankees, Cubs, and etc. It shouldn't be the case. People should watch good baseball and I thought you saw that in this year's World Series.

[rockin500]

it was a pretty bad series. Lots of VERY bad baseball, bad umpiring. ESPN guys rated it as possibly the worst world series in their era. (other candidates 1983,1989)

[PissedPrincess]

Very sad so many missed the World series. I seriously don't want to hear any more small market teams whine about being sick of the Yankees, the Red Sox, etc...bottom line....you got your dream world series..and you didn't watch. :angry:

[Spitball67]

ESPN guys rated it as possibly the worst world series in their era.

these are they same "experts" that picked the White Sox to finish third or fourth this year. And picked the Cubs to win the World Series in 2004. Shows you how much they know and what their opinion is worth.

[PopTop]

People should watch good baseball and I thought you saw that in this year's World Series.I'm sure you'll think I'm just picking on you again, Timber, but that's not the case. I'm simply curious as to why you you think folks should watch the Series just for the baseball value, yet you chose not to watch it despite of the close games?


it was a pretty bad series. Lots of VERY bad baseballCouldn't diasgree with you more, Ray. Granted, I had a team to root for in the match so my opinion is undoubtedly biased. But the only thing 'bad' about this Series was that it went just four games. The 6-run differential on the four games tied the 1950 New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies for the tightest sweep in World Series history.

I've got to agree with Nanneroo and Princess here, and not just because they're dreamy hot gals ;) Nan, didn't you tell me that you were once a 'Nielsen household?' I'd sure like to know how that all worked, not that I'd really trust it even if I understood it.

Despite my Astros losing four straight, I cursed at FOX more than I cursed any players or plays. It would've been even more but I had the TV muted for practically the entire playoffs, can only remember having the sound up for one of the NLDS games versus the Braves. I damn near blew beets last night when they flashed up the scouting report on Brandon Backe and it included the line, "Still hope." Still hope for what?! Still hope that McCarver will develop some rare malady that costs him his vocal chords? Still hope that Thom Brennaman and Joe Buck will be exposed for what they are, winners of the nepotism lottery? Still hope that someone with FOX will pull their head out of their southern-most orifice and realize that adding glittery graphics and sound to everything doesn't make it better?

It was a great Series even without my team winning a game in their first ever Fall Classic. The fact a lot of people who call themselves real baseball fans didn't see it is really not my concern. And I'm damn sure not going to let some pipsqueak pinhead with FOX or Nielsen take away from the overall enjoyment I got out of the match.

[racinghoss]

Agreed. Fox screwed it up.

Also, I dont think there was a lot of bad baseball. Yeah, a few calls were missed, but you get that in every series, even in the regular season. The playoffs are just under more scrutiny. There were a few errors, but that has to be expected. Otherwise, it was good (to watch) baseball.

I am curious, those of you who claim that it was full of bad baseball, what makes you say that? I saw great pitching from both teams, excellent defense, great plays, close games, decent baserunning, exiting and timely hits (at least for the Sox), a few taters, and good sportsmanship. What did you see?

[rockin500]

willie, i said that mostly because of a) bad hitting with RISP. on both sides. pretty brutal. and b) the insane length of the games (all those walks in game 3) and c) some pretty bad baserunning and d) BAD umpiring all around (which continued from other series)

the defense was good, the pitching wasnt good until the final game. *shrug* some of it probably has to do with the broadcast itself, though. that in and of itself was bad. and I couldnt enjoy the games this time since they started so late and I'm still not feeling well enough to stay up much past 9:30pm

[Baseball Guru]

I agree with Willie's disagreement:D

I honestly thought that this years series was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better than last years series... So the teams batted badly with RISP? Both teams have outstanding pitching and I choose to take that into account when judging that particular stat...

4 games decided by a total of 6 runs is awesome!

1, 14 inning game, and a few decided late....

[Thedatch]

the only reason the red sox's world series was so awesome is cuz the sox won! other than that It was not a spectacular series. Hardly any sweep ever is! unless you're rooting for the team that sweeps that is :D

[Baseball Guru]

the only reason the red sox's world series was so awesome is cuz the sox won! other than that It was not a spectacular series. Hardly any sweep ever is! unless you're rooting for the team that sweeps that is :D

Well I would agree with that:D

But for a sweep this year, this was a pretty darn exciting 4 games:thumbsup:

[Nanner]

I must add my voice to Willie's and Guru's.......... I thought the games were pretty exciting because they were close. They were kept close, and you always had the feeling that a two-run bomb could win it. I like games like that. Much more entertaining than 13-run routs!

Willie, Nielsen is totally random. They just knocked on my door and asked if I was single, how many TVs I had, stuff like that. They need a certain amount of different demographics to make up a really random sampling. They attached all the probes into my VCR, my TV, and my cable box, and for 5 years I represented about 20,000 people, they said. :notme: 'course, I don't know how they add it all up. It seems pretty strange to me, but a sampling is a sampling, I guess.

I think the only people it really matters to are the advertisers.

By the way, I'm thinking of writing another e-mail to FOX Sports, telling them some reasons why their ratings might be down........... reasons other than the fact that the Red Sox and Yankees weren't in the series.

[rockin500]

nan, you mean like scooter and Jeannie the Hutt and 45 minutes before first pitch and Tim Buttwipe McCarver?

[Nanner]

nan, you mean like scooter and Jeannie the Hutt and 45 minutes before first pitch and Tim Buttwipe McCarver?

Yup. Those would be some of those other reasons.

:rock:

[Eva]

It's too bad that people are going to view this World Series as an awful World Series like last year.
Jeez, do you ever have good reasons for calling things awful? Last year World Series was good, not great, but good since two great baseball club went at it. Just like this year, two great baseball club with history went at it. Sure, it would have been exciting if it went to 7 games rather than a sweep in both WS, but it was still exciting for fans of the teams and baseball fan in general should appreciative that we had two good World Series back to back.

The only WS I completely detest is the 97 when the Marlins bought the World Series and dismantle the team the following year. I blame that on the owners of that club for hiring a bunch of players for one year and dismiss them the following the year. That's one WS I was really not happy about at all.

Timberwolf, you're the exact opposite of people that love popular. You detest all popular team without good reason other than popular. It's about as bad as people liking a team it's because it's popular.

Guess what? Bad calls will be made by the umpires. They are human and they'll make mistakes. Bad calls went in favor of the White Sox, but a bad call went in favor for the Astors during the NLCS. We can assume what will happen after the fact easily. Just like we second guess move during the game after they didn't work after the fact. Obviously, we would be praising the move if it worked.

This WS was a nice tight series. No blow-out win. All game were basically decide by the one run. It was a good series. Obviously, fans of the team will like it, like they should. I don't like it when other bitter fans start complain about how horrible the WS are. We all know they'll be tooting another tune if their team was in the WS. :whistle

Red Sox and Cardinals WS was only great, because the Red Sox one. Most baseball fans know that historical clubs like the Red Sox or Cubs winning the WS is a good thing for baseball. The series itself was never close consider the Cardinals never led once last year.

This year WS was a sweep, but all four games were close and exciting. It was a good WS for fans of Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros. I also liked this series quite a bit as baseball fan since it was a very excellent pitched WS. I haven't seen two teams great pitching all around in the WS ever during my 10 years watching baseball.

[Timberwolf]

Last year's WS was awful. Cards looked way overmatched. You could not say the same with the Astros. I thought they played well despite being swept. This year's World Series was fine, but most people I have spoke to didn't like it.

What can I say, Eva? I love underdogs.

[Timberwolf]

PopTop: I did not watch it mainly because I hate the White Sox. I just couldn't stand them winning. I literally got angry when the White Sox were leading. I had the same emotion Phil Garner had in Game 3 when Blum homered. I have to admit I have been very cranky with the White Sox success hence why I expressed frustration at the Twins board.

[Baseball Guru]

I cant imagine hating a team so much that it takes all the enjoyment out of a game that I cant even watch the World Series...:(

[racinghoss]

I understand rivalries and even that there are teams that you just want to lose every game, but I dont even hate the Packers that much and I have been a Bears fan since I was in diapers, almost.

Besides, what did the White Sox do to you? ;)

[rockin500]

I cant imagine hating a team so much that it takes all the enjoyment out of a game that I cant even watch the World Series...:(
even me who detests the white sox was at least able to watch the WS and the ALCS when i was available to. I did turn it off around 9:30 or 10 each night, but that was more because i was falling asleep already. It sucked for me that they won, but in the end, its baseball and i watch it, even if it the bozo twins (joe and tim) announcing.

[Timberwolf]

I cant imagine hating a team so much that it takes all the enjoyment out of a game that I cant even watch the World Series...:(

White Sox just makes me squirm and angry. I just can't get into games when a team I hate wins. I did not even watch the SB last year because I couldn't stand watching the Patriots winning again. Now that's just me.

[Timberwolf]

I understand rivalries and even that there are teams that you just want to lose every game, but I dont even hate the Packers that much and I have been a Bears fan since I was in diapers, almost.

Besides, what did the White Sox do to you? ;)

I am not going into detail about the White Sox. I will give you two main reasons to why I don't care for the White Sox. I did not like the way the White Sox treated Terry Bevington. The man did a damn good job with the White Sox yet he was fired. For some reason, White Sox fans hated the guy. All he did was WIN. It wasn't his fault that the Indians were compltely superior to the White Sox. Bevington got the most out of that team. The fans and the Chicago media treated Bevington like garbage. White Sox set him up to fail IMO by having that fire sale. That was it for me. Reinsdorf wanted Bevington to fail and I blame Reinsdorf for telling MLB teams not to hire Bevington as a manager. I would die to have him manage the Twins. If Bevington was managing the Twns, we would win a WS title. I would love to see him in our organization. The guy would be an asset. Bevington is a winner.

Also Phil Garner said it best about how the White Sox look down on people and they look down on the Twins since 1990.