2017 NASCAR Season - Television Ratings Thread

Skoalbandit33 said:
Your comments on the fan council are interesting as I never had heard of it until I joined up here. IDK what people/places Nascar has been receiving advice from but they clearly have been listening to the wrong people be it drivers, fan councils, team owners, broadcast networks or anyone else. JMO but I think the people Nascar should be listening to should be mainly under 30 as they will represent the future. When over 70% of the people that tuned into Sunday's race are over 50 you don't have a future.
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I've been a member since shortly after its creation. Some of the changes that have been implemented over the years I voted for. Others that I did, I wish I hadn't. Group qualifying being the main one. I really though it was a good idea until I saw it play out over time. I can't help but feel partially responsible for that eff up. Most of the changes that they suggest, I don't like.
 
I for one like the group qualifying, there is a certain art to it. Run too hard in the lower two and your car and tires are too hot to do decently in the third and final stage. Some lately with lesser cars have figured out not to run the last stage and save their tires for the race.
 
StandOnIt said:
I for one like the group qualifying, there is a certain art to it. Run too hard in the lower two and your car and tires are too hot to do decently in the third and final stage. Some lately with lesser cars have figured out not to run the last stage and save their tires for the race.
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I am glad you enjoy it and I am not sure if more like it or dislike it.
 
FLRacingFan said:
http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedball-weekend-sports-tv-ratings-9-23-24-2017.html

http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articl...cable-originals-network-finals-9-24-2017.html
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Wow. The overall audience was down more than 20% from last year, but 18-49 was somehow off more than 40%. I haven't heard lately from the guys who were touting continual growth in the 18-34 sector, but that seems impossible currently. NBC will not be happy if this is the trend, and will demand more changes. Their track record on what they think attracts more eyeballs is questionable.

The Chase / playoffs as a generator of interest are a miserable failure. There is literally zero empirical evidence that they have accomplished anything on that front except for a bigger audience for the Homestead finale. If anything, the evidence shows that the playoffs format has made the other nine races less popular, as for years those weeks have been decreasing by a greater percentage than the season as a whole.
 
You have to be really hard core to listen to the announcing. Personally I think those three are running off more than they attract with their constant babbling. But NBCSN is paying the bills so it is what it is for now.
 
StandOnIt said:
You have to be really hard core to listen to the announcing. Personally I think those three are running off more than they attract with their constant babbling. But NBCSN is paying the bills so it is what it is for now.
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I think this is very true. As an example, I'll cite the CBS broadcasts of Professional Bull Riding. Last winter, PBR appeared on my DVR after a race concluded. I was captivated by the sheer quality of the broadcast presentation, which is 180 degrees opposite of NBS's Nascar shouting matches. I have since become a fan of that sport despite having zero interest or knowledge before.

If I were not a fan of racing but accidentally stumbled into an NBC broadcast, there is no way I'd stick around or come back for more.
 
LewTheShoe said:
I think this is very true. As an example, I'll cite the CBS broadcasts of Professional Bull Riding. Last winter, PBR appeared on my DVR after a race concluded. I was captivated by the sheer quality of the broadcast presentation, which is 180 degrees opposite of NBS's Nascar shouting matches. I have since become a fan of that sport despite having zero interest or knowledge before.

If I were not a fan of racing but accidentally stumbled into an NBC broadcast, there is no way I'd stick around or come back for more.
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The "playoffs" played right into that teams hands. It could have been done right or the crappy fake drama way they are doing it. Somebody needs to spike their coffee with some tranquilizers
 
I think the whole bunch, producers included, needs to go back and watch some of the great announcers and producers in motorsports instead of who ever they are modeling the show after.
 
I know that Letarte, Burton and Allen are insufferable but I doubt they bear much responsibility for the precipitous drop in Nascar ratings. 3.2 million listened to the 3 amigos call the race in 2015 so it is difficult to believe that they ran off close to half the audience in 2 years. People hated......no......REALLY HATED Howard Cosell and MNF and other programs he was on didn't suffer.

If you want to get a clearer insight into what the problem is look at the rate the race thread as even the serial 9-10 raters couldn't hold their noses and give that kind of rating the past 2 weeks.
 
Gluck is one of the smartest guys out there generally, but I'm waiting for someone in the media to get that a larger number of people tune into races at more popular venues, independent of the stupid playoffs gimmickry and all the talk of "ELIMINATION RACES!" There is simply no wider audience out there that cares about that one way or the other. Maybe it would somehow work if four drivers did actually "go home" as the commercials trumpet, instead of just showing up the next week to race as second-class citizens along with the 24 who have already been "eliminated".
 
gnomesayin said:
Gluck is one of the smartest guys out there generally, but I'm waiting for someone in the media to get that a larger number of people tune into races at more popular venues, independent of the stupid playoffs gimmickry and all the talk of "ELIMINATION RACES!" There is simply no wider audience out there that cares about that one way or the other. Maybe it would somehow work if four drivers did actually "go home" as the commercials trumpet, instead of just showing up the next week to race as second-class citizens along with the 24 who have already been "eliminated".
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Nascar misuses the term "playoff" as there is no such thing as a playoff where teams that have been eliminated keep on playing and or where the participants play against all the non playoff teams not to mention are also scored against the other no playoff teams. The way it seems to me is that people look forward to the Daytona 500 and tune in to the first 5 races in large numbers. After the first 5 races things start tailing off before settling in prior to going into free fall for the last 11. In sports leagues there is normally a build up through the regular season toward the playoffs but it is the reverse in Nascar.
 
It's not a bad thing that less people are watching NASCAR. I would argue that it's a great thing. Less people watching means

1) Cheaper tickets
2) Better seats
3) Less crowds

Eventually it will lead to:

1) Awful 1.5 mile tracks closing
2) Brian France getting fired
3) Actual improvements in the racing.
 
sloggie said:
It's not a bad thing that less people are watching NASCAR. I would argue that it's a great thing. Less people watching means

1) Cheaper tickets
2) Better seats
3) Less crowds

Eventually it will lead to:

1) Awful 1.5 mile tracks closing
2) Brian France getting fired
3) Actual improvements in the racing.
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Yogi Berra was on to something when he said "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

I think once the broadcast contracts expire or viewership drops enough the networks can opt out of them things can change for the better. I think a stripped down lower dollar series could be quite entertaining.
 
sloggie said:
It's not a bad thing that less people are watching NASCAR. I would argue that it's a great thing. Less people watching means

1) Cheaper tickets
2) Better seats
3) Less crowds

Eventually it will lead to:

1) Awful 1.5 mile tracks closing
2) Brian France getting fired
3) Actual improvements in the racing.
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That's the hope.

Also, since when is Las Vegas a night race? All I heard was that it was still going to be another afternoon race.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I know that Letarte, Burton and Allen are insufferable but I doubt they bear much responsibility for the precipitous drop in Nascar ratings. 3.2 million listened to the 3 amigos call the race in 2015 so it is difficult to believe that they ran off close to half the audience in 2 years. People hated......no......REALLY HATED Howard Cosell and MNF and other programs he was on didn't suffer.

If you want to get a clearer insight into what the problem is look at the rate the race thread as even the serial 9-10 raters couldn't hold their noses and give that kind of rating the past 2 weeks.
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I am sure the broadcast quality is a factor, certainly not all of it or the majority factor though. But they're not doing the sport any favors, that's for sure. I know in IndyCar's case ABC gets ragged on (deservedly so) all the time for their poor broadcasts and general lack of promotion, and that's reflected in their ratings trends while the NBCSN (who actually do a great job with IndyCar) trends have generally been up.
 
FLRacingFan said:
all the time for their poor broadcasts and general lack of promotion
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In watching the whole 2017 season on basically back to back to back races, I noticed some of their chemistry is really lacking.

The early races with Alan Bestwick and Paul Tracey maybe? there were some cheap shots and lame jokes that didn't land.

It was akward. Dont know that that would be enough to contribute to ratings or whatnot but it's something I noticed.

All the sucking up not withstanding. :D

They can be judgy at times. Poor Kaanan didn't hear the end of it at Texas.
 
FLRacingFan said:
I am sure the broadcast quality is a factor, certainly not all of it or the majority factor though. But they're not doing the sport any favors, that's for sure. I know in IndyCar's case ABC gets ragged on (deservedly so) all the time for their poor broadcasts and general lack of promotion, and that's reflected in their ratings trends while the NBCSN (who actually do a great job with IndyCar) trends have generally been up.
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You are right as even the die-hard's here are taking issue with the NBC guys and I can't imagine a newbie tuning in for very long.
 
Reck said:
In watching the whole 2017 season on basically back to back to back races, I noticed some of their chemistry is really lacking.

The early races with Alan Bestwick and Paul Tracey maybe? there were some cheap shots and lame jokes that didn't land.

It was akward. Dont know that that would be enough to contribute to ratings or whatnot but it's something I noticed.

All the sucking up not withstanding. :D

They can be judgy at times. Poor Kaanan didn't hear the end of it at Texas.
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Bestwick is with Cheever and Goodyear. You're right, the chemistry is awful. I like AB but overall that group can't compare at all to Bell, Tracy, and whoever the PBP guy is for a given race. Goodyear isn't bad but isn't that interesting, and Cheever is just terrible. At least there's no more Marty Reid.

And Paul Tracy definitely doesn't care about being brutal lol.
 
How do you guys think the stage racing is factoring into the ratings?

Personally I kind of enjoy it but the whole presence of the chase basically makes then meaningless. Feels very hackneed and poorly thought out.

Same goes for the GWC/Overtime rules. That's been completely incompetent since they changed the rules in, 03 though... Not sure the current format is better though, if anything its worse.
 
RCM88x said:
How do you guys think the stage racing is factoring into the ratings?

Personally I kind of enjoy it but the whole presence of the chase basically makes then meaningless. Feels very hackneed and poorly thought out.

Same goes for the GWC/Overtime rules. That's been completely incompetent since they changed the rules in, 03 though... Not sure the current format is better though, if anything its worse.
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The promise was that it would make people like me watch more of a race. It's done the opposite. Not only do the stages feel super gimmicky, they really make the first half of a race less meaningful and not more for me. Since I know a caution is going to come at halfway and bring everyone back together, what's the point in me watching the cars get ahead of each other up until then? All the strategy in the world gets thrown out the window until the long run to the end. Conveniently, that usually gives me enough time to finish watching the noon NFL game or finish what I was doing in the morning. Only then will I tune in for the last run to the end satisfied I haven't really missed much. Or if it's another MTJ/Toyota snoozefest I'll be able to look at the stage results online and know to just stay away and do something more productive with my day. Raitings aren't 100% in this house of one anymore.
 
Acs said:
The promise was that it would make people like me watch more of a race. It's done the opposite. Not only do the stages feel super gimmicky, they really make the first half of a race less meaningful and not more for me. Since I know a caution is going to come at halfway and bring everyone back together, what's the point in me watching the cars get ahead of each other up until then? All the strategy in the world gets thrown out the window until the long run to the end. Conveniently, that usually gives me enough time to finish watching the noon NFL game or finish what I was doing in the morning. Only then will I tune in for the last run to the end satisfied I haven't really missed much. Or if it's another MTJ/Toyota snoozefest I'll be able to look at the stage results online and know to just stay away and do something more productive with my day. Raitings aren't 100% in this house of one anymore.
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Yea, I can totally understand that. The way they've promoted the stage racing on broadcasts is pretty embarrassing, hyping it up as some grand idea that will completely change the sport for the better... They just need to let it play out and treat it as it is, not like some savior.

If it were me at the helm, I'd keep the stages but get rid of the cautions at the end of them, which really make no sense to me. Just keep the race green but award points based on the running order. It would actually allow for interesting strategy, as currently the cautions basically remove any need for creative strategy.

Maybe a good idea in concept, but horrendously executed and promoted.
 
RCM88x said:
How do you guys think the stage racing is factoring into the ratings?

Personally I kind of enjoy it but the whole presence of the chase basically makes then meaningless. Feels very hackneed and poorly thought out.

Same goes for the GWC/Overtime rules. That's been completely incompetent since they changed the rules in, 03 though... Not sure the current format is better though, if anything its worse.
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At this point it has to be regarded as a significant factor.

I agree with you, the stage points themselves I don't mind but the stage breaks are unnecessary and honestly feel like more a disruption/nuisance than anything else.
 
RCM88x said:
How do you guys think the stage racing is factoring into the ratings?

Personally I kind of enjoy it but the whole presence of the chase basically makes then meaningless. Feels very hackneed and poorly thought out.

Same goes for the GWC/Overtime rules. That's been completely incompetent since they changed the rules in, 03 though... Not sure the current format is better though, if anything its worse.
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Here's at least one fan that gave up on NASCAR because of the stages. I haven't watched a race since baseball season started whereas I hadn't missed a race (at least when DVR is included) since 1999 before that. I still come to this board while perusing some of the other racing boards, but I don't know that I would come back even if the stages were removed. It's created a permenant stain on the record book. Imagine if baseball had a season in which the team that was behind received free runs at the end of the 3rd and 6th inning, while rewarding wins in the standings at those markers. Stage racing is just as ridiculous to me.
 
29-4 said:
It's created a permenant stain on the record book. Imagine if baseball had a season in which the team that was behind received free runs at the end of the 3rd and 6th inning, while rewarding wins in the standings at those markers. Stage racing is just as ridiculous to me.
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I can't believe that idea of the 'Chase' wouldn't have already done that for you. I've not looked at racing the same since its implementation. We all look at this stuff soooo differently. In my eyes the Chase was the beginning of the end for me. I still love the racing, stages and all. It's the overall crowning of our Champion changed my perception of the sport.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I can't believe that idea of the 'Chase' wouldn't have already done that for you. I've not looked at racing the same since its implementation. We all look at this stuff soooo differently. In my eyes the Chase was the beginning of the end for me. I still love the racing, stages and all. It's the overall crowning of our Champion changed my perception of the sport.
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I would legitimately like to know your opinion on Jimmie Johnson and his "Chase Championships" as compared to Petty, Earnhardt, etc.? Serious query wanting your honest outlook.
 
NJJammer said:
I would legitimately like to know your opinion on Jimmie Johnson and his "Chase Championships" as compared to Petty, Earnhardt, etc.? Serious query wanting your honest outlook.
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I simply don't look at the two, distinct, ways of crowning a season's champion comparable in the least. 7's 7 to most, I'm sure, but the format since the implementation of the Chase is so convoluted it's completely incomparable in my eyes. What Jimmie Johnson did was awesome in its own right but in no way shape or form was a season long Championship performance 7 times over. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind with my views. They are what they are just like anyone's thoughts on this subject. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about this.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I simply don't look at the two, distinct, ways of crowning a season's champion comparable in the least. 7's 7 to most, I'm sure, but the format since the implementation of the Chase is so convoluted it's completely incomparable in my eyes. What Jimmie Johnson did was awesome in its own right but in no way shape or form was a season long Championship performance 7 times over. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind with my views. They are what they are just like anyone's thoughts on this subject. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about this.
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I can respect that. Thank you.
 
29-4 said:
Here's at least one fan that gave up on NASCAR because of the stages. I haven't watched a race since baseball season started whereas I hadn't missed a race (at least when DVR is included) since 1999 before that. I still come to this board while perusing some of the other racing boards, but I don't know that I would come back even if the stages were removed. It's created a permenant stain on the record book. Imagine if baseball had a season in which the team that was behind received free runs at the end of the 3rd and 6th inning, while rewarding wins in the standings at those markers. Stage racing is just as ridiculous to me.
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Time to move on.
 
FLRacingFan said:
http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedball-weekend-sports-tv-ratings-9-30-10-1-2017.html

http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articl...cable-originals-network-finals-10-1-2017.html
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Last week the 18-49 audience decreased by 41% vs. last year. This week it's 37%. We can talk about sports media landscape changes all we want. These are staggering declines. They'll continue to stay the course for now, and I'm sure at the next elimination race that NBC broadcasters will apologize if they have to focus on anything so trivial as who will win the race, if the all-important battle for eighth in the playoffs standings isn't eventful enough. Hopefully someone in a position of power will eventually wake up to how little the playoffs matters to the audience NASCAR and their partners say they are chasing.
 
RCM88x said:
How do you guys think the stage racing is factoring into the ratings?

Personally I kind of enjoy it but the whole presence of the chase basically makes then meaningless. Feels very hackneed and poorly thought out.

Same goes for the GWC/Overtime rules. That's been completely incompetent since they changed the rules in, 03 though... Not sure the current format is better though, if anything its worse.
Click to expand...

They gimmicks to me and me no likey them.
 
gnomesayin said:
Last week the 18-49 audience decreased by 41% vs. last year. This week it's 37%. We can talk about sports media landscape changes all we want. These are staggering declines. They'll continue to stay the course for now, and I'm sure at the next elimination race that NBC broadcasters will apologize if they have to focus on anything so trivial as who will win the race, if the all-important battle for eighth in the playoffs standings isn't eventful enough. Hopefully someone in a position of power will eventually wake up to how little the playoffs matters to the audience NASCAR and their partners say they are chasing.
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The fact that 70% of the race viewers this week were over 50 does not represent a blip to most people let alone any problem at all. The 18-34 demo comprised less than 20,000 fans and the 18-49 group was nothing of any significance either. It would be interesting to hear a bunch of people detail what they think the future for Nascar will be if these numbers are not corrected.
 
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