NASCAR in the driver seat; PGA in rear view
As we've discussed in several posts in the past, the PGA must negotiate new TV contracts this fall. And it's more than likely the PGA won't be getting the same kind of sweetheart deal that it was able to secure in 2001 at the height of Tiger Woods's run. The networks ended up losing something like $50 million by some accounts. Apparently, people just don't watch much golf.
The most interesting part of the story to me, though, is how NASCAR is driving the negotiations. TV networks want to strike deals with NASCAR after NBC announced that it won't be seeking to extend its current contract (see here). So golf is playing second fiddle to NASCAR in the upcoming negotiations. Can you blame the TV networks?
Apparently, NASCAR commands a Nielson rating in the 5.0 - 6.0 range. PGA golf, a paltry 2.0-3.0 range. For those of you who still doubt that the LPGA can catch up to the PGA, just wait. The gap is not large as you think, and the only golfer who has the potential to duplicate the Tiger phenomenon is Michelle Wie. By the way, if you are a NASCAR fan, can you share what you think is so great about it.
7 Comments:
I'm not a NASCAR fan, so to me golf is more exciting than watching stock cars go round and round and round on a race track for hour after hour. But you have that speed and danger element in racing that golf can't compete with. Maybe the PGA should stage golf cart races. A few crashes and clubhouse fights might spice things up.
For me, a golf tournament simply isn't nearly as exciting to watch without Tiger playing in it. In fact, most of the time I go to Tiger's web site to plan the next tournament that I will watch! That may seem a little sad, but there just aren't many exciting people to watch in golf. That is why people adore Tiger and John Daly and why they draw the crowds. They are a break from the countless Retief Goosens out there. On the other hand, if golf isn't exciting, NASCAR is downright boredom.
I also agree with Phil; I believe the same logic can be applied to Hockey.
I'm not a fan of televised golf, with or without Tiger, similarly tho, NASCAR isn't something I would normally tune into either.
This doesn't bode well for the PGA. If Tiger goes, so goes the PGA. It's over.
Advertisers have recognized that audience buying power is as important as ratings. Golf viewers are the best way to reach financial services, lexus and corporate business products & services buyers. In other words, you won't see Merrill Lynch or IBM ads during the Subway 500. I also agree that the LPGA has more personalities and technology had made the PGA impossible (320+ drives, 250 yrd 3-irons) for Joe-15-handicap to relate to. The gals are playing our game -- Tiger & Vijay are not.
My feeling is that it really isn't that big of a deal. Smaller channels would happily take up the slack in showing golf tournaments in the most part (they would be happy with the 2.0-3.0 rating...probably better than that Texas Ranger rerun), and as the latest discussions about moving the Tour Championship up, there are a few touraments that are classed/recognized as second tier.
Love was interviewed tonight as a veteran player rep, and said that he thought that there would be more tournaments in 2007 than 2006, but that the focus of most management on the PGA Tour and top players is not to ensure there are as many tournaments on tour, but that there are "more better" (his words, not mine) tournaments each year.
Considering the purses on tour as it stands, the TV contract may kill some of the smaller tournaments as sponsors won't take up that much slack, but this is hardly a case where I would say that if Tiger/TV/sponsors go, so goes the PGA Tour.
I think that NASCAR is just a waist of time. I think that watching cars going around in circles is boring. The only thing I like abput NASCAR is when they wreck as long as they don't get hurt. Thank-you.
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