New Raptors TV ratings

[jrizzel]

Quote:

The Toronto Raptors have announced that their local television ratings for the 2007-08 season have increased by an average of 22% over this same time last year. Rogers Sportsnet has enjoyed a 46% lift in audiences in its first seven of 12 Raptors televised games, averaging 157,000 viewers per game. The Score is averaging 122,000 viewers per game, a 20% increase in audience size from November to January of last season. The channel has aired 19 of its 30 Raptors games so far this season. TSN's average of 158,000 viewers per game represents a 6% increase, with 9 Raptors games remaining on its schedule. Mediacaster



http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/issu ... 008','753')

[rapz**7**]

Thats great news, success = revenue

[dacrusha]

Yes, but how do they compare to curling, women's hockey and figure skating?

[N1QUE24]

RaptorsTV has the worse production values I have ever seen.

I just watched Double Dribble today with that Andre and Barry character.. the intro for the show was horrendous. I mean come on, when your going to crop Paul Jones and Eric Smith and stick them in front of a white backdrop, you'd at least expect to not see some goofy jagged edges on their outline.

It just wreaks of Kid Pix/Microsoft Paint-ness.

[Huskies1947]

Yes, but how do they compare to curling, women's hockey and figure skating?

Are you forgetting the demographics for this country? As long as the baby boomers run this country, sports such as curling will be in.

[dacrusha]

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Are you forgetting the demographics for this country? As long as the baby boomers run this country, sports such as curling will be in.

As far as I know, the #1 television demographic is 18-34 year olds... exactly the age bracket that should choose watching basketball over curling.

So, what's the excuse?

[Platapie]

To my recollection those numbers don't seem to square overly well with the figures from the G&M's weekly bit on the matter. Then again, these numbers are probably rather unreliable and or using completely different metrics so that's somewhat understandable.

If true it's good news. Sure it's a drop in the bucket compared to some other sports but growth is growth and with the Leafs looking at a fair elongated rebuild, the Raptors have an opportunity to hook some new fans.

[LittleOzzy]

Great news that every sports channel has had an increase in viewers. I hope this means each network will consider putting more basketball related stuff on the air.

[Huskies1947]

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As far as I know, the #1 television demographic is 18-34 year olds... exactly the age bracket that should choose watching basketball over curling.

So, what's the excuse?

Oh Really? Well go take out stats canada and see how many people in this country fall under baby boomers. 18-34 might be the demographics that TV stations want...

[jbraptor]

BC needs to take over and Run RAPTORS TV as well!!!! it is horrible and limited with re-run programs... This channel must ditch the reruns and add som substantial quality programming.... the only reason i tune in is because it is the only sports channel that has exclusive post and pregame content + the monopoly on non cable raps games

[BasherMan]

Nice to say you have suh a huge jump, but it's just spin. If they had 1 viewer last year, and 10 this year, would a 1000% jump in ratings be big news?

Bottom line is basketball is still growing in the fans interest in Canada, and it is going to take time. I would like to see what local TV ratings are for other NBA teams though.

[jsbola]

The ratings system is a bunch of BS. Eric Smith was on the fan a few weeks ago talking about the same thing cuz of the hosts was laying into the raptors for having lower ratings then sports such as curling etc. Apparently you need some kind of box hooked up to your tv in order for tv stations to monitor what you're watching and thats how they determine how many viewers are watching what. Its called a Neilson box or something like that. I dont have one, I doubt anyone on this board has one either, so who does??? What about all those people out there who dont have one but tune into Raptors games religiously like me and probably everyone on this board, were not counted in those numbers. In this case, the numbers do lie.

[BasherMan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen_Ratings

Nielsen Television Ratings are gathered by one of two ways; by extensive use of surveys, where viewers of various demographics are asked to keep a written record (called a diary) of the television programming they watch throughout the day and evening, or by the use of Set Meters, which are small devices connected to every television in selected homes.

Another criticism of the measuring system itself is that it fails the most important criteria of a sample: it is not random in the statistical sense of the word. Only a small fraction of the population is selected and only those that actually accept are used as the sample size.

[mintsa]

Good news.

[ilikecb4]

-= original quote snipped =-



Are you forgetting the demographics for this country? As long as the baby boomers run this country, sports such as curling will be in.

true...the younger generations growing up now...watching the Raptors...
when they're in their 30s, 40s...will make basketball a lot more popular..

so b-ball will be on the rise here for a long time to come

[m1kenoff]

The viewership reports are estimated. But then again almost ALL these type of reports are estimated. Im taking a media buying course right now and we just went over this.

In order to measure neutral companies such as Nielson and BBM take samples and multiply them to determine an estimated audience of a specific time of day or program. The diaries along with small pager-like devices (Detect channels/stations) that people are paid to write/ carry around with them are the more common measurement techniques.

But they both have flaws...


Either way, the numbers are relatively legit and cannot be overlooked as all viewerships are measured this way.

Oh and baby-boomers DO make up most of our population.

[Platapie]

Even if the numbers are horrifically off, as long as they are consistently applied it's not that important. I mean, the Raptor ratings were considerably better during the VC + playoff era, as one would expect. It then dropped horrifically during the brutal half decade or so after, as one would expect.

It is also rising now, now that things have gotten better. In the end, that seems to be a pretty good indicator that the numbers, while perhaps not precise, seem to reflect reality.