Houston Astros achieve milestone!

[kimmy]

During a recent "ask me anything" on Reddit, Olivia Wilde was asked why "The Black Donnelys" was cancelled so quickly. Olivia lamented that it was because only her immediate family watched the show (and she suspects they may have been lying to her to protect her feelings.)

Apparently, even Olivia's family have better things to do than watch the Houston Astros play baseball on TV, as the league-worst Astros managed to post a 0.0 Nielsen rating for their recent game against the Cleveland Indians.

The 0.0 rating does not mean that literally zero people watched the broadcast, it just means that of 581 homes with Nielsen meters in the Houston area, zero of them watched the game, making it impossible to guess at the actual viewership. By way of contrast, even Cosby Show reruns and football box scores posted measurable ratings during the same time period.

So, while the Astros may suck on the baseball diamond, they did manage to pitch a no-hitter in TV land.

-k

[Michael Hardner]

Great post, Kimmy. You join the trivial, the minute with large forces at play in our mediascape today.

Where is it all going ? The economy of large scale spectacle is forever changed, impacting gate keepers and high paid performers but giving cheaper and more varied entertainment to the rest of us.

My biggest wonder is what will fill the void of network news once it becomes unpopular. Perhaps viewer funded news like PBS' will thrive. We can hope.

[Boges]

I find ratings like opinion polls. All BS.

So under 600 people in the 4th largest city in the US is somehow representative of popular TV watching habits? I don't buy it.

[Boges]

Great post, Kimmy. You join the trivial, the minute with large forces at play in our mediascape today.Where is it all going ? The economy of large scale spectacle is forever changed, impacting gate keepers and high paid performers but giving cheaper and more varied entertainment to the rest of us.My biggest wonder is what will fill the void of network news once it becomes unpopular. Perhaps viewer funded news like PBS' will thrive. We can hope.

The reason the Astros got a "zero" isn't because of the changing landscape of television watching habits. It's because the 2013 Houston Astros are historically one of the worst baseball teams in the history of the sport.

Conversely every week the NFL gets ratings historically comparable to anything in the history Network and Cable television viewing.

Edited September 24, 2013 by Boges

[Mighty AC]

I have been a long time baseball fan but even my interest in the game has waned to near zero. I used to take in more live games but earlier this year while sitting in the 'Sky Dome' (it will never be the Rogers Center) sipping an $11 can of beer I thought to myself 'I wish I could change the channel.'

Like the Jays, The Astros are playing meaningless games but still a zero rating is pretty shocking. I don't think our current 500 channel, on demand world, gels well with such a slow game. I sometimes tune into the 30 min condensed versions of Jays games at night and they're still slow.

With 162 games, each one is really not that important except for the handful of teams fighting for a playoff spot. Fortunately, I do have a solution. Let viewers manage the team via an app!! Let fans vote on the lineup, pitching changes, pinch hitters, etc. People paying for the advanced app could even vote on defensive shifts, offensive plays and force bench coaches to argue calls with the umps. You're welcome MLB.

Edited September 24, 2013 by Mighty AC

[Moonlight Graham]

I can't stand the Astros. Looks like their fans are a bunch of fair-weathers. It sucks watching a 100+ loss team, but it's still baseball. I guess Texans have the Rangers to cheer for though.

[Boges]

I can't stand the Astros. Looks like their fans are a bunch of fair-weathers. It sucks watching a 100+ loss team, but it's still baseball. I guess Texans have the Rangers to cheer for though.

So if you don't watch a horrible team you're a fairweather fan? BS!

Why would I watch Jays games right now, they're meaningless.

The Astros are essentially a AAA Team, they'd make money if no one showed up to the stadium because of revenue sharing.

Edited September 24, 2013 by Boges

[Michael Hardner]

The reason the Astros got a "zero" isn't because of the changing landscape of television watching habits. It's because the 2013 Houston Astros are historically one of the worst baseball teams in the history of the sport.

Well, it's both isn't it ? Would even a terrible team get a 'zero' locally before 500 channels, before facebook, before MapleLeafWeb ?

[Moonlight Graham]

So if you don't watch a horrible team you're a fairweather fan? BS!

Yes, that's the definition of a fairweather fan.

[Boges]

Yes, that's the definition of a fairweather fan.

Then it's also a synonym for sucker.

The reason the Toronto Maple Leafs had been horrible more than they've been good in recent decades is because people will support them no matter what.

[Moonlight Graham]

Then it's also a synonym for sucker.

Sometimes, yes.

[Boges]

Sorry meant, non-fairweather fan is a synonym for sucker.

If the Leafs are out of it, I have better things to watch on a Tuesday Night.

[guyser]

And yet......the Houston Astros are the most profitable baseball team in history.

Nine Yankee players each make more money this season than the entire payroll of Houston.

[Boges]

Well, it's both isn't it ? Would even a terrible team get a 'zero' locally before 500 channels, before facebook, before MapleLeafWeb ?

Well choice is diluting all sorts of media and forms of entertainment. Doesn't mean baseball isn't wildly profitable.

Even though the Blue Jays have been a massive disappointment this year, I do believe their rating and attendance numbers have actually seen an up tick.

Likely due to the undeserved hype.

Edited September 24, 2013 by Boges

[Michael Hardner]

Well choice is diluting all sorts of media and forms of entertainment. Doesn't mean baseball isn't wildly profitable.

Sure. Minor league baseball can be profitable too.