Yahoo Sports reports that the 2015 World Series, despite having great characters and interesting storylines, has hit a ratings low not seen since the first Series broadcast in 1947.
So why are so few Americans captivated by the drama?
The
dynamic, too-young-to-worry Royals that brought Kansas City its first
pennant since 1985 and the colorful, resourceful San Francisco Giants
back to their third Series in five years have split the first two games.
Yet the ratings for Fox’s game one broadcast were the lowest since the Fall Classic was first televised in 1947, continuing a
steady, decade-long slide in the television audience for postseason
baseball.
Have Americans, in their 21st century over-stimulated haste, at last lost their patience for the leisurely pace of the game?
“It
has now become widely acknowledged,” says
Henry Blodget, “that even Major League Baseball is
starting to recognize just the pace of the game takes forever.” While
he notes that some game-hastening rules are being tested in the minor
leagues, in the majors long breaks, tedious pitcher rituals and TV
cutaways cause games to drag.
This
year the typical game in the majors this season exceeded three hours,
the longest average duration ever. Three decades ago, games were almost a
half-hour shorter. MLB, an otherwise thriving industry in terms of
attendance and revenues, and its newly elected Commissioner Rob Manfred has assigned a committee to figure out ways to quicken the pace of play. However, the players in the Arizona Fall League are having a tough time adjusting to the new pace of play rules.
Blodget
notes that pro football continues to dominate in TV mindshare, with its
built-for-TV physical drama and mayhem, augmented by runaway interest
in fantasy football and gambling. Tellingly, the NFL’s Thursday night
regular season game last week drew 25% more eyeballs than did World
Series game one.
