Oh Please, ratings were expected to drop, it was a Huge success
CFL more desperate than we thought
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Re: CFL more desperate than we thought
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Re: CFL more desperate than we thought
No, it was not "on the verge of failing."
ESPN, for reasons that still perplex me, just gave a $400 million contract to the NHL, a league that had worse ratings in America than the XFL even at its worst. Of course ratings were going to fall as casual viewers eased their way out of the traditional football season, outside weather began to improve, and the novelty wore off. XFL attendance was steady and in a couple of cases like St. Louis, it was even rising. Furthermore, we know that until COVID forced him to retrench, Vince McMahon had been willing to put up to a half-billion of his own money into the league to get it onto solid footing. In fact, it probably was pretty close to solid footing had they not lost that gate revenue.
This was not Charlie Ebersol and the AAF. For a first-year league, the XFL did as well as any league can expect to do.
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Re: CFL more desperate than we thought
It's like I told you johnny, NHL was going to score big. Their last contract was 10 yrs ago. $200 million is pocket change today.johnnyangryfuzzball wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 7:10 amNo, it was not "on the verge of failing."
ESPN, for reasons that still perplex me, just gave a $400 million contract to the NHL, a league that had worse ratings in America than the XFL even at its worst. Of course ratings were going to fall as casual viewers eased their way out of the traditional football season, outside weather began to improve, and the novelty wore off. XFL attendance was steady and in a couple of cases like St. Louis, it was even rising. Furthermore, we know that until COVID forced him to retrench, Vince McMahon had been willing to put up to a half-billion of his own money into the league to get it onto solid footing. In fact, it probably was pretty close to solid footing had they not lost that gate revenue.
This was not Charlie Ebersol and the AAF. For a first-year league, the XFL did as well as any league can expect to do.
ESPN NEEDS Live programming BADLY to get viewers and therefore justify its cable carriage fees. Same works for streaming which is nothing more than cable without a specific provider (ie Cablevision or Comcast-Xfinity vs any provider). They NEED content to justify getting on cable systems or to get ESPN+ direct paying customers.
And the NHL has a loyal fan base and the NHL is not going to fold. And don't forget the related talk programs.
You are right XFL did have better ratings - BUT new ownership passed on 2021 and that was a big mistake. They need to see COMMITMENT. VM had it and dropped it. DG/RBC/Rk haven't shown any.
Also NHL production cost are smaller than a FB game
NHL will end up north of $600mm a year in rights fees while XFL can't because VM pulled the plug to soon and DG/RBC/Rk and more hot air than doers. IF VM didn't file bankrupcty (he gambled on buy back and lost) or D-R-R had put on a short 2021 season it would have signaled they are serious. So far nothing and now 2022 is on hold. The nets want them to put skin in the game so to speak before investing in a viewing contract.
Perhaps XFL NEEDS CFL to justify that long term or any TV contract.
This is where we are.
-4th&long
PS - Even the AAF had solid ratings - they are just in smaller markets and they don't translate into ratings as well, hence the VM-XFL approach
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Re: CFL more desperate than we thought
I use the AAF as an example not because of its ratings (which were indeed respectable, especially given the less prominent outlets) but as a league that was neither financially sound nor honest.
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Re: CFL more desperate than we thought
Agreed all pointsjohnnyangryfuzzball wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 4:54 pm I use the AAF as an example not because of its ratings (which were indeed respectable, especially given the less prominent outlets) but as a league that was neither financially sound nor honest.
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Re: CFL more desperate than we thought
Apologies for some of my fellow Canadians.
Great to be here, lover of all football leagues. I think a CFL/XFL merger or partnership is a great thing with lots of exciting possibilities. Looking forward to what the future holds!
Go Roughriders!