Netflix’s broadcast of the homerun derby was the least watched in 23 years.

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I know this has been discussed before but I think all the sport leagues have been chasing the money thrown around by streaming services to the point that they might end up slowly killing their own product.

The World Cup tv rights are up for bid soon and it’s rumored that a streaming service might try to get them. While it would obviously boost the subs for whatever service gets them, in the long run you’re losing total viewership by not being visible on a more “traditional” broadcast partner.

Netflix earns smallest Home Run Derby audience since 2003

Netflix reportedly earned the smallest Home Run Derby audience since 2003, averaging just 5.3 million viewers for Jordan Walker's win.

awfulannouncing.com

 

[jethreauxdawg]

And that was the best home run derby. What a shame

 

[ZombieKissinger]

I watched some of it and thought it was pretty good. It started too late for me to watch it live. I started Netflix when it was DVDs only then right after they launched streaming, and it blew my mind, similar as to when I found YouTube a couple years before. This was like 2007. A few years later they added their own content, and we’ve seen the traditional channels go heavy on streaming.

It’s not going to happen overnight, but Netflix is OK with lower viewership for a single event as part of its strategy. As for the MLB impact, I would be interested to see the younger age viewership differences for this derby vs others. May be in the article. I suspect it’s still a decrease but likely less so than older.

I’m 41 and watched all the World Cup on Peacock via Telemundo because I don’t get Fox

 

[RocketDawg]

It's heading that way for college football and NFL games as well.

Most people are already paying for some sort of television service - cable, satellite, streaming. Then you pay extra to have things like ESPN in addition the already paid service. Now, you have to pay even more extra for the "good stuff". Eventually there may be even more levels of "pay up".

I remember back in the dark ages when cable television was on the brink of surfacing in Meridian. Opponents vehemently argued that it would lead to "pay TV". I suppose they were right to an extent, but it took longer than was expected. Over the air is still free, as it was then, but how much longer will that last?

 

[Anon1684630174]

Netflix seems like a strange choice for a sports event anyway.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I watched some of it and thought it was pretty good. It started too late for me to watch it live. I started Netflix when it was DVDs only then right after they launched streaming, and it blew my mind, similar as to when I found YouTube a couple years before. This was like 2007. A few years later they added their own content, and we’ve seen the traditional channels go heavy on streaming.

It’s not going to happen overnight, but Netflix is OK with lower viewership for a single event as part of its strategy. As for the MLB impact, I would be interested to see the younger age viewership differences for this derby vs others. May be in the article. I suspect it’s still a decrease but likely less so than older.

I’m 41 and watched all the World Cup on Peacock via Telemundo because I don’t get Fox

MLB is getting great viewership numbers from NBC broadcasting games. Much better than they did with ESPN which still proves the point that traditional broadcasting trumps streaming.

 

[Mayor of Little London]

That is the live number. I was at the beach with kids and wife probably “enjoying” a movie night that included some form of sponge bob. I do plan to watch now that I’m home. The derby is a little different than a live game for me, knowing end result doesn’t matter as much. Does that factor in any.. i assume I’m not the only one watching after the fact.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

MLB is getting great viewership numbers from NBC broadcasting games. Much better than they did with ESPN which still proves the point that traditional broadcasting trumps streaming.

My point isnt what it looks like currently and is more that this will likely not look the same 10, 15, 20 years from now. As far as how MLB feels strategically about balancing the highest paying TV deal now vs viewership/long term fan development, I don’t know

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I know this has been discussed before but I think all the sport leagues have been chasing the money thrown around by streaming services to the point that they might end up slowly killing their own product.

The World Cup tv rights are up for bid soon and it’s rumored that a streaming service might try to get them. While it would obviously boost the subs for whatever service gets them, in the long run you’re losing total viewership by not being visible on a more “traditional” broadcast partner.

Netflix earns smallest Home Run Derby audience since 2003

Netflix reportedly earned the smallest Home Run Derby audience since 2003, averaging just 5.3 million viewers for Jordan Walker's win.

awfulannouncing.com

Other than the plethora of different platforms I view streaming as just a way to get “channels”. Not dissimilar to paying for cable for all those years. If I’m Netflix all I care about is did my viewership for the event pay for my cost of acquiring it. I’m not sure what MLB goals are for it.

 

[msudawg12]

I watched and was pissed off that they didnt show the high school final between Sully and the Cunningham kid.

 

[Right_Field_Heckler]

Wow, I cannot believe that.***

The soul of sports entertainment is slowly being auctioned off, one revenue stream at a time.

At this rate, paying by the play won't sound like satire—it'll sound like the next business model.

 

[patdog]

I’m gonna pretty much draw the line at subscribing to a streaming service to watch sports. May be very few exceptions but they will be rare.

 

[Puppers]

MLB is getting great viewership numbers from NBC broadcasting games. Much better than they did with ESPN which still proves the point that traditional broadcasting trumps streaming.

I wonder how much of the NFLs success could be attributed to the fact that historically it was the easiest sport to watch. On at the same times every week and on channels everyone got. Boxing did the opposite and isn't even the most popular fighting sport in the US anymore.

 

[HotMop]

I know this has been discussed before but I think all the sport leagues have been chasing the money thrown around by streaming services to the point that they might end up slowly killing their own product.

The World Cup tv rights are up for bid soon and it’s rumored that a streaming service might try to get them. While it would obviously boost the subs for whatever service gets them, in the long run you’re losing total viewership by not being visible on a more “traditional” broadcast partner.

Netflix earns smallest Home Run Derby audience since 2003

Netflix reportedly earned the smallest Home Run Derby audience since 2003, averaging just 5.3 million viewers for Jordan Walker's win.

awfulannouncing.com

I went looking for the HR Derby expecting it to be on ESPN, when it wasn't I thought I had the dates wrong and watched a movie instead.

 

[kired]

And that was the best home run derby. What a shame

I didn’t watch it live, but watched it Wednesday night. Loved the “new” more traditional format. They got carried away with the timed mess they’ve been doing recently

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I didn’t watch it live, but watched it Wednesday night. Loved the “new” more traditional format. They got carried away with the timed mess they’ve been doing recently

The timed derby just wore the players out. Having a set number of swings is perfect and adding in that the last swing goes on until you’re out is awesome.

 

[olblue]

And that was the best home run derby. What a shame

I think it was just the opposite. Not enough star power.