Women's basketball is a bigger draw than wrestling. And there's a lot of threads here about not on the Penn State women but Iowa/Clark and others. Any collegiate wrestlers as famous right now as Clark? Or Bueckers? Horrible argument Walt.
www.sportsmediawatch.com
What’s next, Fake Penn State Lando fan? A chart showing all the years Joe Paterno failed to beat Michigan? You’re a fraud! You know it. I know it. “We all know it.”Just some facts that will apparently confuse people for some unknown reason.
Viewers by NCAA sport for 22-23 championships
FBS Football 17.2M
Men's Basketball 14.7M
Women's Basketball 9.9M (but some thought wrestling was more popular lol)
Baseball 3.6M
Softball: 1.9M
FCS Football: 1.1M
W Gymnastics: 1M (admittedly Liv Dunne is a factor here)
D2 Men's Basketball 998K (yes, DII)
Men's Hockey: 808k (predictably way higher than wrestling)
W Volleyball: 786k (also predictably way higher than wrestling--way more competitive)
Men's LAX: 757k
Wrestling: 454k (300k less than LAX)
Wrestling is closer to Beach Volley, M-NIt (race to 68), Women's LAX, D2 and D3 Football, Men's Soccer and even men's golf than it is to Men's Hockey yet somehow you all can't comprehend why it's not the lead story. Because no one actually cares. It's okay to accept reality.
When Women's Gymnastics gets more than double the viewership the sport doesn't have a legit fan base.
All these were on either CBS, ABC or the ESPN Networks--W Volleyball was even on ESPN 2 as opposed to ESPN for wrestling and dominated the ratings.
So, yes, BTN did nothing wrong by leading with March Madness the Hockey because that's what people care about.
How did the NCAA national championships stack up in 2022-23?
A look at how the various NCAA national championships stack up in the ratings, from the College Football Playoff to women's water polo.
Just some facts that will apparently confuse people for some unknown reason.
Viewers by NCAA sport for 22-23 championships
FBS Football 17.2M
Men's Basketball 14.7M
Women's Basketball 9.9M (but some thought wrestling was more popular lol)
Baseball 3.6M
Softball: 1.9M
FCS Football: 1.1M
W Gymnastics: 1M (admittedly Liv Dunne is a factor here)
D2 Men's Basketball 998K (yes, DII)
Men's Hockey: 808k (predictably way higher than wrestling)
W Volleyball: 786k (also predictably way higher than wrestling--way more competitive)
Men's LAX: 757k
Wrestling: 454k (300k less than LAX)
Wrestling is closer to Beach Volley, M-NIt (race to 68), Women's LAX, D2 and D3 Football, Men's Soccer and even men's golf than it is to Men's Hockey yet somehow you all can't comprehend why it's not the lead story. Because no one actually cares. It's okay to accept reality.
When Women's Gymnastics gets more than double the viewership the sport doesn't have a legit fan base.
All these were on either CBS, ABC or the ESPN Networks--W Volleyball was even on ESPN 2 as opposed to ESPN for wrestling and dominated the ratings.
So, yes, BTN did nothing wrong by leading with March Madness the Hockey because that's what people care about.
How did the NCAA national championships stack up in 2022-23?
A look at how the various NCAA national championships stack up in the ratings, from the College Football Playoff to women's water polo.
Maybe not on this board but many around the country follow women's BB FAR MORE than wrestling. I've watched many FB (obviously), WBB, MBB, college hockey and baseball and on and on..... on local and national TV over the years but never a wrestling match. I think the biggest issue for the lack of a following for wrestling is that it's a man-on-man sport and not a team sport like the others. Just the way it is
Correct...the individuality of it hurts it with casuals. I can turn on a team sport without knowing every small detail of the sport and enjoy it. I'm not a soccer fan but I can still watch the World Cup or a college match and fully understand it. Wrestling doesn't have that. Fans are die hard or non existent. Casual fans are needed for a sport to thrive. WVB is a great example of a sport that's growing at the college level.
But it's more far popular - NATIONALLY - than wrestling and that's the argument and far more popular up North. Jesus H. Christ, it's not that hard and the BTN - like any other TV network - will cover material that brings in the most viewers.
I actually appreciate the coverage that the BTN and AAC Network give to wrestling. I'm part of a very, very small minority that watches more college wrestling than basketball. I also prefer hockey to basketball, but, again, I'm in a minority. Hockey is great in person, but it doesn't translate well to TV and has not begun to approach the popularity of basketball or football. It's not a matter of what I like or don't like, the attendance and TV ratings are what they are. March Madness attracts interest from people that otherwise wouldn't watch 15 seconds of a game; as a result, as you stated, the networks are only responding what brings viewers. If I was running the BTN, I would play it the same way, my personal tastes notwithstanding.
Well said...we all enjoy different sports. After football it is men's hockey and WVB for me but I understand where they fall in terms of priority with networks. The intent isn't to say people shouldn't enjoy wrestling. Just have realistic expectations instead of bashing the BTN for no reason.
Very well said. I love CF and watch CBB as an in-between until CF starts back up. I do occasionally watch college hockey.
If you said the sky is blue Blando would so no it's not and post 50 times with reasons why even when no one responds to anything he post - some sort of mental illness I suspect.
I would think the mental illness is being obsessed with me to the point you said "Blando". You just don't like that I call you on your nonsense.
Hello, Lemon. My name is Kasparaitis and I love cawledge hawkey. Penn State had one of the best club teams in the country when I was in school. I attended many games. My Econ professor was an assistant coach. Guy Gadowski has taken the program to an elite level very quickly. I recommend you allocate some time to attending their games in person or watch on TV. It’s a tremendous sport and PSU plays at a high level, this season notwithstanding. Nice to meet you.
You have no power over us at all. Be gone before someone drops a house on you.
You had to change your screen name and even after doing that you're still obsessing over me.
Unfortunately wrestling is a niche sport. I am a football, basketball, baseball guy who watched wrestling non-stop Thursday through Saturday. 628000 viewers for Saturday wrestling finals. Down 8% from last year. Wrestling will probably never get the exposure the die hard fans want. I don’t watch BTN except for PSU games so I didn’t see of it was the lead story today. It should have been due to the domination PSU displayed.
Great. Now I know someone who likes college hockey and I will never have to say again that I don't. I wish I would have met Franco. He was on campus at PSU during the 4 years I was there but I never met him.
The issue in this thread was about the BTN and their coverage about PSU wrestling yesterday and I think it's safe to say that there are probably 6 or 7 more popular college sports than wrestling (maybe more) in B1G country whether you like it or not. I was reading that the OSU hockey women were also playing for a NC today.....no idea if they won or not simply because outside of Ohio, no one gives a rat's a$$ and they don't deserve a lot of coverage over BB on the BTN....maybe a quick mention.
I guess the sentiment is the BTN coverage should emphasize member teams competing for National Championships PSU wrestling, OSU women hockey, etc. versus de-emphasizing them for coverage of events like the NCAA basketball tournament that's in its preliminary rounds.
Overall, I’m a big fan of the BTN because I believe that they do a really good job of covering a lot of sports that you otherwise hardly ever would see like soccer, hockey and lacrosse. They also probably dedicate more time to the sport of wrestling than you reasonably can expect. I also believe that they show games featuring PSU probably as much as or more than any other Big 10 school.
Not even close. PSU has taken over as the greatest college wrestling program IN HISTORY and any fan thinking otherwise has blinders on.
But they're emphasizing what most people care about
Penn State has won 11 titles since 2011...no one believes Iowa is the best program right now. Historically, Iowa and Oklahoma State are the elites. Penn State is third--we currently have half the number that Iowa has.
Last I checked the goal of every sports program is winning National Championships and coverage should be afforded the teams doing so by their Conference networks like the BTN. March Madness may bigger ratings but hasn't even reached Sweet 16 status, so again, IMHO, coverage for National Championships trumps preliminaries.
A national title is more meaningful but TV is about interest not meaning
If it where OSU UM or IOWA there would be plenty of coverage. Same old same old for PSU.
Of course it's nonsense...just more bickering. By that narrative, if PSU or (fill in the blank school) wins a championship in fencing or gymnanstics, that should lead off over March Madness coverage of B1G teams.
OSU just won NC in in both Pistol and Womens Hockey this weekend with very little mention at all. But PSUs Wrestling Championship should be heavily covered by the BTN. OK, whatever you say. Everybody is out to get PSU.
So fencing should be a lead story? You realize what you said here doesn't happen, right?
