NBC Coverage

[Buckpasser]

This from the NY Times today...

Women, who made up 52 percent of last year’s Derby viewership, have become crucial to boosting viewership.

Last year, NBC attracted 16.3 million viewers, the most in 20 years, to see the 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird win the Derby. When Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness, 10.9 million watched, the second most in 20 years.

“They’ve changed the way horse racing is presented,” said Evans, alluding to NBC’s Derby production and the series of pre-Derby prep races around the country that Churchill Downs and the network have collaborated on.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/sp...tml?ref=sports

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Buckpasser

This from the NY Times today...

Women, who made up 52 percent of last year’s Derby viewership, have become crucial to boosting viewership.

Last year, NBC attracted 16.3 million viewers, the most in 20 years, to see the 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird win the Derby. When Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness, 10.9 million watched, the second most in 20 years.

“They’ve changed the way horse racing is presented,” said Evans, alluding to NBC’s Derby production and the series of pre-Derby prep races around the country that Churchill Downs and the network have collaborated on.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/sp...tml?ref=sports

it's a sport that i can see women liking. i know i do...which is why i wish they'd focus more on the racing part of it. show some of the previous races from the horses, show them on the backside while talking to the trainers. if you get women interested in the actual racing, and not 'i'm wearing an outfit by so and so', you might see a return in future.

BUT, thing is, they want viewership, not more folks going to the track. nbc isn't in it to boost handle or attendance.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Danzig

it's a sport that i can see women liking. i know i do...which is why i wish they'd focus more on the racing part of it.

Exactly.

I had NBC on for about two minutes and couldn't take it.

Pure torture.

[Alan07]

The Kentucky Derby's television ratings are the highest in 18 years.

NBC says Saturday's coverage of Calvin Borel riding Super Saver to victory for the third time in four years drew a 10.3 overnight rating and a 23 share. That's up 1 percent from last year's 10.2/22, when 16.3 million viewers made 50-1 shot Mine That Bird's win the most-watched Derby in 20 years.

[Riot]

Every year people complain about the network coverage. I think you guys are nuts. First off, the sport is tailor-made for HD with the beautiful animals, the vivrant colors and the environment as a whole. Secondly, the blimp shots, the rail shots, etc. are absolutely amazing. Every year I read some clown saying they should just use the basic single camera shot you watch at home on your ADW site because "that's the best way to watch a race." Are you kidding me? NBC is basically making a two minute movie out there and you'd really rather be watching the grainy track camera? Finally, all the human/animal interest stories, the Top Chef b.s., and interviews with the celebs are what draws the casual fan in.

Well said. The sport has taken terrible public hits in the recent past (Eight Belles), and had been forced out off into cable oblivion. Glad to see it back on the national networks. NBC obviously loves the sport, respects the sport, and they do a great job treating racing as a major, important sport deserving of more than an hour of coverage, even when it isn't nowadays.

What benefit does that type of sugary presentation give us? It helps with our continued existence. It helps the average somebody who doesn't care about racing to view the sport in a positive manner when confronted by some PETA person wanting to ban the sport due to an Eight Belles, or when having to vote on legislation to restrict gambling. It does help bring people out to a day at Arlington, a day at Keeneland.

Geesh - if people want nothing but the gambling aspect, read the DRF, watch at the OTB or your ADW site, go to the horse racing TV channels. Displays of futures and exotic payoff boxes would bore the general public to tears. I think NBC does a great job, and I'm thrilled to have horse racing back on that particular network. Calling that show "garbage" is unfair.

[PeteMugg]

Just watched and actually thought it was pretty good. I don't even mind the celebs and hat stuff. Think I'd lose the Top Chef segment, though.

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Riot

Well said. The sport has taken terrible public hits in the recent past (Eight Belles), and had been forced out off into cable oblivion. Glad to see it back on the national networks. NBC obviously loves the sport, respects the sport, and they do a great job treating racing as a major, important sport deserving of more than an hour of coverage, even when it isn't nowadays.

What benefit does that type of sugary presentation give us? It helps with our continued existence. It helps the average somebody who doesn't care about racing to view the sport in a positive manner when confronted by some PETA person wanting to ban the sport due to an Eight Belles, or when having to vote on legislation to restrict gambling. It does help bring people out to a day at Arlington, a day at Keeneland.

Geesh - if people want nothing but the gambling aspect, read the DRF, watch at the OTB or your ADW site, go to the horse racing TV channels. Displays of futures and exotic payoff boxes would bore the general public to tears. I think NBC does a great job, and I'm thrilled to have horse racing back on that particular network. Calling that show "garbage" is unfair.

Very well said.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Alan07

The Kentucky Derby's television ratings are the highest in 18 years.

NBC says Saturday's coverage of Calvin Borel riding Super Saver to victory for the third time in four years drew a 10.3 overnight rating and a 23 share. That's up 1 percent from last year's 10.2/22, when 16.3 million viewers made 50-1 shot Mine That Bird's win the most-watched Derby in 20 years.

I love this, that TV ratings go up year after year and we get less and less national TV coverage.

As for NBC, it wasn't ideal but it was a hell of a lot better than Bravo's abomination on Friday.

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I love this, that TV ratings go up year after year and we get less and less national TV coverage.

As for NBC, it wasn't ideal but it was a hell of a lot better than Bravo's abomination on Friday.

I totally agree. Friday's coverage was unbelievable.

[letswastemoney]

I just want them to do away with the disorientating blimp view during the race. I cannot tell which horse is which from that angle, nor do I see how a casual fan can tell where their horse is.

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by Alan07

The Kentucky Derby's television ratings are the highest in 18 years.

NBC says Saturday's coverage of Calvin Borel riding Super Saver to victory for the third time in four years drew a 10.3 overnight rating and a 23 share. That's up 1 percent from last year's 10.2/22, when 16.3 million viewers made 50-1 shot Mine That Bird's win the most-watched Derby in 20 years.

Well that's good news, any way you cut it.

My biggest gripe was, as usual, how they didn't show the finish order or payouts until much later. I used my phone to go to my adw site and get the pays.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Exactly.

I had NBC on for about two minutes and couldn't take it.

Pure torture.

women, in general, arent gamblers (besides penny slots). Of course there are exceptions. But when you go to a casino or race track.. its men that are doing the gambling. The women you can find playing the penny slots.. the men are losing $4000 playing poker and black jack & pick 3's.

The way to get the girls to tune in to the Derby, is to show the other stuff. If the Derby coverage was basically a simulcast feed, nobody would watch it.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

women, in general, arent gamblers (besides penny slots). Of course there are exceptions. But when you go to a casino or race track.. its men that are doing the gambling. The women you can find playing the penny slots.. the men are losing $4000 playing poker and black jack & pick 3's.

The way to get the girls to tune in to the Derby, is to show the other stuff. If the Derby coverage was basically a simulcast feed, nobody would watch it.

I know that you said there are exceptions but I just can't agree.

Women aren't gamblers?

Penny slots?

I'd assume there are many more men than women who gamble but still..

How do we know this, that they don't gamble as much?

When you're at the track what's the ratio of men to women like?

[my miss storm cat]

Oh right well I got distracted by the last post but this is what I really wanted to say here.

MAKE IT STOP.

The Kentucky Oaks, the filly version of the Kentucky Derby, is broadcast on Bravo, which skews heavily toward female viewers. There are Derby segments on "The Today Show" in the run-up to the race focusing on everything from fashion to how to create the perfect mint julep.

"Women are watching the Derby more for the spectacle than the sporting event," McCarley said. "There's a balance you have to strike for the different people that you're watching."


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...n6447802.shtml

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Oh right well I got distracted by the last post but this is what I really wanted to say here.

MAKE IT STOP.

The Kentucky Oaks, the filly version of the Kentucky Derby, is broadcast on Bravo, which skews heavily toward female viewers. There are Derby segments on "The Today Show" in the run-up to the race focusing on everything from fashion to how to create the perfect mint julep.

"Women are watching the Derby more for the spectacle than the sporting event," McCarley said. "There's a balance you have to strike for the different people that you're watching."


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...n6447802.shtml

now, that's an improvement on some of other things they showed.

i had a wild cherry julep (ok, several) at a restaurant last summer-talk about good!

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I know that you said there are exceptions but I just can't agree.

Women aren't gamblers?

Penny slots?

I'd assume there are many more men than women who gamble but still..

How do we know this, that they don't gamble as much?

When you're at the track what's the ratio of men to women like?

ratio of men to women at the track.. maybe 80/20? maybe 85/15? lots of guys like to go to the track to get AWAY from their women!

they dont gamble as much because of psychology... tend to take less risks and be more "responsible". You just dont see a lot of women willing to put 2 grand into a pick 6 ticket unless they are already incredibly rich. I'm not being sexist towards men or women and its completely my own opinion.

How many women are public handicappers compared to men? And we're not talking about a couple small bets a dozen times a year... we're talking real gambling.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

ratio of men to women at the track.. maybe 80/20? maybe 85/15? lots of guys like to go to the track to get AWAY from their women!

they dont gamble as much because of psychology... tend to take less risks and be more "responsible". You just dont see a lot of women willing to put 2 grand into a pick 6 ticket unless they are already incredibly rich. I'm not being sexist towards men or women and its completely my own opinion.

How many women are public handicappers compared to men? And we're not talking about a couple small bets a dozen times a year... we're talking real gambling.

The first part of your post...

Seriously?

I don't know where you are. It's higher here.

The rest of your post? Point taken.

I'm just giving my opinion too.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Danzig

it's a sport that i can see women liking. i know i do...which is why i wish they'd focus more on the racing part of it. show some of the previous races from the horses, show them on the backside while talking to the trainers. if you get women interested in the actual racing, and not 'i'm wearing an outfit by so and so', you might see a return in future.

BUT, thing is, they want viewership, not more folks going to the track. nbc isn't in it to boost handle or attendance.

but you arent the typical "woman".. I mean your family vacations are centered around watching big russian guys check other big canadian guys into walls and gambling on ponies. You are like the coolest woman in the world.

typical "women" who watch the Derby (and Derby only) do it for the hats, dresses, and parties.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

but you arent the typical "woman".. I mean your family vacations are centered around watching big russian guys check other big canadian guys into walls and gambling on ponies. You are like the coolest woman in the world.
typical "women" who watch the Derby (and Derby only) do it for the hats, dresses, and parties.

lol
no, i'm not typical-and thanks so much!! i can't wait til the next years schedule comes out so i can see if i can combine a hockey game into our trip to ky for the bc.