ESPN, SEC Network plan blanket coverage of USC-UConn

[sdhusky]

The Beanpot is tomorrow night. It will dominate all competition. The nation will tune into NESN. BC v. BU.

Is that a cooking competition?

 

[SAMCRO]

I'd be shocked (pleasantly) if UConn-USCe WBB ratings were anywhere near Duke-UL MBB ratings, but I do believe they will be higher than the B12 and BE MBB games at the same time. As @HuskyHawk posted, UConn WBB is the tide that lifts all ships. It lifted many BE programs years ago, and it is beginning to lift AAC programs, all be it slowly.

 

[upstater]

Is that a cooking competition?

Yep, hard-hitting, fast skating, action-packed bean boiling competition. Conducted in the Hub of the Universe every year.

 

[sdhusky]

Yep, hard-hitting, fast skating, action-packed bean boiling competition. Conducted in the Hub of the Universe every year.

So, its like the British Baking show. Cool.

Meanwhile, UConn USCe is like the super bowl.

 

[lne001]

This is about eye-balls and there are a lot of AARP eyes who don't know the difference between Coach K and Special K, who love to watch "the girls" play.

I understand, I have a set of those very eyes (although I was aware of Coach K since his playing days at Army). The fact of the matter, however, is that there are many, many more men's college basketball fans than women's. As a simplistic proxy I'll use the 2015 men's and women's final championship game. 28.3 million viewers watched the men, versus 3.1 for the women, a ratio of 9 to 1.

 

[housekeys]

I understand, I have a set of those very eyes (although I was aware of Coach K since his playing days at Army). The fact of the matter, however, is that there are many, many more men's college basketball fans than women's. As a simplistic proxy I'll use the 2015 men's and women's final championship game. 28.3 million viewers watched the men, versus 3.1 for the women, a ratio of 9 to 1.

I did not say they will outdraw them. I am saying they may surprise, relatively speaking. Again, remember the sport of Women's Basketball got a late start, and thanks to the UConn women, was put on the map in 1995 for good.I am guessing, it is growing in viewership. The fact that this is even being discussed in the sports world is telling enough. The south is a different animal it seems. They tend to stick together and support sports the northerners may not care about, like NASCAR, for example. (edit - actually I do not know if that is true, I know NASCAR is popular down south, but I have no idea what the north thinks of that sport)

 

[Nostical]

Conference commissioners understand the pecking order of sports but don't discount the fact that having fuller arenas and more buzz around conference WBB improves the whole idea of UConn as a member. Title IX issues aside, UConn WBB provides a new impetus for lots of heretofore non-viewers to tune in to the conference network. Wherever we go the arenas are fuller and the interest piques. It's a valuable arrow in our quiver as we seek P-5 membership.

 

[Stinger92860]

I understand, I have a set of those very eyes (although I was aware of Coach K since his playing days at Army). The fact of the matter, however, is that there are many, many more men's college basketball fans than women's. As a simplistic proxy I'll use the 2015 men's and women's final championship game. 28.3 million viewers watched the men, versus 3.1 for the women, a ratio of 9 to 1.

I would love the know what the ratio is for the state of Connecticut. That is how you would determine UConn WBB value for a network.

 

[Chin Diesel]

So, if I want UConn to get a P5 invite I have to tune in to Feinbaum this afternoon?

I feel filthy about whichever decision I make.

I think the compromise is that I will tune in to his show on XM Satellite but turn the volume off.

 

[J187Money]

I would love the know what the ratio is for the state of Connecticut. That is how you would determine UConn WBB value for a network.

Think of it this way - when WBB was on CPTV they raised a ton of money just to keep the network running. I would imagine that there would be a significant number of people that would agree to pay X for a cable channel if the alternative was NOT being able to watch the women. That fanbase is more loyal than our football fanbase is.

 

[dwalks93]

What is the over/under on the number of times Feinbaum will refer to UConn "as the Alabama of women's basketball?"

My dream is the arena is a crazy mess and then UConn drops the hammer going up by 20+. With about 5 minutes to go the arena is completely silent and then the small UConn contingent starts the chant....SEC, SEC,SEC....it builds to a mild crescendo as the dejected SEC fans exit and the buzzer sounds.

A win would be great but a statement would be greater..."SEC, SEC, SEC"... Women's BB may not be football but if it is another way the BIG can outflank the SEC it has to be worth something, in both ratings and bragging rights

 

[jostar1]

GoGamecocks.com‏@gogamecocks
Want a seat for Monday’s clash between USC and UConn? Take out a loan http://www.thestate.com/sports/coll...na/usc-womens-basketball/article59038298.html …

Want a seat for Monday’s clash between the No. 2 Gamecocks and No. 1 Connecticut, the three-time defending national champs? Take out a loan – tickets for the sold-out game were going for more than the national championship game – in football.

The game has been announced as the first sellout for a women’s basketball game in CLA history. It will be the largest crowd to ever watch a women’s game in South Carolina.


Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/coll...basketball/article59038298.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Fishy]

Safest bet in sports.

That game was over at 8-4.

 

[BUConn10]

Safest bet in sports.

That game was over at 8-4.

Unfortunately due to garbage time play they didn't cover.

 

[CTMike]

Curious what the ratings were...

 

[HuskyJ]

Program Net Episode Start End Viewers (000) 18-49 Rtg
COLLEGE BKBL REG SSN L ESPN LOUISVILLE/DUKE 7:00 PM 9:13 PM 1,594 0.5
COLLEGE BKBL REG SSN L ESPN TEXAS/OKLAHOMA 9:13 PM 11:03 PM 1,420 0.5
WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN L ESPN2 CONNECTICUT/SOUTH CAROLINA 7:00 PM 9:04 PM 816 0.2
WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN L ESPN2 MARYLAND/OHIO STATE 9:04 PM 10:45 PM 330 0.1

 

[The Viking]

So they got about half the rating on ESPN 2 that Louisville duke got on ESPN.
That sounds pretty good, no?

 

[SAMCRO]

How it did head to head with other CBB games on last night in the 7pm slot:

Network Episode Start End Viewers (000) 18-49 Rtg
ESPN MBB LOUISVILLE/DUKE 7:00 PM 9:13 PM 1,594 0.5
ESPN2 WBB CONNECTICUT/SOUTH CAROLINA 7:00 PM 9:04 PM 816 0.2
ESPNU MBB OKLAHOMA STATE/TCU 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 55 0.0
FS1 MBB ST. JOHNS/GEORGETOWN 7:00 PM 9:04 PM 28 0.0

 

[The Funster]

Big East really rocking on FS1...sheesh.

 

[UConnDan97]

How it did head to head with other CBB games on last night in the 7pm slot:

Network Episode Start End Viewers (000) 18-49 Rtg
ESPN MBB LOUISVILLE/DUKE 7:00 PM 9:13 PM 1,594 0.5
ESPN2 WBB CONNECTICUT/SOUTH CAROLINA 7:00 PM 9:04 PM 816 0.2
ESPNU MBB OKLAHOMA STATE/TCU 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 55 0.0
FS1 MBB ST. JOHNS/GEORGETOWN 7:00 PM 9:04 PM 28 0.0

Can they prove that the GTown vs. St. John's game happened if nobody was there to see it???

I guess 1985 called and they want their matchup back...

 

[Matrim55]

How it did head to head with other CBB games on last night in the 7pm slot:

Network Episode Start End Viewers (000) 18-49 Rtg
ESPN MBB LOUISVILLE/DUKE 7:00 PM 9:13 PM 1,594 0.5
ESPN2 WBB CONNECTICUT/SOUTH CAROLINA 7:00 PM 9:04 PM 816 0.2
ESPNU MBB OKLAHOMA STATE/TCU 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 55 0.0
FS1 MBB ST. JOHNS/GEORGETOWN 7:00 PM 9:04 PM 28 0.0

That's depressing. I remember when that was the biggest game in college hoops.

 

[Waquoit]

Zero point zero

 

[Waquoit]

That's depressing. I remember when that was the biggest game in college hoops.

Maybe once or twice over 30 years ago. That's what Fox was paying for, exaggerated memories of something that was over a long time ago.

 

[junglehusky]

Via Jim Fuller:

Figuring that Monday night's UConn/South Carolina game drew impressive ratings, I reached out to ESPN to get some numbers and was told the game "was the most-watched so far this year across networks for a women’s game."

For those who prefer raw numbers:

There were a total of 816,000 viewers who tuned in and in the Hartford-New Haven Market, the metered market rating was 11.1.

 

[CL82]

Big East really rocking on FS1...sheesh.

...but let's drop football and hop on that train to nowhere!