2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships TV ratings down 28%, lowest since 2011

[BaldAt23]

Source:

https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-saturday-3-18-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html

I am pretty surprised as there seemed to be more buzz this year than ever before. Not a great sign. 

[JVStateChamp]

Those are just tv cable ratings which from my understanding does not include any streaming platforms that could be watching. I may be wrong but I think that when including streams it may have a big impact on the numbers or at least I sure hope it does.

[BaldAt23]

1 minute ago, JVStateChamp said:

Those are just tv cable ratings which from my understanding does not include any streaming platforms that could be watching. I may be wrong but I think that when including streams it may have a big impact on the numbers or at least I sure hope it does.

The streaming options were pretty similar to last year I'd have to assume. 

[Idaho]

That is surprising.... with the Spencer Lee storyline, Yianni going for 4 as well, another Carr vs O'Toole matchup,  etc. It seems this  year had better potential for great ratings than any other year. 

[Rassling]

I’m not surprised at all and I predict it will only get worse. That’s what happens when you fail to promote a sport that clearly deserves much more than it’s getting.  IMO the majority of those in charge are the antithesis of the toughness displayed on the mat by our D1 wrestlers. Most are weak, frail and too afraid to do what Chael just did. We need new leadership before we see improvements. Perhaps the MMA could some how take more of a leadership role in promoting HS / College wrestling since they reap the benefits of some of our most elite wrestlers.

 

[Jason Bryant]

Cue Schalles math blog in 3-2-1 …

[Wrestleknownothing]

My greater concern is with the finals presentation.

Ten matches took three hours and ten minutes. That comes out to 19 minutes per match. There was more not wrestling (commercials, too long reviews, etc.) than there was wrestling.

And it was painfully inconsistent. Sometimes we heard @Jason Bryant's iconic introductions and sometimes the commercial breaks were so long that by the time they returned the wrestlers were already on the mat.

As a fan, I found it difficult to watch. For anyone else I would be surprised if they made it past the third or fourth match.

[gimpeltf]

15 minutes ago, Jason Bryant said:

Cue Schalles math blog in 3-2-1 …

He probably thinks it's because he didn't lead the semis discussion.

[Rassling]

1 minute ago, Wrestleknownothing said:

My greater concern is with the finals presentation.

Ten matches took three hours and ten minutes. That comes out to 19 minutes per match. There was more not wrestling (commercials, too long reviews, etc.) than there was wrestling.

And it was painfully inconsistent. Sometimes we heard @Jason Bryant's iconic introductions and sometimes the commercial breaks were so long that by the time they returned the wrestlers were already on the mat.

As a fan, I found it difficult to watch. For anyone else I would be surprised if they made it past the third or fourth match.

plus the cameraman spent too much damn time focusing on interviews and other things. Interviews are welcomed but not at the expense of the greatest tournament on earth.  There should live wrestling 100% of the time - period.  

[Major Kong]

It's not that the NCAA and individual programs do a poor job of promoting the sport, It's that they do virtually no job at all. I'm a Northwestern alum and ex-wrestler, but not a "booster" per se. I have to dig for anything beyond the most basic information about the program. Right now, I have no idea who the top recruits are, if Mike D'Aug or Lucas Davison are coming back, etc. There is never any information on injuries, etc. Other sports make the effort, and it pays off in fan engagement and retention. Why can't wrestling even try?

[BerniePragle]

I agree with WKN.  I thought the wrestling was for the most part outstanding.  I guess I don't necessarily mind the commercials and interviews too awful much... time to visit the john, grab some food or drink.  The reviews absolutely drive me wild.  No fun for viewers and can completely change the match.  I think they're simply a matter of copying the NFL, MLB.  Gotta do something about that.

[wjd]

1 hour ago, BaldAt23 said:

The streaming options were pretty similar to last year I'd have to assume. 

This is the first year I recall having to pay for ESPN Plus to be able to pick and choose which mat I wanted. 

[Scouts Honor]

i dont think it had anything to do with it

but im surprised no one mentioned we are butting up against basketball.

I think the cable numbers are down b/c of streaming.

yes options are the same... but the smart buy is NOT cable.. so more people are using the streaming options.

i have used Hulu for 5-6 years now..maybe more.. and have espn+ as part of it.

 

oh i know what happened... my son and daughter were home... so they watched it with me... we didn't have 3 tv's in 3 different cities... sorry guys 

[Southend]

21 minutes ago, Major Kong said:

It's not that the NCAA and individual programs do a poor job of promoting the sport, It's that they do virtually no job at all. I'm a Northwestern alum and ex-wrestler, but not a "booster" per se. I have to dig for anything beyond the most basic information about the program. Right now, I have no idea who the top recruits are, if Mike D'Aug or Lucas Davison are coming back, etc. There is never any information on injuries, etc. Other sports make the effort, and it pays off in fan engagement and retention. Why can't wrestling even try?

Lol, I’ve been on this rant for 10 years. Most programs don’t actively volunteer this information to keep you informed and involved. 

[411vm]

2 minutes ago, Scouts Honor said:

i dont think it had anything to do with it

but im surprised no one mentioned we are butting up against basketball.

I think the cable numbers are down b/c of streaming.

yes options are the same... but the smart buy is NOT cable.. so more people are using the streaming options.

i have used Hulu for 5-6 years now..maybe more.. and have espn+ as part of it.

 

oh i know what happened... my son and daughter were home... so they watched it with me... we didn't have 3 tv's in 3 different cities... sorry guys 

Same here: I had at least 3 separate households watching the NCAAs using my YouTubeTV login info.  Although, I did hear these numbers include streaming through services like Hulu, Roku, AppleTv, etc. but not if viewed on a cellphone or laptop.  

[JVStateChamp]

This theory is a shot in the dark and I have absolutely no data to support it but in today's drive of sports gambling a lot if not all other sports are able to gamble on which pushes viewership. Barstool sportsbook allows you to gamble on anything from football to cornhole, when the casual sports fan is looking for something to watch I am sure that they find something that they are able to place wagers on. Even if it were just the finals that they would set lines for and allow the casuals to bet on would add some excitement and attraction to the sport. 

[JVStateChamp]

Also, just saw on twitter that there was UFC london which the main event was happening around the same time as the NCAA finals which probably took out a lot of the casual MMA fans that would tune in as well. 

[Eagle26]

The team race being decided before the finals was a big factor as well

[BobDole]

1 minute ago, Eagle26 said:

The team race being decided before the finals was a big factor as well

I don't buy that as 19 out of the last 20 years the team race was all but locked up before the finals began. The team race is a storyline that is at the bottom of the list.

[scribers]

team race is decided after recruiting commitments are announced in the Fall.

[Eagle26]

I don't buy that as 19 out of the last 20 years the team race was all but locked up before the finals began. The team race is a storyline that is at the bottom of the list.

I would not have guessed that so maybe it’s not huge factor, but I do think team race plays a part. I guess it’s not just that it was clinched but more the total domination by Penn state and relative lack of success of other big programs. I do think that causes fans of other teams to lose interest a bit. I imagine there is a pretty big fan base of Okie State fans this year that didn’t tune into the finals. Some Iowa fans may have tuned out too with Spencer going down and their only finalist a transfer.

[Scouts Honor]

this year was kind of an anomaly for the finals as well. I can't remember the last time saturday night was  this exciting .

maybe Most fans remember how boring they can be and choose not to watch

the average person does not watch wrestling, unless someone takes them by the hand and watches with them

[Warm Up Champ]

Maybe everyone in the country just had big watch parties!  I know I had about 5 guys over to watch that would have watched at their place.  I sure my party was pretty mild compared to some of the ragers you all probably threw!

[Southend]

1 hour ago, Scouts Honor said:

this year was kind of an anomaly for the finals as well. I can't remember the last time saturday night was  this exciting .

maybe Most fans remember how boring they can be and choose not to watch

the average person does not watch wrestling, unless someone takes them by the hand and watches with them

Agree with the most exciting in a long time, maybe since 2015 St. Louis..

[Bigbrog]

Like someone said, the number doesn't include streaming services in it's numbers..which is how I watched.  I too had a house of about 20 people watching.