The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » Another TV Sports Rant, But Really, This Is Ridiculous

RadioActive · September 28, 2024 8:16 pm

Many here know that, outside of the moribund Jays, about to end a losing season on Sunday, I'm not a huge sports fan.

I don't mind if an event is on TV, but when it starts to interfere with regular programming, it drives me crazy.

Which brings me to Saturday, when we had the ultimate in ridiculous sports broadcasts. NBC was showing a major golf tournament from Montreal, of all places. Nothing wrong with that, except the coverage started at 8 o'clock in the morning. Because of tie scores and other impediments, the broadcast went on and on and on and on until 7 PM the same day.

That is 11 hours of coverage of a single event. Eleven f-ing hours! Not even the Super Bowl goes on that long. That is simply insane. It got to the point where the network had to finish for the day because the sun went down and the players could no longer see anything and they had a previously scheduled College Football game on at 7 PM. But I missed my NBC Nightly News anyway.

There is no way any single sporting broadcast - outside of maybe the Olympics, which covers different events - should go for half a day. That's simply ridiculous.

The worst part? It's on again on Sunday, this time starting at the more sane hour of noon. When it will end is anyone's guess.

Who could watch 11 hours of golf? To me, it would be the same as seeing paint dry, with one big difference.

It doesn't take 11 hours for paint to dry.

Radiowiz · September 28, 2024 8:33 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Who could watch 11 hours of golf? To me, it would be the same as seeing paint dry, with one big difference.
It doesn't take 11 hours for paint to dry.

Honestly, it really depends on who's playing.
At least this is what I am noticing. I have no idea what ratings were like,
but with no Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods, I doubt there was a strong draw to this event for 11 hours.
I do know some die hards that judge the sport by who is playing, and yes indeed it is very difficult to tear them away from the TV screen when the right people are playing.
(in this case, Phil and Tiger are the best example of how to keep people glued-but they're not playing.)

RadioActive · September 28, 2024 8:35 pm

You're not wrong about the marquee names, but really 11 hours is a test of endurance no matter who is on the course. I'm guessing all but the most diehard tuned in and out during the day.

Radiowiz · September 28, 2024 8:48 pm

RadioActive wrote:
You're not wrong about the marquee names, but really 11 hours is a test of endurance no matter who is on the course. I'm guessing all but the most diehard tuned in and out during the day.

It's because it only happens every 4 years. It's the 2024 President's cup. It's not just any old day of golf on TV.

RadioActive · September 28, 2024 8:55 pm

Apparently, there was also a 90 minute fog delay at some point in this thing, which only added to the length. Couldn't they have just called it off for the day?

paterson1 · September 28, 2024 10:11 pm

RA, please... First off...."NBC was showing a major golf tournament from Montreal of all places.." Really? A rather insane and ridiculous comment yourself.

The President's Cup is a big deal in golf and this year it is being played at the Royal Montreal Golf Club which is the oldest golf club in North America and the oldest in continious existence. So to say "Montreal of all places" is really an odd thing to say. I have noticed that you aren't much of a Canada fan about anything.

Because a broadcast is essentially on all day doesn't mean anyone is watching it all day for 10 or 11 hours. A few might, but most fans have a life and will drop in and out to watch how the USA and international teams are doing.

Just because you don't like sports or golf in particular does not make covering this tournament with all day coverage "insane and ridiculous". Live sports seems to be one of the few things that is still getting ratings on OTA television, so this trend is likely going to continue and grow,,.. if not, get ready to watch more paid programming and infomercials on weekend afternoons.

RadioActive · September 28, 2024 11:22 pm

Well, I will certainly admit to some amount of ignorance on this tournament. As a non-sports fan, especially golf, I can honestly say I've never heard of this playoff and that's why I was surprised it was being held in Montreal in September, when the weather there can be quite changeable. It has nothing to do with being against Canada, a conclusion you always seem too fast to jump to.

I may not be a big fan of the output of Canadian TV, but I'm still very glad to live here and be a citizen, especially if you look at what's going on south of us. But I digress.

I will also agree with your contention that NBC would rather air this than any of its regular programming, because live sports always does well in the ratings and brings in more cash. Still, 11 hours of anything is excessive. It's just too long to take up valuable airtime with one thing.

But there's also something to be said for having local and network news avails instead of constantly interrupting these shows every weekend for some endless event that never, ever, ever ends on time. (Much like the NFL on Sundays, where CBS is forced to super a warning to viewers every few minutes that one of their upcoming shows will now start at 9:37 PM because of the endless delays. Too bad if you set your DVR and miss the ending!)

Local stations make revenue from their local news, which is expensive to produce. Constantly interrupting it means those spots never run and they lose money, while also not serving their community. At least make room for the 6 o'clock news.

There's no doubt I'm in the minority on this. That said, if it was just once in a while, I'd be OK with it. But it's now every bloody week and it's becoming really annoying for an otherwise regular viewer. There is simply no reason for every single U.S. network to air College Football on Saturdays. Five different networks (including the CW) essentially with the same choice (which is no choice.) Whatever happened to competing by offering something different? As my viewing habits prove, not everyone is a sports fan. You gotta serve those viewers, too.

cash · September 28, 2024 11:37 pm

As long as it doesn't interfere with NFL football tomorrow.

Walter · September 29, 2024 12:07 am

It was terrific sporting drama, at one of Canada's great golf courses, featuring most of the best players in the world, including 3 Canadians. If you're not into golf, pity.

Last edited by Walter (September 29, 2024 6:34 am)

g121 · September 29, 2024 5:59 am

RadioActive wrote:
..
But there's also something to be said for having local and network news avails instead of constantly interrupting these shows every weekend for some endless event that never, ever, ever ends on time.
..
Local stations make revenue from their local news, which is expensive to produce. Constantly interrupting it means those spots never run and they lose money, while also not serving their community. At least make room for the 6 o'clock news.
..

geez, look on the bright side .. they saved you from watching yet another inaccurate local weather forecast : )) ..

RadioActive · September 29, 2024 6:40 am

g121 wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
..
But there's also something to be said for having local and network news avails instead of constantly interrupting these shows every weekend for some endless event that never, ever, ever ends on time.
..
Local stations make revenue from their local news, which is expensive to produce. Constantly interrupting it means those spots never run and they lose money, while also not serving their community. At least make room for the 6 o'clock news.
..
geez, look on the bright side .. they saved you from watching yet another inaccurate local weather forecast : )) ..

peter · September 29, 2024 7:57 am

RA - Ridiculous comment...
You just love to criticize ANYTHING.
Millions of $$$$ brought into Montreal because of the tournament
It was on TSN all day as well...They made $$$$$
What do you care, really?
Was there something on NBC you would have watched??? Saturday morning cartoons???
No, because you have your head stuck in your desktop all day looking up uninteresting info most don't care about.
I feel a bit sorry for you.

Last edited by peter (September 29, 2024 8:03 am)

RadioActive · September 29, 2024 9:04 am

peter wrote:
Was there something on NBC you would have watched???.

Yes, NBC Nightly News at 6:30 PM, especially since no other network had news on that day due to their own sports commitments. I don't think it's asking too much to expect an event that starts at 8 o'clock in the morning be over by 6 PM that same day. Unless we're talking a 9/11 attack or election night results, eleven hours of coverage is just excessive.

paterson1 · September 29, 2024 10:21 am

With live sports many things can delay or have the event run overtime. Yesterday it was the fog that prevented the days golf starting on time. Organizers can't do much about that. However you don't cancel a whole day of golf because of a 60-90 minute delay. NBC/CTV2 and TSN have the final round of The President's Cup on today (singles matches) from 12noon until 6pm. It will be interesting to see if it finishes on time.

RadioActive · September 29, 2024 10:46 am

paterson1 wrote:
It will be interesting to see if it finishes on time.

If history is any indication, it won't. But we live in hope...

Radiowiz · September 29, 2024 10:54 am

cash wrote:
As long as it doesn't interfere with NFL football tomorrow.

The Bills game will most likely not be interfered with.
It's later in the evening.

cash · September 29, 2024 11:00 am

Radiowiz wrote:
cash wrote:
As long as it doesn't interfere with NFL football tomorrow.
The Bills game will most likely not be interfered with.
It's later in the evening.

I am sure golf will be over by 8:15 pm.

dieter · September 29, 2024 1:09 pm

Obviously the OP is not a sports fan. But for golf fans, the Ryder Cup is a great event every 2 years. The Presidents Cup isn't usually competitive, but it was until very late yesterday. The OP should look into how golf can be played in fog and avoid yesterday's delay.

Who wants to warn RA that the Ryder Cup is coming up in about 12 months somewhere in the US? He'll likely complain again that there are 2 sessions on both Friday and Saturday -- 4-balls and foursomes (alternate shot). That means 11 hours of coverage both days. The Presidents Cup is stretched over 4 days, and Saturday is the only day of 36 holes for anyone.

There. RA has been warned.

Last edited by dieter (September 29, 2024 6:28 pm)