Who kills the magic at Notre Dame? Often, it's the very network that supports it (and Dick Ebersol has been a committed Note Dame supporter). NBC has been a good partner, but it is time ND started demanding more from the network.
Certainly losing doesn't help, but Notre Dame is about the game day experience. NBC has systematically helped kill the golden goose by focusing on inventory.
What's inventory? It's the amount of ad spots a network has to sell per show. Here's where the dealmakers have hurt both Notre Dame and themselves with short-term inventory creation prioritized over product degradation.
It's simple; they're not viewing football from a product perspective first and hurting the experience.
I read stories about the Notre Dame/NBC deal and Touchdown Jesus wants to cry.
Here's how Tom Coyne (a very respected ND writer) couched his recent AP article: "NBC renewed its television contract with Notre Dame football through the 2015 season on Thursday, despite the Fighting Irish last year drawing their lowest ratings since the network began broadcasting their games in 1991."
Okay, I like Tom almost as much as Lou Somogyi at Blue and Gold and Mike Frank of Irish Eyes, but that's just a bullshit opening line.
Last year was a Three Wood-created Chauncey nightmare which happens when you don't have one senior offensive lineman (and a host of other lazy recruiting reverberations) on the team. NBC didn't renew "despite" last year, it renewed "because" it knew last year was an anomaly of circumstances we will never see again.
They renewed because it's Notre Dame and there are few franchises left for networks to secure and because over the past two years, Notre Dame has brought two incredible recruiting classes. There's no doubt Notre Dame will be contending by next year.
So let's drop this notion of NBC doing ND any favors. Fox would have picked up this contract in a heartbeat.
NBC has to understand what makes a product attractive to begin with...and I'll make this simple.. it's not adding extra time during commercial breaks. That kills the interest at home games (though it revs up bar sales) and decimates the hard to come by home field advantage in South Bend.
In short, the entire methodology is short-sighted and self-defeating. I like Ad guys. I love ad guys. They keep television free for the masses. But you can't let ad guys control the product.
It's like letting the fox control the hens. Ad guys (and gals) will increase inventory to the greatest extent they can, because that increases overall upfront revenue.
But here's where the story comes to a grinding halt. Those extended TV timeouts take a toll on viewers at home and on the energy of viewers in the stadium.
If the stadium magic dies, the team loses an ally. If the team loses an ally, they lose an advantage. If the team loses an advantage, they lose more games.
Everyone who's been to a ND game knows how much those constant interruptions suck the wind out of games. Sure, late game heroics can restoke the magic fires, but if we didn't let the flames die to begin with, we wouldn't have to restoke them.
If the experience is less exciting due to the constant interruptions and the team suffers because of it, ratings go down. It's worse in a down year, but true in an up year as well.
So if ratings decrease, what does NBC do?
Right.
There's less money per minute for everyone, which keeps the pressure on to create more inventory. It's this kind of "down the toilet" thinking that has permeated ND negotiations at all levels. What Notre Dame needs to do is keep the product strong and interesting; the money will be there.
NBC, for its own good, should cut down on TV timeouts and lessen inventory for the overall health of its product and to maximize ultimate revenues.
As Ted Mandell wrote in the Indy Star years ago, "Frankly, they're bored. The result of too much momentum interruptus. With the ebb and flow of the game destroyed by crass commercialism, the coaches, players, and fans are now glassy-eyed slaves to the predictable onslaught of TV timeouts, the curse of college football. A pseudo-ref steps onto the field and sticks up his foamy orange right arm like a runway cop at the airport. The game stops."
NBC needs to recognize that the game experience is everything. You can make money by building up the experience, not parceling it out until the magic is gone.
Ultimately, it's the magic that will bring in viewers, fans, and eventually money.
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3 months ago
I couldn't agree more. My friends and I talk about how absolutely brutal the TV timeouts on NBC get. If I was not a die-hard ND fan, I would flip to ABC for sure. NBC allots nearly an hour more for Notre Dame games than ABC/ESPN allows for college football games, and it shows. Decrease the number of spots, and increase the price per spot. Its not rocket science, and this shoot boost ratings as well. Also, it won't destroy any momentum we are able to build throughout the game.
3 months ago
I don't know which is worse, the number of breaks or the commentating. I wish ND played all of its games on the road so I could watch them all on ABC/ESPN even when bret musberger is rooting against the Irish. I've tried watching the home games on mute, but that was too removed. I've tried replacing the audio with the radio broadcast from the internet, but the delay was a full play behind. It would even be a step up if NBC just broadcast the crowd noise and stadium PA announcer with no commentary at all.
3 months ago
A coach who can't coach, a team that can't win, yet another bowl loss (at least you have that to look forward to...getting there is half the battle)...and to top it off, NBC is giong to force feed this crappy football "program" on the rest of the country for years to come. I'd rather watch the Big 10 Network or Div II on ESPNU. But, I have to thank NBC, too. That's just one station I can eliminate from my channel surfing list on Saturdays. So, well, thanks NBC. And thank you to ND for being so crappy that I'm not even interested in any game you play. And shouldn't they change that sign in the locker room from "Play like a champion today" to "try to at least act like you know something about football today"?
from 3 months ago
ND was crappy for one season and for one reason.
ND will be very good very soon. You will tune in just so you can hate.
Thanks for making Notre Dame matter.
from 3 months ago
Few questions for you.
(1) How many coach of the year awards has Charlie Weis been awarded?
(2) Name the only two current NCAA football coaches to lead their team to 2 BCS game in last 3 years?
Maybe the answers to those two questions will help you realize how ridiculous your statement "A coach who can't coach" really is.
In the short tenure at ND, Weis has won NCAA coach of the year, and along with Jim Tressell, he has taken his team to 2 BCS games in the last 3 years. Pretty good results in just a few years.
Your comment at the end is great also. "Act like you know something about football today". That must have taken a long time to think of. Dont forget the amount of Championships we have won kiddo. You make it sound like ND has been a bad team for decades. One bad year last season does not change a great football program with a winning tradition. By all means, please turn on ABC, maybe you will catch an ND road game on that station. Funny how all these stations want to carry ND games. Even Fox Sports was trying to aquire the rights to broadcast games.
ITs also funny to read the tone of your comments. People like you who rip ND, say things like were not relevant, etc. are pretty funny. Apparently we are relevant. You dont hear too many people rip Northwestern or Iowa. No disrespect to those programs. The two have had poor seasons, yet people like you vent with all your fury against ND.. for what? If were not relevant in your eyes, why comment with so much hatred. Why not choose to ignore this story, find one about your own team.
Was your college application denied by ND? Did they beat your school at some point? Was your school left out of the BCS and you blame ND? Are you anti-catholic? Just wondering where all that hatred comes from.
from 3 months ago
Whose players did Charlie Weis win those awards with? And correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jim Tressel (the other coach to lead his team to multiple BCS bowls in the last three years) and Ohio State completely demolish Notre Dame in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl?
Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Notre Dame. I think their fans, at least their alumni fans, are THE classiest in the country, bar none. I just don't like the fact that their greatness on the football field is based on games that happened 75 years ago. They get put on a pedestal because of the Four Horsemen, just like Bo Schembechler gets idolized despite a 5-12 career postseason record.
Start winning again, and stop giving mediocre coaches ridiculous contract extensions for being no better than the guy they replaced, and then we'll talk.
3 months ago
It was hard to bite my tongue toward the end of the last college football season. All the ND haters were fired up big time. Pontificating how NBC got porked with such as lousy team/season and giving their 100% guarantees NBC would NEVER renew this contract. I was 100% as certain that NBC knows the breath and depth of Notre Dame football fans and will never give up this relationship. 60 Million Catholics in all 50 states, another 50 million Americans with Irish blood, it makes for a pretty good fan base. A loyal fan base. Most Catholics don't divorce their wife for the 'next hot deal', and they'll never abandon the IRISH even if they go 0-12. Words like loyalty, commitment, fidelity, honor come to mind. The most Heismans, the most National titles, the College Football Hall of Fame in town, true student-athletes (Stanford & Duke too). Notre Dame is THE most glorious college football team in the nation, and there isn't even a close number 2. But then we have some divine assistance, Jesus can refuse his mother nothing, and Notre Dame - 'Our Lady', will keep her children under her mantel of protection.
3 months ago
Notre Dame Football = Duke with Gold Helmets
3 months ago
Personally, I'm sick of seeing Notre Dame getting preferential treatment for football. It's just ridiculous between the BCS accommodations to NBC.
from 3 months ago
Obviously, you know not of what you speak. Preferential treatment by the BCS? ND has no different treatment than any other school.
from 3 months ago
They are including in the BCS package that allows them to be picked even though they may not have had the best season...Look it up.
from 3 months ago
Beginning in 2006, Notre Dame will earn an automatic BCS berth with a top eight ranking in the final standings, Weiberg said. Also, under a new arrangement, Notre Dame is now guaranteed BCS money every season — even when they don’t play in a game.
from 3 months ago
Every team in a BCS conference is guaranteed more BCS money when they don't play in a BCS game than ND...Look it up. I would also argue that it can be harder to finish in the top 8 than to win a conference championship for an automatic berth.
from 3 months ago
Ben, there was a great article written about ND and BCS by somebody on this site not too long ago. I admit, I dont remember all the stats. But.. it basically outlined how ND gets paid by the BCS contract. Yes they do recieve a small, and I mean small amount of money each year, but when they do play in a BCS game, they dont recieve a full share like other teams do. In an effort to be more equitable, they derived a plan to pay each year a small amount that way the disparity will not be so outrageous.
A top 12 finish to gain BCS berth is no big deal. After the top 2 games, the rest are usually chosen based on ratings, how many fans will travel, money, and more money. Whether ND is in the top 12 or not, someone else will be chosen based on record and possible revenue.
You also have to realize, that a program like ND, which has won so many national championships, hesiman winners, and movies made out it, much like the yankees will always get preferential treatment from the media. Teams like the yankees, Cubs, Packers, Lakers, ND, USC, North Carolina, Duke, UCLA basketball teams will get treatment because of past performances and the ratings those teams will bring in. Your right, maybe a South Florida should get the spotlight during Sportscenter, but big named programs do get preferential treatment based on their storied history.
3 months ago
You would be hard pressed to find reasoning saying finishing in the top 8 is harder than winning your conference in the Pac-10, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, and SEC.
from 3 months ago
If the 6 BCS conference champs are virtually guaranteed a spot in the top 8, there's only room for two other teams. Without any chance for a conference championship, that leaves almost zero margin of error for ND to finish in the top 8, probably one loss tops. Yet winning a conference can easlily allow 2-3 losses since non-conference losses don't even matter and three conferences have second chance championship games. Even Michigan had a shot last year after losing to App. State but you're not whining about that.
And no Drew, ND is only BCS eligible (ELIGIBLE!!) after a top 12 finish.
from 3 months ago
Is going back to last year equal hard pressed guy?
WVU was 9th in the final BCS. Co-champ UCONN was not in the top 15.
Or maybe it is easier to go back to 2006 when the the Big 12 champ, Oklahoma, was 10th in the BCS.
Or maybe we can look at 2005, when WVU the Big East Champ was #11 in the BCS.
Seriously kid....gotta step up your game.
3 months ago
*Yawn*
An article deriding commercials for the decline in sports programming? Old news, bro.
And Uncle Rico, ND does indeed get preferential treatment. Isn't it if they finish top 12 (TWELVE!!) in the BCS ranking, they're guaranteed a spot. So if a 3rd ranked Auburn doesn't play undefeated LSU in the SEC Championship, they can be left in the cold for an uncompetitive Notre Dame team....
from 3 months ago
BCS Selection Policies and Procedures
4. Notre Dame will have an automatic berth if it is in the top eight of the final BCS Standings.
Do you fools just pull shit out of your ass? Are you ignorant or stupid kid?
3 months ago
hmmmm.....I'm speechless. The ratings are down because ND was horrid last year. Anyone who blames long commercials is myopic. I don't know about you, but if my team was on national tv every week, I would take it, excessive commercials or not. Oh well.
I'll tune in every now and then to see Weis come up with a new way to spin another bad season. It should be entertaining.
3 months ago
ND isnt guaranteed a spot at 12 but they always get picked for money reasons and good traveling fans.
I think this article is kind of silly. He complains about killing momentum at ND home games, but its ND who chooses to shop their program exclusively as they do and allow the broadcasts to be as they are. If ND wasnt so concerned about the paycheck they might not have those problems.
Also its kind of a homer article.. ND contending next season? Maybe for a 6 or 7 win year but they wont be contending in big-boy football til at least the '09 season.
3 months ago
I remember Notre Dame in two fairly recent Bowl Games..
41-9 GO BEAVERS!
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