A question for ESPN. Why can’t Sunday night games start at 7pm. Do people in Los Angeles wrap up their weekend to be in front of the TV by 5pm? Hasn’t MLB taught us 4pm is a great time for a weekend baseball game, or is that just on Saturday? Why do the networks schedule Sunday Night prime time at 7pm? Why is 60 Minutes regularly one of the highest rated programs – are people not in front of their TV by 7 on Sunday?
Anyways, here’s Mushnick
MLB and ESPN knew 10 years ago this would be the 10th anniversary. Who didnt? So why wasnt this game scheduled for ESPN at 8 p.m. last September, when MLB released its 2011 schedule? Or were MLB and ESPN unaware that 9/11 this year falls on 9/11?
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Had Cubs-Mets originally been scheduled for 8 p.m. on a Sunday, ticket sales would have been flattened. Both the re-routing of the game — and the God Bless America pitch only lately attached to it — is worse than the usual bait-and-switch because it exploits 9/11.
Sounds like the old bait and switch!….who cares about the fans, we need the TV ratings!
That game will do awful against the NFL
of course I’d watch the Mets play the Nationals at 2am in Spring Training over watching the Jets, but I’m probably not normal.
Just a dumb move, done when the NFL season was in limbo. Now the out-of-playoffs Mets and Cubs are up against the Jets opener on NBC. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Another Selig-Wilpon production, backed up by the boys in Bristol. Showcasing Fred’s Tomb to the vast millions of America.
ESPN switched it, not the Mets or MLB. Of course, you won’t believe that. It goes against a childish need to blame the Wilpons for everything.
Most if not all Mets problems can be tied to their ownership, and the people they hire to run the organization.
I’d go. I kinda like the Cubs and i’m busy Saturday.
At least I won’t be beaten over the head with patriotic stupidity in person except for pretending they’re not playing god bless America.
Just some perspective as to why games are 4P on Saturday and Prime Time on Sunday. Saturday night is the worst night for programming. Broadcast nets never premiere programs on Saturday night (with exception to SNL which is an institution)and very rarely will cable nets. More people watch during the day on a Saturday then will at night. Some will say what about Saturday Night College Football? Really in terms of ratings football is in a completely different league then MLB. Baseball is very watered down, if you miss a game or 2 it isnt the end of the world but if you miss a football game it could mean the teams season.
In terms of the 60 Minutes argument, yes it is one of the highest rated shows but it also airs at 7P across all time zones. It is not a live airing so when you watch it in NY at 7PM people in LA are watching something completely different on the same station at 4PM. Is the 8PM start for baseball ridiculous? Yes, The simple answer as to why it is done we all know is ratings. The more complex answer is it gives ESPN a chance to air the game in the most watched daypart of the week across all time zones as the game will be played during Sunday prime in the east, central, mountain and west time zones. I hate ESPN but I cant fault them because they pay a shitload of money to air these games and they deserve to make money off of it. They should probably make an exception and start the 9/11 game at 7P or 7:30 and cover the on-field stuff prior to the game but that wont happen.