Nobody watching the Olympics?

[HilbillyHomeboy]

For the first 14 MLS games televised by ESPN2 this season, the average viewing audience is 251,000. And these are for games that are shown during mostly prime-time hours. The TV ratings are so bad that the WNBA has better ratings on ESPN2. Yes, the WNBA.

I think that speaks volumes. Granted, it's not the premier league, but still...

Jeremy

[IPD]

I think that speaks volumes. Granted, it's not the premier league, but still...

Jeremy

i just don't get it. it's really odd here in europe, seeing how crazy people are about soccer here--and in the US, the skiing squirrels get more attention. i watched the Germany VS. Netherlands game in the Euro-Cup this year (on a jumbo-tron downtown in a small city nowhere close to the game)...and you could have sworn you were watching Vancouver cheering on its hockey team.

what gives?

[HilbillyHomeboy]

It's just never been a prevalent (spectator) sport in the US. We like the other football.

For me, there seems to be a lot of down time involved where much of nothing is happening other than running around. I've watched many soccer games, and it just doesn't keep my attention. If I have to watch a sport that is related, and appealing in the global arena, I'd much prefer rugby.

Jeremy

[IPD]

i guess i'm also biased against the amount of commercials in a typical football game. it's rather gratuitous. soccer is one of the only sports that almost never faces commercial interruption.

[Goallie11]

Soccer has great attendance, but watching on tv doesn't attract many people.

I personally watch every world cup game I can when it's on, but fucking NBC hasn't shown a single woman's game on regular cable this olympics. I kind of doubt they'll even show the final. I would really have liked to watched all the american matches but nope not according to NBC.

[IPD]

Soccer has great attendance, but watching on tv doesn't attract many people.

I personally watch every world cup game I can when it's on, but fucking NBC hasn't shown a single woman's game on regular cable this olympics. I kind of doubt they'll even show the final. I would really have liked to watched all the american matches but nope not according to NBC.

thankfully AFN hasn't been that stingy.

[stealthee]

same thing could be said for any sport...if all you want is "the highlight reel". i suppose that's why sports-center is such a highly rated show: americans haven't the attention span (or time) for a full game of anything. i know i really don't have 3 hours to devote to watching a game of football.

I watch entire football games, entire hockey games and even entire baseball games. Soccer is just dreadfully boring and there is more diving than in an Olympic swimming pool.

[IPD]

I watch entire football games, entire hockey games and even entire baseball games. Soccer is just dreadfully boring and there is more diving than in an Olympic swimming pool.

honestly, you seem to have NEVER watched the US women's soccer team play. i don't even think i've seen the brazilians take a dive in this olympics. women's soccer is substantially different from men's soccer in this regard.

[Goallie11]

Really US soccer is totally different, men or women don't dive. It's all the other countries that do. Whenever I see a game it's always the other country diving and falling over, US players will take a hit and keep going.

I believe it's because of football really, they know not to be pansies.

Edit: Still can't watch the final on regular cable, it's only on some specialty soccer channel from NBC.

[HilbillyHomeboy]

I have that channel. Every single soccer match has been shown. Also a dedicated basketball channel.

Jeremy