| October Classic |
November 2002
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Angles Beat Giants in 7, Baseball Loses
Among the great sporting events of the planet, the World Series is fading in significance while the others seem to be surging in popularity. The Olympics are a profit center, the Super Bowl is watched in countries where American Football is unknown, and some people even know the difference between the Ryder and Davis Cups. But the championship of Major League Baseball is watched by fewer and fewer people each year. The fault is not with baseball the game, but with baseball the business.
The games have grown to almost 4 hours in length, which advertisers and TV networks love, but fans find it harder to commit that amount of time on successive nights to watch. TV has dictated that games start at 8 pm on the Atlantic seaboard, 5 pm on the Pacific shore, to maximize "prime time" viewing. This means that for half the country, the game won't end until after 11 local time, almost midnight for millions. This shuts out the casual viewer.
Worse, it kills the goose that lays the golden eggs -- the kids. Apparently, there are no Jesuits among the lords of baseball, or getting the fan at age 7 would be the focus. For the next 70 years, there would be a fan base. But the kids, who have to be in bed before the 5th inning, are ignored.
How to fix it? Afternoon games will bring in lower fees to TV, but more viewers. Week-end only series? Why not give the press more time to hype, let pitchers rest? If it's really about baseball, then TV profits can be cut. And if its about profits, just let the Yankees and Dodgers play every year.