Media members and fans sound off on historically low TV rating for Heisman Trophy ceremony
The television ratings for this year’s Heisman Trophy announcement show were an all-time low, and many people took time to weigh in on the topic.
Austin Karp with Sports Business Daily shared the ratings for the ceremony where Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield won the award. According to Karp, the ceremony drew a 1.5 rating, which was a 12% drop from last year.
One factor that may have impacted the low rating could have been that Mayfield was an overwhelming favorite to win the award. There was little drama expected in the final tally, and the Sooners QB did come away with the honor.
ESPN draws second consecutive record-low overnight rating for Heisman ceremony. Little drama this year, again, as Baker Mayfield was heavy favorite. 1.5 rating is down 12% from last year.
— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) December 11, 2017
It seems everyone has an opinion on the prestigious college award, and everyone from media members to fans took time to voice their opinions on social media:
Collateral damage from entire CFB focus on @CFBPlayoff. https://t.co/8eeLqY61a4
— Matt Hayes (@MattHayesCFB) December 13, 2017
Heisman is dumb not to get in bed with the playoff. Vote after semifinals and award it in conjunction with title game.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) December 13, 2017
When winner was foregone conclusion, and news on phone instantly, why would anyone watch hour announcement show? The show is from a bygone era.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) December 13, 2017
Why should we care about the TV ratings for the Heisman Trophy ceremony? Anyone outside the network and ad buyers care?
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 13, 2017
It's being reported as if this is some sort of moral failing by the CFB public for not doing our part to support the Heisman. https://t.co/DZMLHVtPP0
— Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) December 13, 2017
Even as someone who religiously pores over viewership numbers, I don’t really see the correlation between “interest in the TV show” and “interest in Heisman itself.”
In a highly fragmented, cable-cutting era, would think an hour-long, single award show would be among first cuts https://t.co/6Rx6cxXG7a
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) December 13, 2017
Heisman interest has fallen off because fans can watch so many players, and you have G5 guys who deserve at least an invite but since they don’t play P5 ball they don’t get a chance.
— Heath Joyner (@Heath_Joyner) December 13, 2017
I like most of what ESPN does CFB-wise. But their production of the Heisman ceremony falls short. It has a different “feel” post-9/11 after the move from Downtown Athletic Club. The DAC gave the viewer a special vibe, and the subsequent Midtown broadcast hasn’t replicated that.
— Taylor (@TaylorWFUGA) December 13, 2017
I’ve never been as passionate about anything as national college football writers are about trying to fix the Heisman Award show. Not the award itself, just the excitement around the award, which is something.
— J. Levi Burnfin (@JLBurnfinGCT) December 13, 2017
Think this has any correlation to freshmen starting to win the award? Used to be more of a Lifetime Achievement award. Now based on a good season and a few “Heisman Moments”
— Justin Howard (@jhoward05) December 13, 2017
