Commentary

What Do Sports Fans Miss Most? The Drama!

With little to no live TV sports around for major sports fans these days, viewers are watching lots of comedies, game shows and news content, according to Alphonso, a media data/technology company.

To some, it seems the TV landscape might be -- dare we say -- calm. Anything missing? The drama.

Original and reruns programming -- “Modern Family,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “Big Bang Theory,” “Good Morning America,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “NBC Nightly New with Lester Holt” and “ABC World News Tonight with David Muir” -- made the top lists of those who previously watched NBA, NASCAR, PGA and college football.

At the same time, just two dramas, from the recent Alphonso research, are top alternatives for sports fans: NBCs’ “Law & Order: SVU” (NASCAR, NBA, and college football viewers); and “Chicago P.D.” (NBA viewers).

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Big brand TV marketers already have a diversified portfolio of programming in their media schedules. That would now seem to increase.

Others could be placing intended sports media money on the sidelines. This includes many automotive, mobile/communications companies, fast-food restaurants — huge spenders on TV sports properties.

This is not a complete list of all alternatives for sports-hungry fans. The Tokyo Summer Olympics, the two-week event in July, has been postponed until 2021.

Still, sports TV content -- not live programming -- can be bought by marketers.

CBS, for example, has been airing sports content -- reruns of previous NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. For several years now, CBS and TNT have shared the month-long March Madness event.

Other sports platforms, ESPN, Fox Sports and regional sports networks, have been airing more game reruns.

Some smaller specialty TV networks are going the artificial intelligence route. The Eleven Network, for one, has been airing the Simulation Football League.

All to say, TV viewers will continue to seek drama somewhere -- sports or otherwise. At the same time, TV marketers will look for calmer media waters.

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