Matt, you are a TV guy. Just wondering why the Super Bowl hasn't been tried on a Saturday Night? The Super Bowl is the tops for American sports, but Sunday is not a "party" night for most with work the next day, especially those in the Eastern time zone.

Would ratings be any worse? (I tend to think no). Why not try it once? I'd bet America would gravitate to it the same as a Saturday night as they would a Sunday night since we are talking about the first week February when not much is going on anyway (and it's cold outside for a lot of us).

Frankly, there's never been a need to experiment with the Super Bowl due to poor ratings. No need to change, and I hope they don't.

You actually answered your own question in some ways. Sunday may not be a party night, but its a night that more folks are home in front of the TV compared to Saturday nights. TV networks want to maximize viewers and Sunday is a better night for it. As for it not being a party night, I've had several co-workers take at least 1/2 day off after SBS. A scheduled day off, not calling in sick.

Not TV related but I'll bet you that a bunch of restaurants, not bars, restaurants would hate the idea of a Saturday Super Bowl. When I worked in a restaurant several years ago, Sunday was not a busy night, but Saturday was. Super Bowl Sunday would be the one Sunday where I'd be sent home after about an hour when no one went out to eat. Flip SB to a Saturday, probably kills that restaurant's business that night, and Sunday isn't going to replace it.

Pizza & wing places? May not matter to them. But the sit down places, they would be hit.

This might be a better example. Assume all things being equal, including a 6:30pm kickoff on a Saturday.

In the event of a blowout at halftime, which night are you more likely to consider alternate entertainment options, like going to the movies. Saturday or Sunday?

I've often wondered about this... best answer I've ever seen!

Have you ever heard of the term "Friday Night Death Slot?" It is the term used to describe Friday nights on TV as a graveyard. Saturday night is only slightly better.

The two nights with the highest TV viewership are Sunday and Thrusday. That is why shows like Survivor and Biggest Loser always have thei rlive Finale's on Sunday, because more people are available to watch.

The NFL would not voluntarily move the Super Bowl to a Saturday Night. While sports draw better on Saturday's than most any other sport, the same event never draws near as well as they do on Sunday. All you have to do is look at the TV ratings for the NFL playoffs to see. The second Sunday game always dwarfs the Saturday Night game in attendance.

In the 70's and 80's, there were a few TV shows that thrived on Saturdays because everyone else simply gave up. Sam with ABC and Fridays. But in general, you avoid those two nights whenever possible.

(01-29-2013 03:18 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  Have you ever heard of the term "Friday Night Death Slot?" It is the term used to describe Friday nights on TV as a graveyard. Saturday night is only slightly better?

Yeah. Saturday night has pretty much become a rerun night for the networks. You can win the night with a 2.0 rating for the 2nd run of a Law & Order: SVU episode.

You the viewer are a captive audience on Sunday night. Essentially you aren't going anywhere. That was the point I was attempting to make with the alternate entertainment choices. Malls, big box stores, some movie theatres are closed on Sunday nights or have their final showing early in the evening. Not the case on Saturdays. You have until 9pm or 10pm, even later for the movies or the bar band at the local tavern.

That same train of thought likely was the reason why the NFL and the networks have their Saturday NFL doubleheaders on WC and Divisional Round weekends at 4:30pm and 8pm ET. OK, the 1st game sucked and you might have left the house to get some beer or laundry detergent, but you're not missing that 2nd game to go to the movies, because you won't know that game sucked until about 9:30pm ET.

And note that this really only affects the Eastern time zone and maybe some on Central time. Mountain and Pacific time are unaffected by this b/c the game ends at 7pm or 8pm local time for them.

Easiest way to piss off a TV producer: threaten to move their show to Saturday Night.

Thanks for the responses. I still think the Super Bowl itself would influence American behavior on that Saturday night. With this overall Saturday night challenge for TV viewership, it's interesting that the Final Four has kept the Saturday-Monday format.

(01-29-2013 10:02 PM)CardHouse Wrote:  Thanks for the responses. I still think the Super Bowl itself would influence American behavior on that Saturday night. With this overall Saturday night challenge for TV viewership, it's interesting that the Final Four has kept the Saturday-Monday format.

Which I HATE! If anyone needs to change, the Final Four needs to move to Friday / Sunday, or even Saturday/Sunday... I truly despise championship games on Monday night... but maybe that's because I have to be at work every morning at 6:30 AM ?

I just wish the Super Bowl started a little earlier. If kickoff were even 5:30 EST instead of 6:30 it would be huge. That would mean the game would end at 9 9:30 instead of 10 10:30. I'm awake either way, but let's face facts if you've gotta drive say an hour back from somewhere it sucks. And are you really kickin everyone out as soon as the game is over?

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I remember when CBS ruled the broadcast world based on its Saturday night lineup (All In The Family, MASH, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, et. al.).

(01-30-2013 07:45 AM)Wolfman Wrote:  I remember when CBS ruled the broadcast world based on its Saturday night lineup (All In The Family, MASH, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, et. al.).

I also remember when Star Trek was in its first run... rushing home from school to see Capt. Kirk battle the Gorn / Rock Monster / Klingons / Romuluns / etc.

Back in those days you knew that the football national champion was going to come from this set: Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, USC, Nebraska, Michigan. No one else had a realistic shot. We are so much more inclusive now, eh?

You Guys are old!


Unfortunately, I remember those days as well. But at least I was a kid then.

(01-30-2013 09:08 AM)cuseroc Wrote:  You Guys are old!


Unfortunately, I remember those days as well. But at least I was a kid then.

Well, the school I was rushing home from was elementary... I think Star Trek was in re-runs by the time I was in 3rd grade or so?

(01-29-2013 10:02 PM)CardHouse Wrote:  Thanks for the responses. I still think the Super Bowl itself would influence American behavior on that Saturday night. With this overall Saturday night challenge for TV viewership, it's interesting that the Final Four has kept the Saturday-Monday format.

The Final Four gets only about 20% of the viewers of the Super Bowl. Also doesn't have the advertising spend that the Super Bowl does.

(01-30-2013 07:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:02 PM)CardHouse Wrote:  Thanks for the responses. I still think the Super Bowl itself would influence American behavior on that Saturday night. With this overall Saturday night challenge for TV viewership, it's interesting that the Final Four has kept the Saturday-Monday format.

Which I HATE! If anyone needs to change, the Final Four needs to move to Friday / Sunday, or even Saturday/Sunday... I truly despise championship games on Monday night... but maybe that's because I have to be at work every morning at 6:30 AM ?

Don't you just love some good 'ol introspection? :)

(01-30-2013 11:24 AM)ecuacc4ever Wrote:  

(01-30-2013 07:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:02 PM)CardHouse Wrote:  Thanks for the responses. I still think the Super Bowl itself would influence American behavior on that Saturday night. With this overall Saturday night challenge for TV viewership, it's interesting that the Final Four has kept the Saturday-Monday format.

Which I HATE! If anyone needs to change, the Final Four needs to move to Friday / Sunday, or even Saturday/Sunday... I truly despise championship games on Monday night... but maybe that's because I have to be at work every morning at 6:30 AM ?

Don't you just love some good 'ol introspection? :)

Yeah, figuring out how much I hate waking up at 4:45 AM every day took a LOT of introspection...

(01-30-2013 12:04 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(01-30-2013 11:24 AM)ecuacc4ever Wrote:  

(01-30-2013 07:07 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:02 PM)CardHouse Wrote:  Thanks for the responses. I still think the Super Bowl itself would influence American behavior on that Saturday night. With this overall Saturday night challenge for TV viewership, it's interesting that the Final Four has kept the Saturday-Monday format.

Which I HATE! If anyone needs to change, the Final Four needs to move to Friday / Sunday, or even Saturday/Sunday... I truly despise championship games on Monday night... but maybe that's because I have to be at work every morning at 6:30 AM ?

Don't you just love some good 'ol introspection? :)

Yeah, figuring out how much I hate waking up at 4:45 AM every day took a LOT of introspection...

Man, Im usually still hugging my pillow with a big comfortable smile on my face at that time in the morning, lol.