(08-08-2016 08:47 PM)epasnoopy Wrote: Here's just a couple links showing NIU's TV ratings among MAC teams, including the two regular season ESPN/ESPN2 November games that NIU participated in last season being ranked among the top 10 for G5. We also had the highest rates ESPNU game last season among G5 teams.
http://csnbbs.com/thread-761000.html
http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2...pn-in-2013
I'll focus on last seasons thread you posted because the 2013 one shows NIU played in more big games than usual. The MAC was incredibly deep with 3 spotlight teams who ended with 10 wins (BSU, NIU, BG), and of course the Toledo game mattered before it was played. Toledo also played Navy and Mizzou on Saturdays leading to crappy ratings. Just as NIU's rating vs. BC last season was probably not worth measuring. Lynch was also a year off of the Orange bowl and should have been a Heisman candidate. I'll give it to you. In 2012 and 2013 NIU made more noise than the rest of the conference if that's what you want to hear... but like I keep saying. Success will do that to you.
The 2015 weekday list shows nothing more than NIU played the most weekday games so they received the highest quantity of ratings. Toledo's ratings were equally as impressive?
That list will always feature the better teams near the top because their games have the most meaning in November. It's the same reason NIU vs. WMU is televised on espn2 and CMU vs. Kent gets pushed to ESPNU. ESPN choosing a game, already chooses who will get better ratings. Toledo played on ESPN2 all three times in November. NIU was pushed to ESPNU two times.
Are you happy to beat out UB for weeknight viewers? Still no proof that your fanbase could generate good numbers if you didn't win the MAC West every year. Toledo hasn't been able to get to the championship and still can put up 527k with BG and technically our market should have been the only one watching. Some AAC fans tuned in though in fear for their NY6 hopes being jeopardized...Which we did for a week.
Toledo 3 midweek games. Average: 648k
BG 3 midweek games. Average: 605k
NIU 4 midweek games. Average: 519k
You have the same siclicle fandom and viewership that all MAC teams have when they experience success. Kent State had good viewership too in 2011. I bet the Cleveland market was very interested in that MACC...
All in all, who cares. If you have all of Chicago? the 3rd??? biggest market in the nation??? Shouldn't you be in the millions for your midweek games?
And why aren't these great fans showing up to HUSKIE STADIUM!?