A survey of 1,000 "sports followers" was conducted from
November 21-29 for BUSINESS WEEK by Louis Harris.  The margin of
error is +/- 3.1% (BUSINESS WEEK, 12/19 issue).





  
 
    
 
      
HOW 
        HAS THE TIME SPENT WATCHING SPORTS ON TV CHANGED IN PAST FIVE YEARS? OR 
        ATTENDANCE AT GAMES
    
  
  
 
    
Watching 
      much more
    
 
      
25%
    
    
 
    
Attending 
      much more
    
 
      
10%
    
  
  
 
    
Watching 
      somewhat more
    
 
      
24
    
    
Attending 
      somewhat more
    
 
      
16
    
  
  
 
    
Watching 
      somewhat less
    
 
      
20
    
    
Attending 
      somewhat less
    
 
      
17
    
  
  
 
    
Watching 
      much less
    
 
      
15
    
    
Attending 
      much less
    
 
      
33
    
  
  
 
    
No 
      difference
    
 
      
14
    
    
No difference
    
 
      
21
    
  




  
 
    
 
      
AGREE/DISAGREE 
        WITH FOLLOWING?
    
    
 
      
AGREE
    
    
 
      
DISAGREE
    
  
  
 
    
Commercials 
      clutter up the broadcast and annoy me
    
 
      
70%
    
    
 
      
29%
    
  
  
 
    
Athletes 
      just sell endorsements to the highest bidder
    
 
      
70%
    
    
 
      
24%
    
  
  
 
    
A 
      clever ad campaign enhances my enjoyment of sports on TV
    
 
      
48%
    
    
 
      
50%
    
  
  
 
    
An 
      athlete's endorsement influences my purchase of the product
    
 
      
25%
    
    
 
      
74%
    
  




  
 
    
 
      
HOW 
        MUCH HAVE YOU MISSED BASEBALL/HOCKEY WITH WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED 
        BEFORE THE STRIKE/LOCKOUT?
    
  
  
 
    

    
 
      
BASEBALL
    
    
 
      
HOCKEY
    
  
  
 
    
Much more
    
 
      
13%
    
    
 
      
5%
    
  
  
 
    
Somewhat 
      more
    
 
      
15
    
    
 
      
8
    
  
  
 
    
Somewhat 
      less
    
 
      
19
    
    
 
      
15
    
  
  
 
    
Much less
    
 
      
45
    
    
 
      
53
    
  
  
 
    
Not sure
    
 
      
8
    
    
 
      
19
    
  




  
 
    
 
      
WHICH 
        IS CLOSEST TO YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE STATE OF SPORTS IN THE WAKE OF THE 
        BASEBALL AND HOCKEY SITUATIONS?
    
  
  
 
    
Both 
      players and owners are equally money-hungry and don't care about the fans
    
 
      
48%
    
  
  
 
    
Sports 
      has become a big business, but it's just responding to the demands of the 
      free market
    
 
      
25%
    
  
  
 
    
Pro 
      sports has been taken over by a small, elite group of profit-minded executives 
      who don't care about fans
    
 
      
13%
    
  
  
 
    
Pro 
      sports is dominated by players who only care about money and don't care 
      about the fans
    
 
      
13%
    
  




  
 
    
 
      
IN 
        LIGHT OF THE HOCKEY AND BASEBALL SITUATIONS, HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT 
        THE FUTURE OF SPORTS IN AMERICA?
    
  
  
 
    
Very 
      worried
    
 
      
10%
    
    
 
    
Not at 
      all worried
    
 
      
45%
    
  
  
 
    
Somewhat 
      worried
    
 
      
26%
    
    
Not sure
    
 
      
0%
    
  
  
 
    
Not 
      very worried
    
 
      
19%
    
    

    
 
      

    
  




  
 
    
FAVORITE SPORTS: The NFL was tops 
      with 25%.
  

 
 
 

        
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