The Pro Bowl drew a 5.0 overnight rating on ESPN, marking the lowest figure for the game since it moved to the weekend before the Super Bowl. It also could be the event's lowest figure on record when viewership figures become available. Last night's game had competition from Fox' telecast of "Grease Live," which drew a 7.4 overnight. The 5.0 overnight is down 11% from a 5.6 on ESPN last year, which had been the lowest figure since the game moved to the weekend before the Super Bowl in '08. This year's figure also is down 25% from a 6.7 on NBC in '14, which even had competition from the Grammys. CBS in '07 drew a 5.1 overnight for the Pro Bowl when it aired on the Saturday night following the Super Bowl (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor). ESPN's Mike Golic noted the ratings are dropping, and they "no doubt should, because it’s horrible to watch." Golic: "I am not sure what the answer is, but TV dictates a lot of it. We’ve seen the ratings going down and down and down and down, so they’re going to have to try something to freshen this thing up.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said, “Every year we laugh at the Pro Bowl and mock the Pro Bowl and wonder how we can improve the Pro Bowl. The fact of the matter is, the ratings come in, the Pro Bowl rates higher than playoff games in all the other sports” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 2/1).
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PRO BOWL OVERNIGHT RATINGS TREND
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YEAR
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NETWORK
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RATING
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GRAMMYS COMPETITION?
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'16
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ESPN
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5.0
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No
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'15
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ESPN
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5.6
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No
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'14
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NBC
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6.7
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Yes
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'13
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NBC
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7.7
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No
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'12
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NBC
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7.9
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No
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'11
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Fox
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8.6
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No
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'10
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ESPN
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7.9
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Yes
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'09
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NBC
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5.8
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Yes
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'08
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Fox
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6.9
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Yes
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'07
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CBS
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5.1
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No
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| |
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TEST RUN: The AP's Barry Wilner noted the NFL "allowed coaches and players to use video on the Microsoft Surface tablets rather than just still photos for the Pro Bowl." Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston said, "To actually have the video on there was very useful. It was very helpful." NFL Senior VP & CIO Michelle McKenna-Doyle said, "We went to Microsoft, which developed a system we are testing today for all coaches and players to see how they like it, and how they work it into the game." Wilner noted also in use yesterday was an "upgraded coaches-to-coaches communications system for each team." The league has had "some issues this season with the current system, which has been in use for a decade." The new, digital and encrypted communications "have been tested on non-game personnel in all 31 stadiums." Use of either the Surface tablet videos or a coach's communications system for games that count "must be approved by ownership at league meetings in either March or May." McKenna-Doyle: "There will be healthy debate on the competition committee. Video on the sideline will be a big game changer for how you coach the game" (
AP, 1/31).
ANY LAST WORDS? YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Edholm writes the Pro Bowl is "one giant cringe fest ... if you watch, that is." Last night's game "really was a snooze fest." Edholm: "Just kill the thing off already. ... There is nothing more insulting than watching a cheap, inferior product" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/1). In Tampa, Tom Jones writes, "Anyone watch the Pro Bowl? Anyone?" There was a "good reason not to, besides that it looks nothing like a real football game." Jones: "Here's a wishful-thinking prediction: The Pro Bowl will not exist in five years" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/1).
