In California, Jonathan Lansner writes under the header, "Don't Blame Trump: Sports Is Why Sports Ratings Are Down." Lansner listed seven things that are "killing sports viewership." Whether the decline of TV viewership is "due to new gadgetry or changing TV tastes, the message is clear -- the once seemingly all-but-guaranteed, ever-rising enthusiasm for sports is over." There are "no easy answers and each sport requires its own set of fixes." Any industry at such a crossroads "must better understand its customers to properly address its challenges." Because the audience is "voting with their TV clickers" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/27).
THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT: In San Diego, Jennifer Van Grove reviewed several sports streaming apps, noting options are "not impossible to get, but your selection is extremely limited if you wish to watch live and do so legally." With the CBS Sports app, viewers "can watch some PGA Tour events and college basketball games completely free," as no login is necessary. The NBC Sports app is "another option, albeit primarily for sports highlights and the occasional full event replay." Van Grove: "As for the WatchESPN app, I don’t love it, as it primarily caters to pay TV customers. However, if you want to watch more obscure sporting events or college-level matches outside of basketball and football, then you might have some luck" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/25).
WHERE'S THE HEAT? In Ft. Lauderdale, Ira Winderman noted the Heat's next two road games "had been scheduled for national television" until their losing record "got in the way." Tonight's game against the Mavericks was "removed from TNT's schedule," with Friday's game against the Magic "eliminated from ESPN's schedule." The games "remain available" in South Florida on Sun Sports. Heat G Goran Dragic said, "Of course everybody wants to play on national TV, but it is what it is." Dragic: "The national game carries a lot of weight. But the basketball fans, they've got League Pass. But the average fan and most people, they get to see the national TV games as a big deal" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 2/26).
REALITY CHECK: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Takashi Mochizuki notes Sony "sold just under a million virtual-reality headsets in the device’s first four months, a pace that analysts said might be too slow to motivate outside software developers." Tokyo-based game consultant Serkan Toto said, "Sony sounds pretty happy with the number, but I am disappointed" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/27).
