They don't call it the USA Network for nothing
All day long, we have seen almost nothing but boring U.S. Open matches featuring American players (with the exception of Federer v. Henman). While it is sadly true that Americans in general are interested primarily in American sportswomen and men, tennis fans are not. Tennis fans like whom they like, regardless of country. Does USA really think that millions of non-tennis fans are watching, or is this just a presumption of chauvanism among tennis fans?
posted by Diane at 3:32 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
I'm curious, Diane, do you use 'chauvinism' in the sense of nationalistic patriotism or the male/female aspect of the word. I don't ask to argue, honestly, I think it could apply in either case. Although I would normally applaud USA for their attempts to show sporting events not associated with the "Big Three", their coverage of the U.S. Open does seem to slant towards the American participants. Sad thing is, we have so little to offer by way of world class talent at this point in time, to devote hours and hours to matches involving players who'll be gone long before the dust settles would seem to be self-serving. I know little of ratings, but I'd be willing to bet if one were inclined to follow the money, the programming would rest there.
By
Bubba, at
5:57 PM
Sadly, the word "chauvanism" has been misused so much that the misused form of the word has gone and entered the damned dictionaries. The word, a nod to Chauvin, refers to blind patriotism. Because so many Americans did not understand that "male chauvinism" meant "blind allegiance to maleness," they began to use the word to mean only that. The dictionary writers have capitulated to this mangling of the word, so now the word actually has picked up an additional, incorrect, meaning.
By
Diane, at
6:43 PM
Your explanation makes sense, so I guess I'd have to think that USA makes no presumption about catering to true tennis fans. Advertisers want to see ratings, and I'm convinced the Madison Avenue types remind network executives at every production meeting that if American buyers don't see Americans on the courts, the sound of clickers on Nielsen boxes across the country changing the channel to 'more attractive programming' will be deafening.
By
Bubba, at
8:34 PM
I can't argue with that, but what I'm saying is that I really don't think that many non-tennis fan Americans are watching. It's not like football, when people who are not really big football fans will watch, anyway, and see some commercial spots. Or golf, when non-golf fans may tune in to see Woods or Wie. The Agassi matches--of course. But I just can't see people standing around that water cooler we hear so much about saying "How about that Ginepri?" or "Shenay sure got smacked down."
By
Diane, at
9:13 PM
You're right, and therein lies the problem the promoters face. Only the hard-core tennis fans across the country are going to be glued to their screens for matches featuring "non-celebrity" opponents, regardless of their rankings. Very few advertisers outside the realm of sports merchandising are going to be willing to pony up the jack necessary to buy the spots if the demographic testing doesn't fit their advertising model. Why else would NASCAR create the buzz that it does? It's become the WWF of the new millenium, the beer and pork rinds of every good-ol-boy from Charlotte to Kansas City, and every Saturday and Sunday ever goober whose pick-em-up truck is up on jacks will be sitting in his Barcalounger drinking beer and farting with his buddies, punching each other on the arm every time Dale Junior rubs Jeff Gordon, forcing him off the track.
Honestly, I think tennis may, at some point, be forced to join the pay-per-view market approach, ala boxing. HBO is the only televised venue for boxing at all these days, be it right or wrong. By the way, I'm not trying to compare tennis to boxing, butI just don't think either boxing or tennis reaches the numbers of people necessary to entice major corporations to pay for the air time unless they set the rules-- show lots of Americans to whom our buyers can relate.
By
Bubba, at
9:39 PM
I believe you're right, though I don't like to think about it. And it's going to get worse when Lindsay and Jennifer retire, leaving only Venus and Serena as American household names among the women. Nothing wrong with that, but right now Venus and Serena are struggling to compete.
At least Andy is getting it together again, and Blake has come into his own (if he can ever win a 5-set match).
By
Diane, at
9:52 PM
Andy Murray is very impressive. I didn't think so at first, when he was doing all that cramping and vomiting on court. But he is a bit fitter now--though he has a way to go in that department--and I think he has a very good future in tennis.
By
Diane, at
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