My guess is that the XFL has no national radio contract yet. SiriusXM went the "television on the radio" route, carrying audio from the telecasts of all four games. TV sports audio generally doesn't translate well to radio, and this weekend's simulcasts were no exception -- too much talking about something else when plays were going on, lack of detail on the plays that did get called, announcers reacting to things the radio audience had no way of seeing, etc. This is the way SXM "covers" Champions League soccer, and it doesn't work there either, long stretches of crowd noise and announcers just ticking off the names of players as they touched the ball with no indication on where on the field the action was happening.
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How long will the XFL Survive
- Thread starter Don CT
- Start date
My guess is that the XFL has no national radio contract yet. SiriusXM went the "television on the radio" route, carrying audio from the telecasts of all four games. TV sports audio generally doesn't translate well to radio, and this weekend's simulcasts were no exception -- too much talking about something else when plays were going on, lack of detail on the plays that did get called, announcers reacting to things the radio audience had no way of seeing, etc. This is the way SXM "covers" Champions League soccer, and it doesn't work there either, long stretches of crowd noise and announcers just ticking off the names of players as they touched the ball with no indication on where on the field the action was happening.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/revived-xfl-draws-decent-opening-weekend-ratings-1278670
Here are the ratings for the XFL.
Here are the ratings for the XFL.
They're lucky they even got that radio coverage. Unless there is serious marketing and some time under their belts to develop regional rivalries that radio listeners are interested in following, the XFL will follow the path of all the other indoor leagues.
The OTHER indoor leagues? The XFL plays outdoors.
And actually, SiriusXM was also in from the start with the eight-week-wonder AAF. I never listened to a game, though, so I have no idea whether it was carrying a true radio broadcast or more TV-on-radio, complete with its "as you can see on this replay..." moments of frustration.
What I meant to say is they would follow the indoor leagues, with a similar rate of success.
The St. Louis XFL team came right out at the start of the season and said that they're not
going to have any radio play-by-play coverage.
A little odd as that's a market without any NFL football where you'd expect it would do well.
going to have any radio play-by-play coverage.
A little odd as that's a market without any NFL football where you'd expect it would do well.
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St. Louis is a hockey and baseball market. The Blues are not only the reigning Stanley Cup champion, but they're leading the Western Conference. The Cardinals report for Spring Training this week.
The XFL Battlehawks have yet to play a home game. Will anyone care? The first four games (NY, Dallas, LA, and Washington) drew 17,000+ each last week, but the first week of a new league draws curiosity that the following weeks don't.
Word is the StL BattleHawks are expecting 25,000 at the Dome this weekend.
Most likely the reason the XFL is forgoing radio coverage is a lack of suitors willing to pay a rights fee. I'm sure they could have bought time on KTRS if they desired.
Most likely the reason the XFL is forgoing radio coverage is a lack of suitors willing to pay a rights fee. I'm sure they could have bought time on KTRS if they desired.
If the league endures there's a fair chance some teams will start airing the games on radio. I could see it happening in St. Louis at some point assuming the league makes it past Season 1.
Or just given it away. Somebody would have bitten on that I'm sure.
How many major markets have contracts with other programming.
I hope the XFL survives and thrives. Maybe my expectations were low this time around, but I like EVERYTHING about this league. The NFL should seriously consider immediately adopting the XFL's kickoff rules. If they want to expand to 17 games, foregoing at least one preseason game, safety is paramount. IF the NFL would use it as a developmental league, its future would be assured. With very few players going to the NFL from college, a lot of great talent is being overlooked, and the XFL could pick up those players. Heck, the XFL, if used as an NFL D-league, could be used during the regular season for Thursday night football...just a thought.
Greg
Greg
I get the feeling the league wants few really cold-weather cities. A bad XFL team at Gillette Stadium or Soldier Field would draw embarrassing crowds. New York winters are slightly milder, but the team there didn't draw well for its opener, and if its second home game is played in 35-degree temps and 20 mph winds, no one will show up.
Both are baseball and hockey cities when the Pats and Bears, respectively, are off-season. Chicago also has a basketball following, although it's been mostly high school in recent years with the Bulls stinking. There's no room for bad football teams this time of year.
If the XFL is to survive, it has to emphasize warmer-weather (not necessarily Sun Belt -- this league won't work in Phoenix, for example) cities, although a team in NYC is unavoidable for TV purposes.
I think this product actually has potential. The game is being reinvented with this league with many new innovations. I think unlike the past attempts this one has been well thought out. I will go against the grain here and predict this league will last.
XFL 2.0 seems to be off to a promising start, with enthusiastic crowds and a respectable level of play. The game in Seattle drew around 30,000, and attendance has been decent in the six markets that have hosted a home game. Tickets for the first home game for St. Louis this weekend are apparently selling well, but I have doubts that the so-far lackluster Tampa Bay team will draw a good crowd.
This is a much better start than the AAF, where only San Antonio and perhaps Orlando had good attendance. Everywhere else there were mostly empty stands, so it was no surprise when the league folded mid-season.
Our local Houston Roughnecks have actually been quite electrifying in their two home wins, and chatter about the team on the local sportstalkers has been positive.
I recall that the first game of the original XFL was a boring slopfest, and that NBC actually dumped out of it in favor of the secondary game that was being played at the same time. In fact, the NBC slate on Saturday evenings had a lot of awful games. That reminds me that, while everyone remembers the NBC partnership for XFL 1.0, it is forgotten that the old UPN had the Sunday afternoon game package, and I remember those games being much better quality than the Saturday night efforts.
Meanwhile, there are two other proposed leagues lurking around: The Freedom Football League, and the American Patriot League. Although teams and cities have been announced for both leagues, I have my doubts either will ever play a single game.
This is a much better start than the AAF, where only San Antonio and perhaps Orlando had good attendance. Everywhere else there were mostly empty stands, so it was no surprise when the league folded mid-season.
Our local Houston Roughnecks have actually been quite electrifying in their two home wins, and chatter about the team on the local sportstalkers has been positive.
I recall that the first game of the original XFL was a boring slopfest, and that NBC actually dumped out of it in favor of the secondary game that was being played at the same time. In fact, the NBC slate on Saturday evenings had a lot of awful games. That reminds me that, while everyone remembers the NBC partnership for XFL 1.0, it is forgotten that the old UPN had the Sunday afternoon game package, and I remember those games being much better quality than the Saturday night efforts.
Meanwhile, there are two other proposed leagues lurking around: The Freedom Football League, and the American Patriot League. Although teams and cities have been announced for both leagues, I have my doubts either will ever play a single game.
Think you were wrong about this highest opening week ratings in a while.
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