Bold predictions for the next year (and the next decade) in sports media.
2010
- Helped by the presence of the Cowboys, Patriots, Packers and Vikings, ratings for the NFL Playoffs increase from last year. The NFC Championship Game between the Packers and Vikings draws a 28.7 rating, the highest since ’08. Meanwhile, the AFC title game between the Patriots and Colts draws a 27.1. The Vikings/Colts Super Bowl becomes the third straight to set a record high in viewership, drawing 99.1 million viewers.
- The Texas/Alabama BCS National Championship Game draws a 16.1 rating on ABC, the highest for the BCS title game since Florida/Ohio State in ’07.
- Regular season NBA ratings hold steady on ABC (2.3), increase on TNT (1.3) and decline on ESPN (1.0). Ratings during the playoffs drop on ESPN and TNT, especially during the Conference Finals — which feature a low-key Magic/Hawks battle in the East and the Lakers sweeping the Rockets in the West. Ratings drop for the Lakers/Magic NBA Finals rematch (8.2, 14.1 million viewers).
- FOX sets another record low for its MLB Game of the Week (1.6). During the playoffs, the Yankees’ second-straight trip to the ALCS gives TBS record-high ratings. Meanwhile, FOX is saddled with record lows for its coverage of the NLCS, featuring the Cardinals and the surprising Nationals. The five-game Yankees/Cardinals World Series draws a 10.9 rating and 17.9 million viewers, off from the previous year.
- The Penguins and Red Wings get bounced out of the playoffs early. However, it’s not all bad for the NHL, as the surprising Rangers and Kings meet in the Stanley Cup Final. Boosted by the top two U.S. television markets, the six-game series averages 5 million viewers on NBC/Versus, up from last year, and the most-viewed Stanley Cup Final of the past eight years.
- The Arnold Palmer Invitational, Tiger Woods‘ first tournament back from his leave of absence, draws a 5.7 rating on Saturday and a 7.1 on Sunday — topping NCAA Tournament coverage on CBS airing at the same time. Final round coverage of Woods’ win at The Masters draws a 10.3 rating on CBS, the highest since ’01.
- Despite moving back to more traditional start times, NASCAR ratings keep dropping.
- Comcast/NBC wins the rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympics.
- Turner Sports taps Ernie Johnson to be the new lead play-by-play voice for Major League Baseball games on TBS.
- Brett Favre retires and joins ESPN as an NFL analyst. He returns to the NFL after Week 2. When his team misses the playoffs, he rejoins ESPN as a guest analyst. And then, in 2011, he returns to the NFL again.
- ESPN acquires the rights to the entire NCAA Tournament.
2010s as a whole
- 2011: Versus is renamed NBC Sports Network.
- 2011: Both the Bowl Championship Series and the NCAA Tournament draw record low ratings in their first year on ESPN.
- 2011: NBC/NBC Sports Net extend their television deal with the NHL an additional two seasons.
- 2011: David Stern retires as NBA Commissioner.
- 2012: Bud Selig retires as MLB Commissioner.
- 2012: ESPN acquires Deadspin, which becomes a retooled Page 3.
- 2013: Comcast acquires rights to Major League Baseball games in a 5-year deal. The World Series and one LCS will air on NBC, while the Division Series and the other LCS will air on NBC Sports Net.
- 2013: Comcast’s NBC acquires the rights to the NFL’s AFC package. Sunday Night Football moves to NFL Network.
- 2013: ESPN extends its Monday Night Football deal and becomes part of the NFL’s Super Bowl rotation.
- 2013: Without the NCAA Tournament and the NFL, CBS acquires rights to the NHL. The NHL also returns to ESPN, though most games air on ESPN2.
- 2014: The Bowl Championship Series extends its television agreement with ESPN an additional four years.
- 2016: ESPN airs its first Super Bowl. The game draws 88 million viewers, well below previous years, but by far the most-viewed program in cable television history.
- 2016: ESPN acquires exclusive rights to the NBA. Wednesday and Friday games now air on ESPN2, while the Thursday night and Sunday afternoon packages now air on ESPN. The entire NBA Playoffs and Finals moves to ESPN.
- 2017: The WNBA celebrates its 20th anniversary.
- 2018: Major League Baseball signs a six-year deal that puts the World Series and one LCS on ESPN. The Division Series and the other LCS air on MLB Network.
