As an Over the Air (OTA) television house, it is extremely difficult to follow your local team. Teams align with cable channels to increase their revenue but narrow audience. When I was a child, I was able to watch my teams in every sport on a consistent basis. Now my child has access to a fraction of those games and does not have the affordable opportunities to become a local sports fan. When he becomes my age, he may not spend his income on tickets and apparel. And as a subset, may not frequent a restaurant or tavern to specifically watch these games.
Here is the raw data from each of the four major sports that broadcast OTA this past year plus the 2014 Boston Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox: 2015 Season
Preseason: 0/34
Regular Season: 3/162
Sat, May 23 7:00 PM (FOX) – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Boston Red Sox
Sat, May 30 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers
Sat, Jul 11 7:15 PM (FOX) – New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Post Season: N/A
Total Games: 196
Games Televised OTA: 3
Percentage: 1.53%
New England Patriots: 2014 Season
Preseason: 4/4
Thu, Aug 7 8:00 PM @ Washington L23-6
Fri, Aug 15 8:00 PM vs Philadelphia W42-35
Fri, Aug 22 8:00 PM vs Carolina W30-7
Thu, Aug 28 8:00 PM @ New York L16-13
Regular Season: 15/16
Sun, Sep 7 1:00 PM (CBS) @ Miami L33-20
Sun, Sep 14 1:00 PM (CBS) @ Minnesota W30-7
Sun, Sep 21 1:00 PM (CBS) vs Oakland W16-9
Sun, Oct 5 8:25 PM (NBC) vs Cincinnati W43-17
Sun, Oct 12 1:00 PM (CBS) @ Buffalo W37-22
Thu, Oct 16 8:30 PM (CBS) vs New York W27-25
Sun, Oct 26 1:00 PM (FOX) vs Chicago W51-23
Sun, Nov 2 4:25 PM (CBS) vs Denver W43-21
Sun, Nov 16 8:25 PM (NBC) @ Indianapolis W42-20
Sun, Nov 23 1:00 PM (FOX) vs Detroit W34-9
Sun, Nov 30 4:25 PM (CBS) @ Green Bay L26-21
Sun, Dec 7 8:25 PM (NBC) @ San Diego W23-14
Sun, Dec 14 1:00 PM (CBS) vs Miami W41-13
Sun, Dec 21 1:00 PM (CBS) @ New York W17-16
Sun, Dec 28 1:00 PM (CBS) vs Buffalo L17-9
Post Season: 3/3
Divisional Playoffs: Sat, Jan 10 4:35 PM (NBC) vs Baltimore W35-31
Conference Championship: Sun, Jan 18 6:50 PM (CBS) vs Indianapolis W45-7
Super Bowl XLIX: Sun, Feb 1 6:30 PM (NBC) @ Seattle W28-24
Total Games: 23
Games Televised OTA: 22
Percentage: 95.65%
Boston Bruins: 2014 Season
Preseason: 0/7
Regular Season: 2/82
Sunday, Feb. 22: Boston at Chicago (3:30, NBC)
Sunday, March 8: Detroit at Boston (12:30, NBC)
Post Season: N/A
Total Games: 89
Games Televised OTA: 2
Percentage: 2.24%
Boston Celtics: 2014 Season
Preseason: 0/8
Regular Season: 0/82
Post Season: 2/4
Sunday, April 19 1:05 PM ET (ABC) – NBA First Round Game 1: (7) Boston Celtics at (2) Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday, April 26 3:05 PM ET (ABC) – NBA First Round Game 4: (7) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Cleveland Cavaliers
Total Games: 94
Games Televised OTA: 2
Percentage: 2.12%
Boston Red Sox: 2014 Season
Preseason: 0/32
Regular Season: 4/162
Saturday, May 31 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox
Saturday, June 7 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers
Saturday, June 28 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
Saturday, July 5 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox
Post Season: N/A
Total Games: 194
Games Televised OTA: 4
Percentage: 2.06%
As we become more of an internet viewing world with Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services, the gap will widen. The NBA, MLB and NHL may not suffer but we can definitely see that the NFL will continue to grow because of the reach it has.
