A huge number of Americans simply do not watch golf unless Tiger Woods is playing.
Vox
There seems to be considerable concern about television ratings these days especially at the cable channel (MSNBC) that I'm tuned to from 5 a.m. until I go to bed somewhere around 8 p.m.
(I'm certain you don't give a damn about my sleeping habits but I'm painting a picture here. And, yes, from what I can tell, geezers are generally early to rise and early to bed, particularly after about three scotch and waters. I don't want to leave the impression all I do is watch television. I swim for an hour every day, fish several days a week, work on democratic priorities in Florida and often write for the Daily Kos. In my spare time, I'm the marketing director for my wife's Irish import business which includes building web sites for the eCommerce division of the business, posting daily on social media and making sure her company is high in the Google rankings in several categories. She has a 'brick and mortar' store which is open every weekend and when she does weekend markets and festivals (there are 16 scheduled in the next six months) I'm at the store. I also manage the finances for said company which includes filing all taxes and government reports when due plus producing the monthly and yearly profit and loss statements and the balance sheet. How's that for retirement?)
So I have several random thoughts about what is going on with television ratings these days.
First, in golf the Fed Ex playoffs began today with the Barclays Championship (New York) and Tiger Woods is not in the field. He will not play in the Deutsche Bank Championship (Boston) next week, the BMW Championship (Chicago) nor the grand finale, the Tour Championship (Atlanta).
Tiger didn't qualify and tournament sponsors, television advertisers and four major cities are going to miss out on millions of dollars, maybe, when it's all said and done and advertising rates are adjusted, a billion.
When Tiger doesn't play, which seems to be often these days, ticket sales decline, television ratings plummet, and charities (a major benefactor of professional golf) suffer.
Professional golf is a sport but it's also a business, a big business. I don't have the answer for this one but if I was the professional golf God I would make damn sure Tiger Woods could play when he wants to. Yes, I know it would be unfair, unethical, politically incorrect, racially biased and numerous other reasons.
Hell, if I were the professional golf God I'd seriously consider giving Tiger a lifetime exemption. I know it's not right. I know it's not fair. And I know the golfing world would be overcome with righteous indignation.
But I bet you wouldn't hear many complaints from the advertisers, the sponsors or, yes, the players. Every time Tiger makes a swing the players have the opportunity to make more money.
That's one thought I keep having and another is what MSNBC is doing with its programming.
The Cycle is gone; Now with Alex Wagner is gone; The Ed Show is gone and very soon Rev. Al will be moved to one day only, Sunday, and that's just a prelude of him being gone.
MSNBC is trying to improve its dismal ratings. Maybe it's just me but I don't believe six hours of 'straight' news is going to do it.
I liked The Cycle; I liked Alex Wagner even better; I took issue with a few of Ed's positions but he was entertaining; Rev. Al is just okay but I prefer someone of either race who can pronounce most of the words and, at the least, read a teleprompter.
So we'll see how it goes but I'd guess MSNBC will have many, many program changes before the afternoon ratings improve. What it needs is an Afternoon Joe for about three hours.
I don't mean to be sexist here but I've come to the conclusion that pretty women improve ratings. And better than pretty women would be pretty (or should I say 'attractive') and smart women. Now we're getting somewhere.
From what I can tell Fox News is the cable 'news' rating leader about anytime you want to turn on the TV. I don't watch Fox News ever unless there is a debate I want to see. I don't mind a right-leaning bias but I'm not going to watch propaganda.
Some of my friends, however, tell me my theory that attractive AND smart women improve ratings is a crock of crap 'because Fox has pretty women but most of them are just 'hired boobs'.
I actually don't know because I don't watch Fox but what I do is I watch several time slots because the anchors are 'attractive AND smart' women.
After much consideration I have compiled a list of my favorites and I'm going to ask you to vote on them.
My top three are 1. Becky Quick (CNBC); 2. Kelly Evans (CNBC); 3. Mika Brzezinski (MSNBC).
It's quite possible that your favorite is not listed in the 'vote' section below and if not please comment as to your favorite and why.
And if you think this entire diary is total bullshit, I get it.