Whether it was the move of the Pro Bowl from NBC to ESPN or America is finally catching on that the game is not Must See TV, the overnight ratings for the game fell to its lowest levels in years. This year’s Pro Bowl received a 5.6 overnight number as compared to last year when the game on NBC averaged a 6.7 opposite the Grammy Awards on CBS.
Sports Media Watch notes that the Pro Bowl’s numbers have been going down since hitting an 8.6 on Fox in 2011, the games have been steadily falling. Another point is that since the Pro Bowl went to a fantasy draft format last year and is no longer falling along conference lines, the game has suffered in interest.
Last year’s game fell from 2013 which received a 7.7. So the last two games have received a 6.7 in 2014 and 5.6 in 2015. Perhaps the NFL has to reconsider going back to NFC vs. AFC instead of having captains “draft” players to make two different all-star teams.
NBC carried the Pro Bowl from 2012-14 before the NFL awarded the Pro Bowl to ESPN for the life of the current television contract.
The Pro Bowl played in primetime on ESPN and had Downton Abbey, Girls, Shameless, Gallavant and a pretty packed entertainment on cable and broadcast lineup to deal with.
But even without the Grammys this year, the Pro Bowl is on a downward trend and the NFL may be thinking about how to attract viewers for next year’s game. As Sports Media Watch points out, this may end the Pro Bowl’s five-year streak as the most-watched all-star game.
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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.