TV and Football, a perfect combination
Seth Godin on why we care about football …
No, it turns out that, quite accidentally, football, more than any other sport, is made for television. It’s better on TV than it is live. The combination of the play clock, the angles, the repetition and the opportunity for analysis all make it perfect to watch on TV. And perfect to run commercials on. TV and football grew up together, side by side. Instant replay and the thirty-second commercial, supporting each other.
I couldn’t agree more that it’s better on television. We had season tickets for my wife’s Redskins in the past, and I’ve seen my Jets play a few times in the stadium, but if you are really interested in the game ( which, btw, I really am not), than it’s better on TV.
I’ve always thought television had a lot to do with the success of football, but I have a slightly different take on it.
Before the days of television, sports fans followed by reading box scores in the newspaper and listening on the radio. With the advent of television, I think it became more difficult in some ways to be a sports fan. With the ability to watch games on TV, came the question “how can you call yourself a fan if you don’t watch every game?” Since football is played once per week, it is much easier to actually watch every game involving your favorite team. This creates a connection that I think is key.
BTW, I think basketball benefits in a similar way. Baseball is my favorite sport. Hands down. No question about it. But, I always felt like I cared more about the Nets than the Mets. Since there were only 12 men on the team, I felt like I could “keep up” if that makes sense.
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