Tuned Out | The Lowdown

The television ratings are in and the NBA and NHL scored dismal numbers. It shouldn't be a surprise.

Market size has something to do with it. San Antonio is in the top 10 of US cities in terms of population, but none of other competitors in the NBA or NHL finals has that distinction. Granted, Ottawa is the "the fourth-largest urban area in Canada," according to their website. But that does little to inspire viewers south of the 49th parallel.

The current TV deals in place also have something to do with it. (I couldn't have followed the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs from home if I wanted to thanks to the NHL's arrangement with Versus.)

But most importantly, Americans TV viewing habits have changed. It used to be that television viewing options were limited. Now, however, if you're a fan of curling or softball you're not stuck watching hockey or baseball instead. You'll find what you really want to see on "The Ocho."

We've gotten impatient. If a movie is over two hours long, people are going to gripe. So good luck getting an audience to tune into a game that promises to eat up three hours or more out of their day.

We can find real time information on the sports we love on the internet. That means less of a chance someone will "accidently" get hooked on a game after just tuning in to get the score.

And we know if we miss the game, we'll catch the highlights the next day on television or have the action rehashed for us on sports radio.

As an east coaster, I know there are those who refuse to watch some of the games on television, because when they start at 9PM they won't be over until around midnight.

Finally, there's a sense that sports aren't as pure as they once were. Expansion has diluted talent. Athletes have become richer, and--in the eyes of many sports fans--spoiled.

So the networks and sports leagues will have to make changes and work harder to get our attention. In the end, that means the bad telelvision numbers could add up to good news for you and me.

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June 20, 2007 05:07 PM ET

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I couldn't believe with the state of Hockey in this country that the NHL didn't let local a local station in each market broadcast the games. I had never heard of Versus until now and I am in Cali and couldn't watch the Ducks, Bettman is clueless. NBA finals, absolutely no fun to watch, even for a diehard sports fan. One game was 55-50 at the start of the 4th quarter, what the hell is up with that?