[vincesanity82]

As we all know by now, 2007 was not a good year for Notre Dame football. The Irish finished 3-9, lost to Navy, were shut out at home by USC, put together one of the worst offenses in college football history and otherwise stunk up the joint. For this, their home broadcasts on NBC took a hyuuuuuuge ratings hit and it's costing the network money money money (money!).
NBC's television ratings on these games have fallen so precipitously that negotiations for Notre Dame's next TV deal may be affected if the program doesn't rebound.

Already, NBC has had to adjust its advertising pricing strategy. This fall the ratings on Irish games fell 40% from last year and are now half of their 2005 levels. NBC has had to give loads of free ads (known as make-goods) to companies like Allstate and Procter & Gamble to justify the $55,000-to-$80,000 rates for a 30-second ad it negotiated before the season started. Media buyers will demand better rates for the 2008-09 season.

"Those ratings will be a delicate negotiating point for NBC going forward," says Sam Sussman, sports director at media buying agency Starcom MediaVest.

BusinessWeek: NBC Blindsided by Notre Dame Football - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

[Lefty Noob]

Can't say we didn't see this coming. Few people want to watch a team this lousy, and no viewers = no interested advertisers.

Notre Dame better rebound quickly, or else it's really going to hit them hard in the pocketbook.

[FanOf28]

Maybe NBC should look into advertising on the message boards instead of the TV.

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Can't say we didn't see this coming. Few people want to watch a team this lousy, and no viewers = no interested advertisers.

Notre Dame better rebound quickly, or else it's really going to hit them hard in the pocketbook.

This might be exacly what it is going to take to force Notre Dame into a confrence.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Tuck4Bama

This might be exacly what it is going to take to force Notre Dame into a confrence.

Thats what I was thinking, Is this the fall of Notre Dame??

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Tuck4Bama

This might be exactly what it is going to take to force Notre Dame into a conference.

If anything could do it, losing their lucrative TV deal would be it. Still I have my doubts.

[azrael492]

I would love to see them lose this TV deal. I like the idea of putting the best game on TV. How many people are really thrilled to see ND play Duke every year.

[legend]

Notre Dame football has such an inflated opinion of itself. If no network came calling, they would have to join the Big East, like they are in basketball.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by legend

Notre Dame football has such an inflated opinion of itself. If no network came calling, they would have to join the Big East, like they are in basketball.

Big East or Big Ten. The Big Ten's been trying to land them for years now.

[D1recruiter]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Big East or Big Ten. The Big Ten's been trying to land them for years now.

Lefty, I don't think the Big Ten has made any overitures towards bringing the Irish into the fold for several years. I think ND snubbed the offer(s) and from what my sources tell me a couple of the Big Ten schools took offense to it. More than likely, the Big East would be a better fit for the Irish because in the Big Ten they would be a middle of the road team on a consistent basis like the Nittany Lions have been. ND would probably only join a conference if their TV contract was cancelled or reduced emmencely. Most Irish fans that I talk with like their independence and dream of the day when the Irish play anyone, anywhere, and the best programs in the nation. I don't have the heart to argue that the probability of that happening in this day and age is slim to none with the equality of talent among the top twenty-five team in the nation as it now stands. Then, again, who knows!

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by D1recruiter

Lefty, I don't think the Big Ten has made any overitures towards bringing the Irish into the fold for several years.

Maybe nothing official, but there was talk as recently as preseason about the possibility. Not sure why it keeps coming up, but it does.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Can't say we didn't see this coming. Few people want to watch a team this lousy, and no viewers = no interested advertisers.

Notre Dame better rebound quickly, or else it's really going to hit them hard in the pocketbook.

Always wondered why teams like USC don't have a similar TV deal...

[D1recruiter]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Always wondered why teams like USC don't have a similar TV deal...

I don't think USC has the same national following as the Irish have. And, IMHO, ND is also followed by fans throughout the country who are catholic with sort of the we verses them mentality that exists among the "believers"!

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by D1recruiter

I don't think USC has the same national following as the Irish have. And, IMHO, ND is also followed by fans throughout the country who are catholic with sort of the we verses them mentality that exists among the "believers"!

That's like saying a minor Reality Show can't land a contract because they don't have the following of American Idol...I think several teams have a large enough following to land a contract of sort...say you offer one to Ohio State, etc...well, they will get some darn good ratings in games against Michigan etc...or maybe an SEC team with a large following and a good schedule year in and year out.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Always wondered why teams like USC don't have a similar TV deal...

Probably because of their conference affiliation. They would if they ever left the Pac-10 and became independent, I'd bet.