DMN Blog: NBC Exec on why the Cowboys weren't flexed out of Sun. game

[WoodysGirl]

Cowboys-Giants: No. 1 (at least according to TV ratings)

6:09 AM Wed, Nov 05, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Barry Horn E-mail News tips

Sometimes you ask a question just to elicit a reaction. I was talking to a NBC Sports guy yesterday and dropped this on him:

"So with the Cowboys playing as poorly as they are, would you guys consider flexing them out of the Sunday Night Game against the Commanders?" In other words, would NBC, as is its right, dump its scheduled Nov.16th prime time game for another? I might as well have asked if NBC would not be showing women's gymnastics the next time a Summer Olympics comes around.

"If both teams were 1-8, we'd still love that game," the NBC guy said, only after making me repeat my question because he knew no one could possibly ask anything so stupid. So, for the record, there is no need to change your plans for Nov, 16th.

And then he pointed out that Sunday's not-so-scintillating Cowboys-Giants game is on track to be the highest-rated NFL game of the season when the final ratings are released tomorrow. It pulled the highest major-market overnight rating of the season. Yes, the same Giants 35, Cowboys 14 game Dallas fans watched in horror. Must be the old "train wreck" effect.


Here's a rundown of the Top 5 major-market overnight games of the season: See if you see which team appears most often. Then see what that team's games all have in common.*


Cowboys/Giants: 16.8
Cowboys/Cardinals: 16.1
Giants/Steelers: 15.6
Commanders/Cowboys: 15.3
Patriots/Jets: 15.2

* The Cowboys lost all three games.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

everyone wants to see the Cowboys vs. anyone

 

[DaBoys4Life]

interesting.

 

[theogt]

Barry Horn wins the award for dumbest question of the day.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Wow i can't believe that guy was dumb enough to ask such a stupid question.

 

[windward]

Barry Horn wins the award for dumbest question of the day.

Yeah.

Even when the Boys and Skins sucked in 2001, 0-4 vs 0-4 I believe, we still drew big ratings.

Our 9-7 victory wasn't exactly scintillating either.

 

[Wrangler87]

Yeah.

Even when the Boys and Skins sucked in 2001, 0-4 vs 0-4 I believe, we still drew big ratings.

Our 9-7 victory wasn't exactly scintillating either.

Wasn't that the game that had higher ratings than the World Series game that was on at the same time on another network (Monday Night Game)?

 

[Rampage]

I wish they could switch the Monday night game. who wants to see the 49ers play the Cards?

 

[Hypnotoad]

No matter the result, Commanders vs cowboys. Think about that. Both after bye weeks. Both critical games in NFC. The history. The players. The matchups. This guy doesn't know anything about football to ask such a stupid question.

 

[AdamJT13]

Barry Horn wins the award for dumbest question of the day.

Day? That might be the dumbest question EVER, especially considering that Horn's job focuses on television.

We're 5-4, the Commanders are 6-3, and Tony Romo is likely to be coming back. Not only would NBC never flex out of that game, it probably will be the highest-rated Sunday night game of the season so far. Anyone want to bet against it?

 

[Thomas82]

Yeah.

Even when the Boys and Skins sucked in 2001, 0-4 vs 0-4 I believe, we still drew big ratings.

Our 9-7 victory wasn't exactly scintillating either.

I remember that game, it was on a Monday Night. Eric Dickerson was a sideline reporter that year for ABC, and said that Father Time had caught up with Emmitt, and Emmitt went out and had a good game. Tony Banks was the Commanders QB after we had cut him in the preseason.

 

[MagicMan]

I wish they could switch the Monday night game. who wants to see the 49ers play the Cards?

Too bad I have things to do that day-----I'll either have to watch paint dry or the grass grow. Sorry I'll miss it.

 

[crazytown41]

This is why I get a good laugh when the haters say the Cowboys AREN'T America's Team. :laugh2:

 

[RainMan]

Day? That might be the dumbest question EVER, especially considering that Horn's job focuses on television.

We're 5-4, the Commanders are 6-3, and Tony Romo is likely to be coming back. Not only would NBC never flex out of that game, it probably will be the highest-rated Sunday night game of the season so far. Anyone want to bet against it?

Yeah, I'm not sure how the whole "slumping Cowboys" thing would affect whether or not a network would want our game.

We're "slumping," yet still in the thick of the playoff hunt, and a game back of Washington in the league's toughest division.

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that we'll no longer be trotting Brad Johnson onto the field.

I'd *SOMEWHAT* understand asking the question if Johnson or Bollinger were expected to start. Even if it IS Cowboys, I wouldn't want to force those two clowns on anyone.

But with Romo, in what's going to be billed as a must-win game against our most heated opponent?

 

[YosemiteSam]

everyone wants to see the Cowboys vs. anyone

Just imagine what the ratings would be if it was Cowboys vs Cowboys! :laugh2:

 

[Derinyar]

I wouldn't be surprised if they Flex us up into the 4th of December, even if we are still messing around at 500.

Cowboys vs Steelers is a marquee matchup. I'm just amazed that neither decided that should be one of the two solo highlight games on its own. Let me just say NE vs Seattle shouldn't do much for anyone.

 

[Idgit]

For a follow up question, Barry asked if his own name were spelled with one 'r' or two. Again, just to elicit a reaction.

 

[tyke1doe]

Wow i can't believe that guy was dumb enough to ask such a stupid question.

Day? That might be the dumbest question EVER, especially considering that Horn's job focuses on television.

Barry Horn wins the award for dumbest question of the day.

Did you guys miss his first sentence?

Sometimes you ask a question just to elicit a reaction. I was talking to a NBC Sports guy yesterday and dropped this on him:

He was asking it merely to get a response for an article.

He knew it was a dumb question. I'm assuming that that approach was better than starting an article about the Cowboys being on television without any comments from an NBC representative.

It was merely a writing device, nothing more.