"The Chicago White Sox also saw substantial year-over-year decline amid another dismal season and a switch from NBC Sports Chicago to Chicago Sports Network, the latter of which was subject to a lengthy carriage dispute with Comcast that kept the network dark for two-thirds of the season. The Sox saw viewership slip by 42% versus last season as a result."

https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/tigers-double-viewership-as-largest-decline.html

Basically an uninterpretable number in terms of what it says about fan interest in the team. But I assume the team is in pretty poor financial condition right now, at least not ready to start cranking up the payroll.

36 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

"The Chicago White Sox also saw substantial year-over-year decline amid another dismal season and a switch from NBC Sports Chicago to Chicago Sports Network, the latter of which was subject to a lengthy carriage dispute with Comcast that kept the network dark for two-thirds of the season. The Sox saw viewership slip by 42% versus last season as a result."

https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/tigers-double-viewership-as-largest-decline.html

To be fair, for about 42% of the season, this team wasn't on normal TV.  Going to guess that much like attendance, apples to apples viewership was flat to up a little.

what were the expectations after/during a 60 win season 

7 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

To be fair, for about 42% of the season, this team wasn't on normal TV.  Going to guess that much like attendance, apples to apples viewership was flat to up a little.

I think this is going to happen with other sports if it starts with all of these like Apple TV, Hulu, buying up games hoping to sell their subscription channels.  At what point do people start to say no when viewing sports is on of the higher utilities.  There's been talk of the NFL having games on other days. There's no such thing as cutting the cord since your cable company is often your ISP,  Now phones services are trying to get a piece of the pie.  My monthly basic cable is often higher than my electric bill and I live in the desert.  I don't have ESPN either. Only the Suns can be viewed on what I call is normal TV.

   

10 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

"The Chicago White Sox also saw substantial year-over-year decline amid another dismal season and a switch from NBC Sports Chicago to Chicago Sports Network, the latter of which was subject to a lengthy carriage dispute with Comcast that kept the network dark for two-thirds of the season. The Sox saw viewership slip by 42% versus last season as a result."

https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/tigers-double-viewership-as-largest-decline.html

Does this improve going forward as a generation of kids grow up with the North side team in the playoffs five times in the last ten full seasons while the Sox have one forgettable postseason appearance in the last ten completely seasons and have lost 100 games more often than they have been above .500?  Since 2015 what kid in his right mind would watch this team when they can watch the other team?  I don’t think they ever win these people back.

7 minutes ago, FloydBannister1983 said:

Does this improve going forward as a generation of kids grow up with the North side team in the playoffs five times in the last ten full seasons while the Sox have one forgettable postseason appearance in the last ten completely seasons and have lost 100 games more often than they have been above .500?  Since 2015 what kid in his right mind would watch this team when they can watch the other team?  I don’t think they ever win these people back.

You've already forgotten 2020?

One of the few teams to win G1 and go on to lose a short three game series.

 

The Cubs' problem is that their success is going to be how sustainable without Tucker and short in the rotation as well???...Imanaga hasn't been nearly as good as 2024 and Steele will take some time rehabbing from TJS.

Guess a lot depends on what type of player PCA really is...just like Colson for the Sox, hard to predict 2026 results.

 

Looking back on that timeframe...losing Tatis with nothing to replace him hurts the most.  That young star to sell jerseys and inspire those young future fans in terms of their future loyalties.

Edited October 1, 2025Oct 1 by caulfield12

9 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

You've already forgotten 2020?

One of the few teams to win G1 and go on to lose a short three game series.

 

The Cubs' problem is that their success is going to be how sustainable without Tucker and short in the rotation as well???...Imanaga hasn't been nearly as good as 2024 and Steele will take some time rehabbing from TJS.

Guess a lot depends on what type of player PCA really is...just like Colson for the Sox, hard to predict 2026 results.

 

Looking back on that timeframe...losing Tatis with nothing to replace him hurts the most.  That young star to sell jerseys and inspire those young future fans in terms of their future loyalties.

“Last ten full seasons”

The CHSN app was disappointing.  Regularly failed to recognize my subscription.  Poorly designed and run.

28 minutes ago, MikeKreevich said:

The CHSN app was disappointing.  Regularly failed to recognize my subscription.  Poorly designed and run.

Agreed. Not only could most not see the games, but half the time I tried to watch on the app I gave up because it absolutely sucked.

2 hours ago, FloydBannister1983 said:

“Last ten full seasons”

Dodgers' first championship this era doesn't count?

Abreu's MVP?

13 hours ago, FloydBannister1983 said:

Does this improve going forward as a generation of kids grow up with the North side team in the playoffs five times in the last ten full seasons while the Sox have one forgettable postseason appearance in the last ten completely seasons and have lost 100 games more often than they have been above .500?  Since 2015 what kid in his right mind would watch this team when they can watch the other team?  I don’t think they ever win these people back.

Are these kids watching games? Cubs aren't on free tv these days.

5 minutes ago, Bonerko4Konerko said:

Are these kids watching games? Cubs aren't on free tv these days.

We know they are not watching the White Sox.  If their parents are watching them the kids probably are as well. 

I don't know how you make them future fans when for ten years all they know is Cubs success and Sox suckage, haven't watched the White Sox, with no future changes expected.

15 hours ago, FloydBannister1983 said:

Does this improve going forward as a generation of kids grow up with the North side team in the playoffs five times in the last ten full seasons while the Sox have one forgettable postseason appearance in the last ten completely seasons and have lost 100 games more often than they have been above .500?  Since 2015 what kid in his right mind would watch this team when they can watch the other team?  I don’t think they ever win these people back.

 

1 hour ago, FloydBannister1983 said:

We know they are not watching the White Sox.  If their parents are watching them the kids probably are as well. 

I don't know how you make them future fans when for ten years all they know is Cubs success and Sox suckage, haven't watched the White Sox, with no future changes expected.

The new owners are going to have their work cut out for them to win over some younger fans who have grown up uninterested in the shoddy product the South Siders have put on the field.  JR's plan to try to win on the cheap and with smoke and mirrors has been a failure.  If the Cubs return to the World Series this year, the challenge to win over younger fans will be even greater.

I don't think they can just rely on tribalism ("my mom/dad was a Sox fan!") to make the Sox relevant going forward.

2 hours ago, Bonerko4Konerko said:

Are these kids watching games? Cubs aren't on free tv these days.

What kid watches free tv anyways? There are far more ways to consume a product than what kids had when the Cubs were broadcast OTA on WGN.

19 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

 

The new owners are going to have their work cut out for them to win over some younger fans who have grown up uninterested in the shoddy product the South Siders have put on the field.  JR's plan to try to win on the cheap and with smoke and mirrors has been a failure.  If the Cubs return to the World Series this year, the challenge to win over younger fans will be even greater.

I don't think they can just rely on tribalism ("my mom/dad was a Sox fan!") to make the Sox relevant going forward.

Jerry killed a generation or two of Sox fandom, that’s for sure. 

3 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Dodgers' first championship this era doesn't count?

Abreu's MVP?

That wasn't the measure I was using.  If you want to use it go right ahead.  I wasn't considering an MVP no one saw but if you want to then be my guest.

If you do so then you also have to add in another Cubs playoff appearance bringing it up to 6-2 rather than 5-1.  Whatever gets you to sleep at night.

 

Haven't seen a game on tv in a couple years. Some say you can with an antenna. I certainly am not paying additional money. Wild concept for the brand, and I can not see how this is a long term monetary success.

Isn't Manfred pushing for shared tv revenue? 

2 minutes ago, Falstaff said:

Isn't Manfred pushing for shared tv revenue? 

He's trying to go full NFL model. I'm sure he knows it won't happen.

On 10/1/2025 at 11:21 AM, Bonerko4Konerko said:

Are these kids watching games? Cubs aren't on free tv these days.

Anecdotal, but I think most kids are watching clips on YouTube or Instagram, I really have a hard time believing most 16 year olds are watching a full game, just don't think the attention span is there. That's what I've heard/seen when it comes to that demo

15 minutes ago, Tony said:

Anecdotal, but I think most kids are watching clips on YouTube or Instagram, I really have a hard time believing most 16 year olds are watching a full game, just don't think the attention span is there. That's what I've heard/seen when it comes to that demo

TikTok clips and YouTube shorts

Ishbia getting in here at a good time. very obvious that as low as we are in the eyes of the league, a lot of it is problems of our own making

--TV situation was negotiations-over-fans 

--front office just now catching up to leaguewide norms. or what norms ...last were.

1 hour ago, Dick Allen said:

He's trying to go full NFL model. I'm sure he knows it won't happen.

He's also parroting the owners line about a salary cap which is why the 2027 season is at risk. 

1 hour ago, Tony said:

Anecdotal, but I think most kids are watching clips on YouTube or Instagram, I really have a hard time believing most 16 year olds are watching a full game, just don't think the attention span is there. That's what I've heard/seen when it comes to that demo

Those 3-5 minute game recaps on YouTube are great.