Posted by chicagomedia.org on November 10, 2009 at 10:50:00:
Bears fans starting to tune out
Posted by Ed S.
at 11/10/2009 2:18 AM CST on Chicago Business
The Bears' brutal play is starting to turn off viewers.
Sunday's disaster against Arizona did a 22.3 rating on WFLD-Ch. 32; 1 ratings point is worth more than 35,000 homes. That was the worst rating of the season for the team, off 14% from the previous low of 25.9 for the disaster against Cincinnati.
A summer-like November day obviously contributed to the low rating. Many people decided to stay outside instead of watching Arizona run up and down the field.
But what also happened is that the casual fan, the person who isn't as invested in the team as the 52-year-old who sleeps in a Brian Urlacher jersey, isn't tuning in when the Bears are giving up 31 points in a half. Traditionally, the ratings go up for a tight game in the third and fourth quarter. Not surprisingly, Sunday they went down with a 21.9 rating in the second half.
The NFL Network and WPWR-Ch. 50 are keeping their fingers crossed the Bears will find their defense Thursday. Both outlets will be airing the Bears game against San Francisco in prime time.