Support NeoGAF

[Portugeezer]

I watched some of it, although I didn't really understand the game.

 

[Hayvic]

2 million disappointed people...

 

[Nzyme32]

1. Major League Baseball All-Star Game: National vs. American, Fox, 11.34 million
2. America's Got Talent, (Tuesday), NBC, 8.53 million
3. Extant, CBS, 8.0 million
4. NCIS, CBS, 7.9 million
5. 60 Minutes, CBS, 7.9 million
6. Under the Dome, CBS, 7.6 million
7. The Big Bang Theory, CBS, 7.1 million
8. The Bachelorette, ABC, 6.9 million
9. 24: Live Another Day, Fox, 6.5 million
10. Unforgettable, CBS, 6.4 million
11. Big Brother, (Sunday), CBS, 6.3 million
12. Big Brother, (Wednesday), CBS, 6.2 million
13. NCIS: Los Angeles, CBS, 6.2 million
14. Blue Bloods, CBS, 6.2 million
15. Big Brother, (Thursday) CBS, 6.1 million
16. Dateline NBC, NBC, 6.1 million
17. Night Shift, NBC, 6.1 million
18. 20/20, ABC, 6.0 million
19. America's Got Talent, (Wednesday, 8 p.m.), NBC, 5.9 million
20. The Big Bang Theory, (Monday, 9:30 p.m.), CBS, 5.8 million

Even the lowest rated "big show" is significantly higher than the 2 million peak.
Look, I get it - Esports and everything, and this is a huge step. but let's not get over-excited. It's best to keep things in check.

Just for reference,

The 2014 NFL Wildcard Playoff Round (1st Round) drew an average of 34.7 million viewers per game.

Just put that in context, More than twice as many people watched (1) first round playoff game then did the whole of the tournament.

A 2014 regular season NFL game on Fox averages roughly 21.7 million viewers while 18.7 million for CBS.

ESPN (Paid Cable) averaged 13.7 million for 2014 MNF games.

NBC averaged 21.7 million viewers for 2014 SNF games.

That's all well and good but lacks any context at all. DOTA2 in particular is hardly an established sport and even less so in terms of broadcast. Marketing is very different as well to a traditional sport or TV show. For something growing but still a definable niche, it's hard to deny it's impressive for what it is. A good comparison would be other recently established sports but I don't think there is a way of doing that comparison. I imagine LoL would have greater viewing figures than this but I don't think it would compare to an long established sport and it's highly advertised events

 

[Jprobes]

Just for reference,

The 2014 NFL Wildcard Playoff Round (1st Round) drew an average of 34.7 million viewers per game.

Each 2014 regular season NFL game on Fox averages roughly 21.7 million viewers and 18.7 million for CBS.

ESPN (Paid Cable) averaged 13.7 million for each 2014 MNF games.

NBC averaged 21.7 million viewers for each 2014 SNF games.

Fox's Pregame show averages ~5 million viewers each Sunday.

 

[Htown]

No one expected Dota to be bigger than football. Don't be ridiculous.

 

[Rockyrock]

Even the lowest rated "big show" is significantly higher than the 2 million peak.
Look, I get it - Esports and everything, and this is a huge step. but let's not get over-excited. It's best to keep things in check.

All of these are broadcasted on MAJOR networks though.

And im sure all have enormous marketing campaigns behind them.

 

[Nzyme32]

That ad revenue.

If you are going to do a drive by post, at least be somewhat factual

 

[Alrus]

I don't really understand what the "it's not even close to regular sports" people are trying to prove here? The fact is there's a boatload of money to be made out of e-sports events, and they're rapidly growing in popularity.

 

[Jprobes]

No one expected Dota to be bigger than football. Don't be ridiculous.

Mmmmhmmmm