Yankees On TV: Stars Aren’t Playing, Ratings Down

Bob Raissman

While New York Yankee manager Joe Girardi waits for stars Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, A-Rod and Curtis Granderson return to the line-up, he has had his No-Name Bombers near or at the top of the AL East.

According to a story by Rob Raissman at NYDailyNews.com, through 28 games aired on the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network (five games aired on other outlets), the Bombers’ TV household rating was down 39% compared to the same 28 game span in 2012.

In the key demographic (men 25-54) over the same stretch of games, the Yankees’ rating on YES was down 56% compared to last season. Among people 25-54, the rating was down 55%.

Raissman believes the ratings are down because of the lack of star power. Throughout the history of YES, the Yankees have been a ratings juggernaut. The team has won consistently with a star-studded cast. Now they are winning without one.

A-Rod is not coming back anytime soon. If he could, he would move the ratings needle. Rodriguez is a walking soap opera. Now, more than ever, fans would tune in to see if he has anything left.

Jeter, the face of the Yankees, draws eyeballs too. His popularity is a given. His story line is much bigger. Can he confound the doubters who say he will never be the same? That’s worth watching.

Granderson and Tex have a lot to prove. Will they return to form? Or will they flop? Their stories, and stature, will attract more viewers too.

The Yankees’ ratings also could be impacted because of competition from Knicks playoff games and, to a lesser extent, Rangers and Islanders postseason tilts. The ratings also show on nights Matt Harvey pitches for the Mets on SNY, he eats into Yankees ratings, too.

Winning usually produces big-time ratings. And the Yankees are finding a whole lot of ways to win with their gutty guys. Maybe it’s only a matter of time before pin-striped eyeballs figure this out and return to YES.

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Tom's Take: Obvious lesson for radio..star power helps win the ratings. How man y stars do you have on your line-up?