JANUARY 6TH, 2018 – JANUARY 13TH, 2018
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 47
WORLD SPORTS
NFL television ratings down 9.7 percent during 2017 regular season
NFL television ratings fell 9.7 percent during the 2017 regular season, according to numbers registered by Nielsen. A typical game was watched by 1.6 million fewer people this season as compared to last season (14.9 million versus 16.5 million). The drop comes after the NFL had hoped to stem an 8 percent ratings slide from last season by experimenting with the format for television commercials and trying to speed up the game. Last year’s slide was partly attributed to a lost audience due to the presidential election. This year, the NFL was challenged with fans upset at players protesting during the national anthem, an action that led to a league faceoff with President Donald Trump. Other factors cited include the dilution of the product through Thursday Night Football,
which was broadcast on the NFL ratings, Nielsen data shows that Network, CBS, NBC and Amazon the 20 of the 30 highest-rated Prime in 2017. This season, both shows on television in 2017 were Fox CEO James Murdoch and football games. Both NBC and CBS Sports Chairman Sean ESPN had the most-watched McManus blamed the ratings shows every single week, in slide on the proliferation of games. terms of audience and in all key The NFL RedZone also male demographics, for Sunday might be a factor in taking fans Night Football and Monday Night away from watching the daytime Football games this season. NBC’s Sunday Night games on CBS and FOX. The NFL Network and DirecTV, Football finished first in prime which air separate versions of the time this fall for the seventh show that broadcast live look-ins, consecutive year, besting have never shared viewership “American Idol” (2005-06 through 2010-11) for the longest hold on numbers. The NFL isn’t in a the top prime-time spot since vacuum, as the viewership 1950. Its 18.2 million viewers beat drop is indicative of the general the second-best prime-time show, environment as less television Thursday Night Football on CBS, is being watched and cable by 29 percent -- its largest margin subscriptions have declined. The ever. ESPN officials reported NBA, however, has seen a 20 percent increase in viewership earlier in the week that the this season as compared to 2016- network grew its total day 17. viewership in 2017 by 1 percent, Despite the drop in NFL while prime time was up 7 percent.
Top-scorer Harden out for at least two weeks
The NBA’s leading scorer James Harden will miss at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain, the Houston Rockets said. Harden suffered the injury while driving for a layup in the fourth quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. The Rockets said he will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Harden is averaging 32.3 points per game along with 9.1 assists and is a leading candidate for the league’s MVP Award. Houston (26-9) have Dec 31, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) lost five of their last six games drives to the basket while Los Angeles Lakers guard Tyler Ennis (10) defends to fall to second in the Western during the second quarter at Toyota Center Conference.
Cardinals QB Palmer announces retirement Arizona Cardinals Cardinals. ”The answer was almost quarterback Carson Palmer announced his retirement from always the same ‘you just know’. the NFL after 15 seasons, leaving “For me, that time is now. Why? the team with two big voids after Quite simply, I just know.” their head coach made the same Palmer enjoyed early success with Cincinnati as he led decision this week. The 38-year-old Palmer them to a division title in 2005 was drafted first overall in 2003 but on the first snap of his first by the Cincinnati Bengals, where playoff game he suffered a torn he played eight seasons, and then ACL after taking a low hit. after a forgettable two-year stint After a lackluster stint with the Oakland Raiders joined in Oakland where he won eight games over two seasons, Palmer the Cardinals in 2013. “Over the years, I’ve had rejuvenated his career in Arizona teammates who decided to hang under head coach Bruce Arians’ it up and I would ask them how vertical-passing scheme and they knew when it was time alongside future Hall of Fame to walk away,” Palmer wrote receiver Larry Fitzgerald. in a statement released by the But Palmer’s career was
Tiger to start 2018 campaign at Farmers Insurance Open
Tiger Woods watches his shot after teeing off Former world number one Tiger Woods will make his much-anticipated 2018 debut at this month’s Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, his first official PGA Tour event since missing the cut at the same tournament last year. Woods, who returned to competition last month in an 18-man exhibition after a near 10-month layoff during which he had spinal fusion surgery, will also play the Feb. 15-18 Genesis Open at Riviera, which is run by the Tiger Woods Foundation. “I‘m very excited to be back at Riviera,” Woods, 42, said in a statement on his website on Thursday. ”I haven’t played at Riviera in a tournament in a very long time. To be able to play in an event that I used to come to as an amateur, as a junior and now as the tournament host, that is on one of the most historic sites in all of golf, it’s a dream come true.” The American 14-times major champion swung freely and with no sign of back pain at last month’s Hero World Challenge, where he began his latest comeback and finished tied for ninth in a field including eight of the world’s top 10 golfers. After that event Woods was vague when asked about his plans for 2018, saying only that he would set his playing schedule around building up toward the golf’s four major tournaments. He will no doubt feel very comfortable when he tees it up at Torrey Pines, having won the event seven times. It is also the venue where he won the 2008 U.S. Open for the most recent of his 14 major titles. Woods fell flat in his PGA Tour return at the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open where he missed the cut by four shots. He then played the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic and withdrew with back spasms after an openinground 77. The Farmers Insurance Open begins on Jan. 25 at Torrey Pines.
hampered by injuries, including in the 2014 season when he missed Arizona’s playoff run with a torn ACL. Palmer, who missed the final nine games of Arizona’s season with a broken arm, ends his NFL career 12th on the all-time rankings with 294 touchdown passes. He also hold the Cardinals franchise records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a season, both marks set in 2015. Arians announced his retirement on Monday and Fitzgerald, 34, has said he does not know if he will return for the NFL’s 2018 season. Carson Palmer