I have mused in this space several times about how the Phillies had taken over the town this summer.
The Phils spent most of the summer in or near first place in the National League East. Talk about the Eagles, which usually dominates the airwaves 12 months a year, actually was shunted aside in favor of baseball chatter.
So you would think that we’d be ready to paint the town red this week, with the Phils advancing to the National League Championship Series by finishing off the Brewers.
You would think the Eagles would be green with envy.
Well, the two teams went head-to-head for TV viewers on Sunday. The numbers are kind of interesting.
We’re still a football town, at least when it comes to the tube. The Eagles drew a 22.7 rating Sunday as they bumbled their way to a loss at home against the Redskins. In the meantime the Phillies were pulling just a 13.8 rating as they beat the Brewers to advance to the NLCS.
Here’s the scoreboard: 674,000 households tuned to the Eagles, 410,000 glued to the Phils. I will admit I was one of those tuned to the Birds. I had them on TV, the Phils on the radio. Of course I was also flipping madly back and forth.
Part of that has to do with the fact that football lends itself to TV, with its short bursts of action and violence. Baseball, on the other hand, is more languid, perfect for the radio.
The Eagles clearly haven’t lost their grip on the region just yet. But another loss this Sunday, as the Phils are striving to get to the World Series, just might do the trick.
On Sunday the Eagles actually are the pre-game show. They’re on Fox at 4:15, while the Phils follow on Fox at 8:22 in Game 3 from Dodger Stadium at 8:22.
The Phils spent most of the summer in or near first place in the National League East. Talk about the Eagles, which usually dominates the airwaves 12 months a year, actually was shunted aside in favor of baseball chatter.
So you would think that we’d be ready to paint the town red this week, with the Phils advancing to the National League Championship Series by finishing off the Brewers.
You would think the Eagles would be green with envy.
Well, the two teams went head-to-head for TV viewers on Sunday. The numbers are kind of interesting.
We’re still a football town, at least when it comes to the tube. The Eagles drew a 22.7 rating Sunday as they bumbled their way to a loss at home against the Redskins. In the meantime the Phillies were pulling just a 13.8 rating as they beat the Brewers to advance to the NLCS.
Here’s the scoreboard: 674,000 households tuned to the Eagles, 410,000 glued to the Phils. I will admit I was one of those tuned to the Birds. I had them on TV, the Phils on the radio. Of course I was also flipping madly back and forth.
Part of that has to do with the fact that football lends itself to TV, with its short bursts of action and violence. Baseball, on the other hand, is more languid, perfect for the radio.
The Eagles clearly haven’t lost their grip on the region just yet. But another loss this Sunday, as the Phils are striving to get to the World Series, just might do the trick.
On Sunday the Eagles actually are the pre-game show. They’re on Fox at 4:15, while the Phils follow on Fox at 8:22 in Game 3 from Dodger Stadium at 8:22.
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