# Is tennis really THAT popular? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2001, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442 "2001-09-08T21:34:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/1 "2001-09-08T21:34:52Z")
I have great difficulty understanding why cbs has chosen to preempt so much of their programming( especially daytime) just to show the US open in tennis. Are there that many people that like to watch it? wouldn’t it be more appropriate being shown on ESPN? I also wonder about it when they preempt afternoon soaps for NCAA Basketball. Surely the only people watching at that time are more interested in afternoon soaps than Basketball or tennis. (I am a fan of As the world turns, and I’d much rather see that) Any thoughts? Chris W ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/2 "2001-09-08T21:40:13Z")
Tennis is one of the very very few sports I will watch on TV. The others bore me to tears. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/3 "2001-09-08T21:52:20Z")
This is just to point out that in the UK, the BBC clears the schedules on its second channel, and substantially changes the running order on its first channel, in order to accommodate the Wimbledon fortnight. The public seems to appreciate all this tennis, but if the same is done for the US, French and Australian opens, they are going to complain. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/4 "2001-09-09T14:08:15Z")
Personally I think they ought to show more tennis. ---
**Author:** ![SouprChckn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@SouprChckn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouprChckn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/5 "2001-09-10T00:15:19Z")
I remember reading somewhere that tennis was actually one of the lower rated sports. The article mentioned low attendance at events and mediocre television ratings. CBS probably preempted its programming because it spent a bunch of money buying the rights to show it and they weren’t going to waste it for showing at 10 or later. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/6 "2001-09-10T03:59:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SouprChckn \* > \*\*I remember reading somewhere that tennis was actually one of the lower rated sports. The article mentioned low attendance at events and mediocre television ratings. CBS probably preempted its programming because it spent a bunch of money buying the rights to show it and they weren’t going to waste it for showing at 10 or later. \*\* But then my question becomes: Why did they spend all that money if its a low rated sport? I mean, the world series, okay, the stanley cup or super bowl, fine n’ dandy, but TENNIS?!? Most people I know don’t even know who’s playing! Chris W ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/7 "2001-09-10T04:30:13Z")
Same thing can be said about golf, can it not? And IMHO, tennis has 100% more entertainment value. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/8 "2001-09-10T04:52:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HalberMensch242 \* > \*\*Same thing can be said about golf, can it not? > \*\* It can be “said” about anything. The question is, if it is a low rated sport, why would a major network pay bigbucks for it? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HalberMensch242 \* > \*\* > And IMHO, tennis has 100% more entertainment value. \*\* I don’t care to watch either one on TV, and I consider myself an avid golfer. Chris W ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/9 "2001-09-10T17:29:13Z")
Howyadoin, I’d wager that tennis draws a more generally affluent, educated, high-disposable-income audience than whatever other drivel they would have broadcast, even the actual number of viewers is substantially lower. And that’s all that matters. They don’t give a hoot in hell what they put over the airwaves, as long as they can sell the spaces between to some brand-building corporate wanker. I’ve studiously avoided the Open, but I’d feel secure in guessing the major sponsors are investment firms, luxury car manufacturers, enterprise-level technology firms and the like. They know they are getting to target the people to whom they want to pitch their particular item or service. -Rav ---
**Author:** ![SouprChckn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@SouprChckn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouprChckn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tennis-really-that-popular/80442/10 "2001-09-10T23:18:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HalberMensch242 \* > \*\*Same thing can be said about golf, can it not? > And IMHO, tennis has 100% more entertainment value. \*\* Suprisingly no. At least when Tiger is playing. In tournaments where Tiger Woods plays and is winning, a LOT of people watch (definitely more than a tennis game). Otherwise, golf is just as dismal, ratings-wise.