In the world of sports, some events exude a sense of eagerness and excitement that appeals to both fans and onlookers. However, in a shocking turn of events, “The Match VIII,” a highly anticipated golf tournament starring sports legends Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson, failed to pique interest among spectators and ended up being the least viewed match in the history of the event.
“The Match VIII” provided evidence of how sports entertainment is changing and sparked debates about how these events should proceed moving forward. Fans anxiously anticipate any adjustments and innovations that producers might make to re-energize viewing and enthrall a larger audience in upcoming installments.
The Match VIII experiences a decline in viewership
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With its blend of competition, entertainment, and star power, The Match series, a novel idea that unites the worlds of golf and celebrity, has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. Previous iterations, which included matches with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, as well as later iterations with prominent sportsmen from various sports, attracted 1.452 million viewers and created a lot of talks. But, “The Match VIII” achieved only 782,000 viewers across TNT, truTV, and HLN, which is significantly lower compared to the viewership numbers of its predecessors.
🚨📺📉 JUST IN: The Match VIII featuring Mahomes, Kelce, Curry & Thompson was the least watched match to date. It pulled only 782,000 viewers across TNT/truTV/HLN, which is far less than last June’s version (1.452 M) featuring 4 NFL QBs.
Per @AustinKarp | @JoshACarpenter pic.twitter.com/YvJkB4d0FW
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 3, 2023
The sudden drop in viewership raises concerns about how the sports entertainment industry is changing. Sports viewing habits have changed as a result of the pandemic, with streaming services and alternate viewing options becoming more popular. It appears that in this evolving environment, even big-name talent may not be sufficient to ensure significant viewing.
As the sports world continues to change, the people in charge of future ” The Match” events may need to rethink their plans to keep and grow their audience. Future episodes of “The Match” could get more people to watch by trying out new formats, getting players from different sports to take part, and being careful about when to air the show in relation to other big sporting events.
How fans reacted to The Match VIII falling viewership news?
In general, there were a variety of responses from fans to the announcement of “The Match VIII’s” poor viewership. While dismay and astonishment predominated, several fans took the chance to talk about more general trends in sports entertainment, player choice, and the effects of scheduling.
Why would it draw that much. Boring event all around
— David Stabenaw (@stabmarine) July 3, 2023
One fan took to Twitter to express his boredom while watching The Match VIII, “Why would it draw that much? Boring event all around!”
Honestly had no idea it was happening.
— Living It Up podcast (@LivingItUpPod) July 3, 2023
Another fan wrote on Twitter, “Honestly had no idea it was happening.”
Needs to go back to professional golfers. I’ve seen better matches at the local high school course
— Chris Anderson (@toomuchanderson) July 3, 2023
One Twitter fan made a bold statement in a humorous tone, “Needs to go back to professional golfers. I’ve seen better matches at the local high school course.”
It wasn’t hyped at all. I’m an avid golf follower and didn’t know it was airing until 6 hours before
— Chris Klein (@ChrisKlein247) July 3, 2023
Another fan didn’t know that the streaming of The Match VIII was happening, “It wasn’t hyped at all. I’m an avid golf follower and didn’t know it was airing until 6 hours before.”
No one wants to watch amateur golfers. Put the pros back in there. Way more enjoyable.
Add in a tee-flip challenge and ensure you get the guys who will side bet on the match as well.
Way more enjoyable.— Dan Schroeder (@DanSchroeder19) July 3, 2023
One fan opined his expression with disappointment, “No one wants to watch amateur golfers. Put the pros back in there. Way more enjoyable.”
not surprised at all by these numbers. It wasn't that much fun to watch at all. Very, very unimpressive. But cool views of the city and a spectacular course.
— WHP Sports (@SportsWhp) July 3, 2023
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Another Twitter fan expressed his disinterest in watching such kind of competition, “It wasn’t that much fun to watch at all. Very, very unimpressive.”
However, many who did watch the match expressed their appreciation for the event and its entertainment value, highlighting the distinctive features of “The Match” series. One thing stood out despite the many responses to the low viewership numbers: sports entertainment fans remain passionate and enthusiastic even in the face of unexpected results.
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What’s your opinion on the low viewership numbers of The Match VIII? Let us know your view in the comment box.
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