I write up a report each week on what game to watch, and my analysis this week starts with

"Halfway through the season we've had 4M total viewers - meaning we're on pace for fewer than we'd normally get in an Independence season. We're 6-0, ranked and in the driver's seat for a conference title and playoff bid. And yet, we're not in the Top 50 among P4 teams in viewership. More than that, we're #11 in viewership among teams in the Big 12. We're eligible for all the same TV windows as the rest of the teams in the conference...but we either aren't maximizing those windows or network executives would rather have other teams in those windows."

And I get it.  There's generally valid reasons and excuses for the lower viewership numbers.  Someone suggested we should hope to get 4M viewers in our game against Arizona, and I responded that we'd be lucky to get 2M, given the other games on in the same window.  So I definitely get it.  That said, I was expecting something like 1.6M to 1.8M...so getting only 1.3M was still pretty rough.

And as much as we want to blame TV windows and channels, keep in mind that we have the same contract as every other team in the Big 12 and the same available windows and channels.  So either we're not doing as well in those opportunities or (more likely in my opinion), ESPN and FOX aren't currently viewing us as being as valuable in those top windows and would rather put other teams there.  That #11 number in the Big 12 hurts me.  We're not going to get the better opportunities until we consistenlty show network executives that we deserve them.  There's a reason Florida and Nebraska get those spots even in down seasons, while others (Indiana, Mizzou) don't even when they're good.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here (everyone here is the most intense of BYU fans and generally watches), but we really need to activate our latent casual fanbase.  There's a lot of people like my wife who are more fans of BYU as an institution than as a sports program and don't watch or follow.  With the invitation to the Big 12, the top-rated basketball recruiting class, and now the undefeated season putting us in the mix for a conference championship and a playoff berth, there's never been more reason for excitement and I'd love to see some of that translate to more impressive viewing numbers.  Frankly, I'm not completely sure why it hasn't, but am hopeful the second half of the season will be much improved in that regard.