Fox Pleased by the Debate

Fox television executives, concerned about dwindling ratings and the diminished stature of baseball’s All-Star game, spearheaded the switch to the new format, in which the American League was awarded home-field advantage in the World Series for winning Tuesday night’s game, 7-6.

The move stirred controversy in and out of the game, with players criticizing the switch, baseball officials defending it, and the media and fans debating the merits of the move for several weeks.

And Fox officials couldn’t be happier.

To Ed Goren, executive producer and president of Fox Sports, the buzz created by the move, whether you’re for it or against it, has been good for the All-Star game. He was expecting at least a 10% increase over last year’s dismal ratings for a game that ended in a 7-7 tie.

“I’m really appreciative of the press and talk radio for talking so much about the All-Star game,” Goren said before Tuesday night’s game. “It’s very generous of all of you. ... We’ve created good discussion. People were talking about the All-Star game in the spring.”

Fox, in the midst of a six-year, $2.5-billion deal that gives it exclusive rights for the All-Star game and World Series, also has been heavily criticized for its refusal to take the World Series out of prime time.

Many games end near midnight in the Eastern time zone, long after much of the nation’s younger fans are asleep, and some believe baseball could lose a generation of fans because of it. But as long as Fox has television rights, don’t expect any afternoon World Series games.

“When the NCAA plays its final on a Sunday afternoon, when the NFL moves its conference championship games to the afternoon, when the NBA Finals are played in the afternoon, then maybe baseball will,” Goren said. “At these prices [for prime-time advertising revenue], no one could afford to do that.”

What about starting night games a little earlier, so kids can stay up for the end?

“Monday Night Football moved back to an 8 p.m. start [from 9 p.m.], had record-low ratings and moved back to 9 p.m.,” Goren said. “If a playoff game is competitive, the ratings in the last half hour are dramatically better than the first half hour.”