Excuse me sir, may I have some more?
Days ago, core surf fans guffawed and side-eyed as World Surf League CEO Erik Logan released the almost unbelievable numbers surrounding the World Surf League’s Finals Day there on Lower Trestles cobbled stone. Underneath a picture of Logan hoisting a trophy, smiling ear to ear beneath manicured beard, the head of competitive professional surfing declared:
The day will go down as the biggest day in pro surfing. The data and the numbers are undeniable.
– Broke the record for the most watched day in WSL history
by 22%
– Over 8.3 million total Livestream views (and still
counting)
– Over 1 million viewers on linear TV globally, with more
airings to come!
Psshhht.
Whatever.
Except, numbers are beginning to trickle in for the National Football League’s first Thursday Night game of the year from two days ago. Sporting fans will know that Amazon purchased the rights to the pre-weekend extravaganza from the League for a whopping 1.2 billion dollars per year and has completely renovated the evening from new announcers, fancy new camera angles, the works.
Historic in that it was the first exclusively streamed NFL game ever, much like the World Surf League streams its contests.
Well, early numbers suggest that the game ranked a bit lower in the home markets of the competing teams (Los Angeles and Kansas City) and will likely reach between 5 and 7 million total views.
Smashed to a pulp by Toledo, Gilmore and the velvety pipes of Joe Turpel!
World Surf League ex-CEO Paul Speaker prophetic!
WOW!