In 2005, Andrew Siciliano started the revolution.
Most of us had no idea what the DirecTV Red Zone Channel was, nor why you'd want to watch a frenetic scattering of plays from multiple NFL games rather than following a single game, but one thing became very clear, very quickly...
Andrew Siciliano was born to make you excited about Jacksonville Jaguars garbage time touchdowns. Born to narrate points processions. Born to orchestrate a six-hour NFL scoring symphony - your living room, his stage; the remote, his wand.
Red Zone Channel was barely a blip in 2005, though Commish remembers the murmurs: Will this affect regular game ratings? If people watch, what's that mean about the future of football on TV?
Fast forward 11 years, and we're living in that fuzzily imagined future. Our latest SZN poll asked, "How do you normally watch NFL games," and the votes show we prefer Red Zone to any other form of football viewing.
If you sum the Red Zone votes and the individual votes, Red Zone wins. More SZN members spend Sundays primarily watching Red Zone than those who primarily watch individual games.
We're probably not representative of the overall population of football watchers - for one, we almost certainly care more about fantasy football, the popularity of which is arguably why Red Zone was created in the first place - but still, these results speak of a massive shift in viewing habits.
Well, that, or we dream of playing Bud Light Lime roulette with Andrew Siciliano.
(What's that? Exactly. Field goal is 1 BLL; missed field goal is 2 BLLs, touchdown is 4 BLLs, and D/ST touchdown is 17 BLLs.)
In diagnosing the double-digit drop in NFL viewership this year, many have pointed out that the average time per game is way down. And since the NFL's numbers are based on total time viewing - not just unique viewers per game - that might be what's driving the overall dip.
Election, sure. Injured and suspended stars, maybe. Revolt upon learning Gus Johnson isn't calling screaming your game? No doubt a factor. But we shouldn't discount a decade of training in consuming pieces of games rather than the whole shebang.
Every year, streaming gets a little better. Every year, more things are possible on our phones. Every year, AT&T (DirecTV's owner) buys 15 more companies and expands its content reach. And last year, NFL Network launched its own version of Red Zone, making it available to people without DirecTV.
How do we feel about this, Andrew?
ANDREW SICILIANO WATCHES FOOTBALL. HE DOES NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS.
Let's get to some of your best takes:
@feastfirst (Individual games - DirecTV) just isn't a prime-time dude: "I switch back and forth between MY game and Red Zone during commercials. When MY team isn't playing, I pick the most compelling match-up and then switch to the most competitive games during the last five minutes. I watch exactly zero prime time games. No Thursday, Sunday or Monday night games. Bite me NFL with your stupid ass midnight finishes. The Pope could be playing Khameni and I wouldn't watch."
@NoPepper5 (Red Zone - TV) is an Andrew Siciliano traitor: "I'm stressed when watching RedZone, and stressed when missing RedZone. It's an odd relationship I share with Scott Hansen (Commish note: The host of NFL Network's offering) - I feel we know each other so well, and each week I'm impressed with his presidential stamina. Recently stumbled upon the following: Scott Richard Hanson is an American television anchor and reporter for NFL Network. He is currently the host of the NFL RedZone. Hanson was born and raised in the city of Rochester, Michigan. He attended Bishop Foley Catholic High School in Madison Heights, Michigan. I grew up in Troy, 1 town south of Rochester, and attended Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak, Michigan. Same division as Scott Hansen."
@SixNineWithTheAfro (Red Zone - TV) wants ALL the screens: "I admit that I suffer through Charger games, but I'll watch Red Zone mostly. I also use my computer to follow my 3 fantasy teams on Yahoo and ESPN, and my iPhone is used to track my DraftKings! Full on war room... full on addict."
@SirBear (Red Zone - TV) with the valid point that it feels like Ryan Fitzpatrick throws interceptions in multiple games every week: "Impossible to watch a single full game... Kickoff, Commercials, 3 plays punt, commercials, 8 plays TD, Commercials (to review TD), PAT, Commercials, Kickoff, Commercials, 3 plays, Commercials (fumble review), Ryan Fitzpatrick Interception, commercials, rinse repeat. Red Zone is the only way to go."
@TebowPlaysBaseballNow (sports bar) is raising a glass to the every (wo)man: "I'm dating a Bills fan, and we live in Denver. Turns out no one cares about showing the Bills on TV and I'm too poor for NFL Sunday Ticket."
@ramn78 (everything) has impressive habits, but is also trying to get himself kicked off SZN with this BLL blasphemy: "I am saddened that you don't have the option for how I watch... which is dragging a second TV into the living room and watching one game on Sunday Ticket and putting Red Zone on the other. Not to mention my laptop open on the coffee table with live updates to my fantasy teams and reading commentary on Twitter from my phone. All while consuming adult beverages (anything other than that repulsive BLL)."
You can still vote in the poll if you'd like! And, by the way, does anyone know Andrew?
... wait for it...
GET HIM IN THE POOL!!!