I just wish we lived in our own little ideal world...
KEYE: "KEYE, can I help you?"
"Yes, this is Mr. McNair. We just wanted to let you know, we're pulling your Texan coverage rights forever. We'll be broadcasting the Houston coverage of the game on channel 500. We're also pulling all sponsoships. I hope you live to regret your decisions when the Texans win and people forget who Vince Young is."
I mean, I could understand if they were showing the Cowboys, but the fact they're showing the Titans is a joke in my book.
I believe your hypothetical phone conversation is not possible.
It appears this situation is directly out of the hands of the Texans organization and the station.
An NFL team cannot dictate coverage outside a certain area (designated as their home) and a local TV station is probably told what to air when they don't have a home team to cover.
Lower ratings mean less money. I work in the TV syndication business, I see the Nielsen ratings, I process advertiser rebates, and I hear all the talk about ratings and the issues.
Now, I am not an expert on the TV business and I don't know the specifics of the contract between the NFL and National networks.
Having said that though, I can't imagine them running a show that will make them less money. Which is what you guys are suggesting!
The Networks get paid off the Nielsen ratings. Complain all you want about the ratings, how they are done, but that is the agreed upon method for advertisers to pay for TV spots. Spots in my business are paid in advance and settled many months later.
If you have lower ratings, you have to either pay them money back or do make good contracts. Which means you have accountants and Nielsen ratings analyst people making decisions that have no idea of the local issues regarding a broadcast. Their job is to make money!
So, if there are lower ratings, that means less money, which means less money for the NFL, which means less money for the players the way the CBA works with revenue sharing.
As you can see, it's less money for Texans players and the organization if the ratings aren't that good in Austin and there is a better alternative.
If the ratings are there, the Texans will be shown in Austin. It's really that simple!
To help the situation, the Texans should:
A. Market the Texans in Austin (which does not include having Toro and few cheerleader hanging out at some kid's birthday party, I am taking about spending some real money with a real ad campaign)
B. Win meaningful football games and push for the playoffs
I really think you guys complaining to the station is pointless. They are a business and I suspect the coverage is dictated to them anyway from a National level.