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Gotcha, what was the first story that was covered?
http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/other/09/07/0907Vince.html
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Gotcha, what was the first story that was covered?
Gotcha, what was the first story that was covered?
Vince Young has not been able to banish Matt Schaub to the bench. Not yet, anyway. Despite rumors and blog entries to the contrary, the quarterbacks for the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans will be alternating snaps on KEYE-TV.
"We are in no way dumping the Texans," said Gary Vinson, programming/research director for KEYE. "That's Texans fans making things up as they go. I have never said anything like that. ... We're going to be doing what we did last year, going back and forth (between the teams)."
Young, however, will be getting the first two games as Tennessee opens the NFL season at Jacksonville on Sunday and then faces Super Bowl champion Indianapolis at home.
With the Texans being 150 miles away, they looked to be the natural home team for KEYE, which as a CBS affiliate has rights to AFC games. But problems arose as the Texans, an expansion team in its sixth season, struggled.
"We want the Texans to be a flourishing, vibrant franchise, but that hasn't happened," Vinson said Thursday.
Many fans became disgruntled when the Titans passed on a chance to take Young with the first pick of the 2006 NFL draft.
Young played his high school football in Houston and led the University of Texas to the 2005 national championship, the first for the school in 35 years.
When KEYE aired a Titans game last fall, Austin fans responded. The Titans game pulled in more than three times as many viewers as the Texans game that had aired the previous week
"It was a significant number, so we started showing some of the Titans," Vinson said.
As much as I hate KEYE, that's a pretty good response from Vinson there.
Eh. Bleep him anway. We're still the local team despite the ratings.
Oh I've just went and done it! I'm now chanting KEYE SUCKS in my living room and my girlfriend is now giving me the "Where does one purchase straightjackets?" look.
What Mr. Vinson fails to account for: last year was an oddity. Taking my own feelings and attributing them to all Texans fans --- it was pretty obvious early on that with Carr at the helm, the season was sunk. I felt betrayed, and wanted Carr gone. My motivation to watch was at its lowest point. Ever.
So, Mr. Vinson fails to account for the COLOR behind the DATA (ie, 2006 was sunk; 2007 brings a fresh start with a viable football product). And he then applies the 2006 data to a new 2007 team.
Whatever.
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Great idea inviting the media down to 3rd Base! I gotta tell ya, 3rd Base is getting alot of help from us. From bringing more people to a new sports bar to including them in our media coverage as the "home base" for Austin Texans fans. I hope in the end that their management sees this and responds by being really attentive to this opportunity to develop a permanent client base.
Any word on that banner?
b
Does anyone know the manager/owner? Maybe we can get Texans specials by wearing Texans gear on sunday's.
I just realized that it is Saturday, September 15 about 6:30 am and
Keye42 still sucks!
-----Original Message-----
From: boycott keye42 [mailto:boycott.keye42@gmail.com]
Sent: Fri 9/14/2007 7:18 PM
To: Vinson, Gary A
Subject: One more voice
Mr Vinson,
I would like to add my name to the list of Texans fans who are currently
showing their displeasure at KEYE42's decision to show Titans games instead
of Texans games.
I'm sure you've heard every conceivable argument for both sides of this
topic, so I won't burden you with any more.
I will be contacting as many of your advertisers as I can to voice my
opinion as well. This will be done respectfully, as I know you are only
doing your jobs.
I just want my voice to be heard, and if enough voices join, you will be
persuaded to change your decision on the matter.
Good day.
On 9/14/07, Vinson, Gary A <gavinson@keyetv.com> wrote:
Thanks for writing to KEYE. Your logic that you know I am just doing my job, but you'll act out anyway is a little fuzzy to me, but more importantly, your comments seem to suggest that you believe game selection on KEYE is a personal decision on my part - which is completely incorrect.
Its the local football fans in Austin who choose what games are aired on KEYE. We monitor the level of sports viewing every Sunday on KEYE and plan our schedules accordingly. Perhaps a little background on the Texans and KEYE would help provide an explanation.
In the Texans first season we aired 4 preseason and 14 regular season games by the Texans. That was every game available to us. In their second season we aired 4 preseason and 14 regular season as well. In the third season there were only 3 preseason games available, and we followed that with 14 regular season games. In their fourth season, we aired 4 preseason games, but only had access to 10 regular season games (and aired all of them). The other games were available on other networks.
In the fifth season, we aired the only 2 preseason games available to us, and in mid-season began to show some of the Titans games as well as the Texans. In the end, we aired 9 Texans games and 9 Titans games. Also during those five years we aired their pre-game specials, covered their training camps, and reported on them in KEYE Sports. It would be difficult to make the case that KEYE didn't give it up for the Texans, in fact, it would only be possible to make that case if you just simply ignored the facts..
The last All-Texans-All-The-Time game we showed was in Oct of last year, and in that game just 15,000 households tuned in (in a city of 602,340 households). The very next week we aired a Titans game and 54,0000 households tuned in. (A 260% increase in the number of fan's households that tuned in of their own free will) There were several games when 70,000+ fans tuned in. These results repeated throughout the remainder of the year.
I know for a fact that the Houston Texans franchise is very aware of this and are not too happy that a local college football hero playing for a team in another state attracts more viewers than their own team which is just 150 miles up the road. This result is after almost five years of KEYE airing every single Texans game we could get our hands on. It may be a sad fact for some, but its a fact none-the-less.
We at KEYE (very obviously) would love for the Texans to have a great year and regain some of their fan base. Perhaps this is their year to do just exactly that. We can only hope that they field a strong team (looks good so far) and that football fans are attracted to it - after all, that is how ball clubs are built.
We will have the Titans on in weeks one and two, then the Texans in weeks three, four, and five. I hope (and want to believe) the Texans fans will show up in larger numbers than they have in the past.
Again, thanks for writing in, my direct line is listed below, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Gary Vinson
Programming / Research Director
ph: 512.490.2159
My Response:
Mr. Vinson,
I bridled somewhat at your usage of the words "act out", but that isn't what prompted me to respond. I realize that the decision to air Titans games is based on numbers. My intent, and the intent of others that I am associated with, is simply to amass sufficient numbers to convince your station that it is in it's best interest (financially) to resume showing Texans games. Your bottom line is based on revenue, we intend, quite simply, to win this numbers game.
This is nothing personal against you, just as you would say that your decision is nothing personal to Texans fans.
The ground swell of emotion for VY will eventually subside, and you will have created a environment of ill will in it's wake for all Texans fans. This seems short sighted, in my opinion. Had you decided to show Texans games instead of Titans games, you would not have created such an emotionally charged issue... college fans don't expect television stations to constantly cater to their flavor of the day, and follow the pro teams that have drafted their college heroes... local people do expect you to show games of local or regional significance.
I don't live in Austin, but thought I'd pitch in to a small degree.
The following emails are from an email address I set up (the emails have been put in chronological order), boycottkeye42@gmail.com:
vinson's flawed numbers:
He states that keyesucks was all Texans all the time until October 2006.
Lets look a bit closer.
Texans schedule 2006:
Oct 1 miami @ Houston, 17-15, Texans record, 1-3
Oct 8-bye
Oct 15-Houston @ dallas, 6-34, Texans 1-4
Oct 22-jax @ Houston, 27-7, Texans 2-4
Oct 29-Houston@ titans, 22-28, Texans 2-5
all games on cbs/keyesucks
Now which one of these games drew 15,000 viewers?
miami?
Dallas?
jax?
Tenn?
quote vinson:
"The last All-Texans-All-The-Time game we showed was in Oct of last year, and in that game just 15,000 households tuned in (in a city of 602,340 households). The very next week we aired a Titans game and 54,0000 households tuned in. "
He's making these numbers work how HE wants to make them work!
titans Oct 2006 sched:
Oct 1-dallas @ ten(fox game) 45-14
oct 8-titans @ indy, 13-14
oct 15-titans @ washington, 25-22
oct 22-bye
oct 29-Houston @ titans, 28-22
Now WHICH GAME DREW the 260% increase!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, could it be the colts game...compared to the Texans playing the dolphins??
Our boy vinson is not making an apples to apples comparison...
what was the rating for the Houston @ dallas game????
To quote Mark Twain:
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
It would be nice to know details here. Are we comparing apples to apples here? In other words, if he's talking about a Texans game at the *same time* as a Cowboys game on Fox, and comparing it to a Titans game when there was NO competing NFL game on Fox, then these numbers are a joke.The last All-Texans-All-The-Time game we showed was in Oct of last year, and in that game just 15,000 households tuned in (in a city of 602,340 households). The very next week we aired a Titans game and 54,0000 households tuned in. (A 260% increase in the number of fan's households that tuned in of their own free will)
It would be nice to know details here. Are we comparing apples to apples here? In other words, if he's talking about a Texans game at the *same time* as a Cowboys game on Fox, and comparing it to a Titans game when there was NO competing NFL game on Fox, then these numbers are a joke.
Who is the opponent?
Was there a competing game on Fox at the same time?
Who was playing in the competing game on Fox?
The raw numbers are meaningless without this context.
For example, right NOW, September 16, the Titans are on against the Colts and there is NO competing game on Fox. Between featuring the defending Super Bowl champions and having NO competing game on Fox 7, of COURSE the viewership will be higher. If they show the Texans next week competing against another game on Fox and viewership drops, will KEYE blame the Texans for not "drawing" or Fox for not giving them a captive audience of football fans?
My Response:
Mr. Vinson,
I bridled somewhat at your usage of the words "act out", but that isn't what prompted me to respond. I realize that the decision to air Titans games is based on numbers. My intent, and the intent of others that I am associated with, is simply to amass sufficient numbers to convince your station that it is in it's best interest (financially) to resume showing Texans games. Your bottom line is based on revenue, we intend, quite simply, to win this numbers game.
This is nothing personal against you, just as you would say that your decision is nothing personal to Texans fans.
The ground swell of emotion for VY will eventually subside, and you will have created a environment of ill will in it's wake for all Texans fans. This seems short sighted, in my opinion. Had you decided to show Texans games instead of Titans games, you would not have created such an emotionally charged issue... college fans don't expect television stations to constantly cater to their flavor of the day, and follow the pro teams that have drafted their college heroes... local people do expect you to show games of local or regional significance.
Vinson said:I want to thank you (truthfully) for the most clear and thoughtful response I have received from anyone over the past weeks (bar none). That phrase I used has stuck in my head ever since I typed it. Clearly, I should choose my phrases more respectfully, and I promise I will.
I too have to admit I bridled a little at your comment that this wasn't personal. I have been personally attacked, insulted, and embarrassed from one end of the blogosphere to the other. The hidden irony is that I am the very person who implemented and enforced the All-Texans-All-The-Time policy on behalf of the Houston Texans franchise and their potential fan base. In the end, a small number of bandwagoners have managed to thoroughly alienate me from the cause that I championed and that they harp about. They've learnt me good. But that's not even the whole of it.
A viewer recently sent me a link to a Texans message board where Vince Young was the topic. There was one person that stood out from the rest; this person spoke (typed) respectfully and you could just tell the person was simply enjoying the talk about their favorite team. This person was apparently making plans to go to the next Texans viewing party but instead made a fatal error; this person said something favorable about Vince Young. The poster explained that VY had been a local hero of theirs in Houston and didn't see the problem in "enjoying" Vince as well as being able to root for the Texans.
I watched the other members of the board unceremoniously pounce, and very soon the person was repeatedly insulted and simply driven away. I also saw a local (self-described) business leader in Austin make a complete a** out of himself to a professional association over this. This whole thing has inspired what are (presumably otherwise) normal fans to publicly hope for Vince Young to have his legs broken so that they can see their game on Sunday. The morning of September 11th when a most of the country was either busy at work or perhaps reflecting on 2001 in some way, I had Texans fans emailing me with the most (forgive me) sophomoric outrage at not getting their game. Its a bit of a head-shaker.
The most common characteristic seems to be that no one wants to deal with the facts on the ground - more people choose to watch one team over the other (in significant numbers). Period. Instead, its about Nielsen, its me, its KEYE, its UT alumni running the town, it Vince Young, its Bud Adams, its CBS, its Texas pride, its local sports media not giving Houston a break, its the Cowboys, its the Oilers, its the Longhorns, its about expansion teams, its about who was born in Texas and who was not, its about 150 miles of highway, it anything and everything but the record of the Texans and the resultant size of their fan base in Austin.
To be fair, there have been a huge number of upset Texans fans who have been told the facts and have come to understood the issue, They certainly may not be happy about it, but they're not doing the brown acid over it either.
The thing that I liked about your response, is that you analyzed the info and cut right to the chase of whats on my mind. I am not so worried anymore about fan outrage, I have seen enough of it in all its glory (and cant effect it with the facts anyway), but your thoughts on expectations are interesting, and is something we think about regularly regarding this issue. Very insightful. My only problem is that when I showed the games, very few fans supported their team, repeatedly, for years.
Again, thanks for the email.
-Gary V
michaelm after the Texans win against the Panthers said:Mr. Vinson,
I have just come to realize the huge problem you will have if the Texans win next week against the Colts. As you say, the Texans will be shown on your station for the following three weeks. The audience for the Texans/Colts figures to be pretty large, perhaps rivaling the numbers you site for the Titans games you have shown. If the Texans somehow beat the Colts, the numbers for the next two Texans games will be huge, I think. Large enough to justify showing more games...
On the surface, this seems like a good situation for you, but it is not... you will be in a particularly large pickle at that point. If you switch back to showing Titans games, you will not only be disproving all of your previous explanations for removing the Texans from your lineup, you will face an even larger uprising than is currently happening.
On the other hand, if you decide to show the Texans, you will alienate all of the VY fans in your own back yard.
I do not envy you. The genie seems to be out of the bottle on this one. Even a Texans loss to the Colts may not change the eventual outcome I have described. If they win any two of the next three, you will come face to face with the monster that has been created.
Crank up the spin machine Mr. Vinson. You may well need it, and soon.
A viewer recently sent me a link to a Texans message board where Vince Young was the topic. There was one person that stood out from the rest; this person spoke (typed) respectfully and you could just tell the person was simply enjoying the talk about their favorite team. This person was apparently making plans to go to the next Texans viewing party but instead made a fatal error; this person said something favorable about Vince Young. The poster explained that VY had been a local hero of theirs in Houston and didn't see the problem in "enjoying" Vince as well as being able to root for the Texans.
I watched the other members of the board unceremoniously pounce, and very soon the person was repeatedly insulted and simply driven away. I also saw a local (self-described) business leader in Austin make a complete a** out of himself to a professional association over this. This whole thing has inspired what are (presumably otherwise) normal fans to publicly hope for Vince Young to have his legs broken so that they can see their game on Sunday. The morning of September 11th when a most of the country was either busy at work or perhaps reflecting on 2001 in some way, I had Texans fans emailing me with the most (forgive me) sophomoric outrage at not getting their game. Its a bit of a head-shaker
The latest exchanges between me and Vinson
Then the business leader would be Hookem, I'd assume?
We need to have KEYE42 SUCKS signs for the Colts games and try to get them on TV.
That would send a message to the VY jock-sniffing, UT loving, anti-Texan, double talking, lying, ignorant SOB.
Just make sure CBS isn't anywhere on the sign and you might sneek one in there!
A "K-EYE Sucks" sign in the Bullpen would make my year.
Maybe I will get my daughter to work on it for me. I am not very artistic.
If anyone can do it Ted can, he is VERY good at getting people to hold signs and being HEARD and SEEN!!!
Every game I see Ted Yankee and Joe Texan (when the games are actually aired in Austin).
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It seems like I always see Overalls. At least I think it's Overalls. It's a guy wearing Overalls.
Dont forget Preston, Dean Jeff, GMA, Bullpen Andy, and Yank, they are all tv grabbers, seen em many times!Every game I see Ted Yankee and Joe Texan (when the games are actually aired in Austin).
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One other game has the DAL playing NE on CBS which will be a conflict with HOU and TN, which I’m sure they will show DAL (Austin can’t be without a Cowboy game). ... The Cowboys play on CBS for week 6 and conflict with HOU and TN…they will pick DAL. …and then the 7th opportunity will go to DAL instead of HOU or TN.
6 Cowboys (playing NE on CBS; conflict with Texans and Titans) x -1