So I followed this up with "deep research" on ChatGPT. Pre-Luka, Mavs viewership in the DFW area drew a .7-1.3 rating, translating to between 22,000 and 41,000 households in DFW. That peaked during the Luka years with average regular-season ratings around 2.6 (around 82,000 households).
In case anyone is living under a rock, Luka is no longer playing for Dallas, and they had three starters out last night.
In contrast, for The Bachelor in the DFW market, the seasonβs average household rating (approximately 3β4 in DFW) corresponds to roughly 95,000β125,000 homes watching per episode locally. Mrs. NNM tells me that last night's episode was "hometown" episode, when they take the bachelor to his hometown for whatever shenanigans are appropriate. Apparently, this year's bachelor is a Dallas guy, so there's even higher interest in DFW.
So for some absolutely insane reason, some exec at WFAA decided that they would piss off 95,000 to 125,000 women (plus all their girlfriends who were coming over for a watch party) in the DFW market, and instead put out a putrid product with a pathetic team that, at best, 41,000 households tuned into.
Someone should be fired.