According to TVS president Eddie Einhorn, the games actually got decent ratings at first. However, affiliates started bailing out after the Philadelphia and Jacksonville gate-inflation scandals. The trickle became a flood after two teams moved in the middle of the season and two more folded altogether. New York's midseason relocation came in part because the lights at Downing Stadium were nowhere near bright enough to illuminate the entire field, leading TVS to deem them inadequate for broadcast. This limited the Stars' national television exposure to away games. By the time of the World Bowl, the games were struggling to achieve Nielsen ratings above 2.0, and TVS found it nearly impossible to sell advertising. Despite the losses, Einhorn was actually willing to stick it out until Hemmeter announced the Winds were going to try to sign Namath. Einhorn told Hemmeter that the league had effectively bet its whole credibility on Namath coming to Chicago, and none of TVS' affiliates would commit to broadcasting the 1975 season unless Namath signed with the Winds. When he didn't, the WFL was left without a national television contract. The loss of such a critical revenue stream was a factor in the league's collapse midway through the season.
according to tvs president eddie einhorn the games actually got decent ratings at first however affiliates started bailing out after the philadelphia and jacksonville gate-inflation scandals the trickle became a flood after two teams moved in the middle of the season and two more folded altogether new york's midseason relocation came in part because the lights at downing stadium were nowhere near bright enough to illuminate the entire field leading tvs to deem them inadequate for broadcast this limited the stars' national television exposure to away games by the time of the world bowl the games were struggling to achieve nielsen ratings above 20 and tvs found it nearly impossible to sell advertising despite the losses einhorn was actually willing to stick it out until hemmeter announced the winds were going to try to sign namath einhorn told hemmeter that the league had effectively bet its whole credibility on namath coming to chicago and none of tvs' affiliates would commit to broadcasting the 1975 season unless namath signed with the winds when he didn't the wfl was left without a national television contract the loss of such a critical revenue stream was a factor in the league's collapse midway through the season