Aaron Rodgers Is Following His Success on ‘Jeopardy’ By Launching a New Business
Aaron Rodgers has temporarily turned in his Green Bay Packers uniform for a suit and tie to guest host Jeopardy! The quarterback’s episodes have been a huge hit with both football and game show fans. Now — to follow up his successful guest-hosting stint — Rodgers is launching a new business.
‘Jeopardy!’ ratings increased during Aaron Rodgers first week as host
During Rodgers’ first week as guest host of Jeopardy!, the ratings spiked 14 percent from the previous week. According to TV News Check, Rodgers’ first week of episodes scored a number one finish on the syndication chart for the period ending April 11. With a 5.6 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating. That put it ahead of Family Feud and Wheel of Fortune.
A live-plus-same-day rating includes the live viewing numbers from the previous night, plus delayed viewing until 3:00 am local time.
Rodgers’ episodes between April 5 and 9 gave Jeopardy! its best ratings performance in a month. The episodes received higher numbers than Dr. Mehmet Oz and Katie Couric’s guest-hosting stints.
Aaron Rodgers wants to be the permanent host of ‘Jeopardy!’
Rodgers prepared extensively for his guest hosting gig and did everything he could to hype up his appearance. As the lineup of guest hosts continue to parade through the gameshow after Alex Trebek’s death from pancreatic cancer, it’s likely that ratings will have a major influence on who will get the job permanently.
The Green Bay QB told CBS that he would love to be the permanent host of Jeopardy!, even while he’s still playing football.
“I don’t think I’d need to give up football to do it,” Rodgers said. “They film 46 days a year. I worked 187 this year in Green Bay. That gives me 178 days to do Jeopardy! So I feel like I could fit 46 into that 178 and make it work. It would be a dream job for sure, and I’m not shy at all about saying I want the job. That’s how I went into it. I want an opportunity to be in the mix.”
The Green Bay Packers quarterback is launching a new business with his pal
As if being an NFL quarterback and hosting a number-one rated game show weren’t enough, Rodgers is also starting a new business. According to The New York Post, Rodgers and his pal Ryan Rottman are launching an IMDb-like sports platform.
Rodger and Rottman have raised $2.5 million to create a sports platform that would look a lot like the popular internet movie database. But instead of sharing info about actors and their credits, it will provide information on athletes.
The new Online Sports Database (OSDB) launched on Tuesday, April 20. On the new site, can find athlete profiles, salary info, endorsements, statistics, charitable foundations, and agent contacts.
The site will cover the NFL, NBA, and MLB
Rottman, an actor and producer, says that the new sports database is a “verified Wikipedia meets IMDb.” They have started with coverage of the NFL, NBA, and MLB. But, they have big plans for growth.
To make the project financially viable, they have a subscription model, affiliate deals, and advertising.
Most of the content on the Online Sports Database will be free. The subscription sections will cost $9.99 per month, and that will give subscribers access to agent contact info.
Aaron Rodgers’ business partner thought he was kidding
Rodgers and Rottman have known each other for nearly a decade. It was Rottman who pitched Rodgers the idea one night at dinner.
“He just stopped me right there and said, ‘Who have you told?'” Rottman said. “I said, ‘No one, really.’ He said, ‘Don’t tell anyone. There is a white space in the market, let’s build it.’ He has a great sense of humor so I thought he was kind of kidding about, ‘Let’s do this.’ But then he was dead serious, which I’m thankful for.'”
