Originally posted by wormwood
who cares about the people who don't care about chess. but do you have the time (or energy) to focus on watching a 6 hour game in real time, only to see it ending into a draw? I don't. my mind wanders. even the GM commentators don't, so they comment on multiple games simultaneously and take breaks.

would you want to watch a football game lasting so long it would be impossible to watch it all the way through?

Originally posted by English Tal
I think you've missed the point.
(Dumbing down wins, I guess)

Shorter games attract crowds and spectators. During the tie-breaks the broadcasting room in playchess had loads of people but during the normal time controls few people were watching.

If chess got its act together the likes of Nakamura would make pleasant viewing on TV like Tennis.