You have to be careful with this line of logic. Plenty of extraordinarily popular shows have been denied access to network TV. The UFC was for years. The Walking Dead on AMC. Breaking Bad on AMC. Most of HBOs shows could never be on network TV. There's a reason for basic cable broadcasting beyond popularity. ESPN is a good home for this type of event - along with crossfit.
Powerlifting: yes. Weightlifting: no. People tend to be much more impressed by the quick lifts. Is it soccer or MMA? Of course not. And it's hard to argue that crossfit isn't far worse than both simply due to the monotony of it. A 10 minute event is almost impossible to watch. Maybe it's better than powerlifting. IDK.I think powerlifting, olympic lifting, and T&F are all awesome spectacles of human performance. But the unfortunate fact is, that outside of a few individual niche communities, they're boring as shit. Crossfit may very well fall into that same category in a few years. Time will tell.