The likely leading causes of the NFL’s significant TV ratings decline

Washington Post ^ | October 12, 2016 | Mark Maske

[C19fan]

The financial cornerstone of the NFL as it has grown into the nation’s most prosperous and popular sports league has been its network television deals. Pro football has been TV ratings gold, and the league’s handsome reward for that has been contracts with the networks now collectively worth an estimated $7 billion annually.

So when ratings for NFL games slip, even while remaining at comparatively lofty levels, it is noteworthy. Such is the case this season, with the sport’s overall TV ratings down about 11 percent from last season.

[Kozy]

I call it the PTN Effect ( Penney, Target, NFL. This is the same effect that is sitting and waiting to vote this year.
Hey 30 years ago I copped a feel. I was a bad boy. Actually I was a man with a normal sex drive. At least I didn't rape women on two continents nor did I mentally and physically assault those rape victims for my husband.

[NorthMountain]

I’ll give you three reasons: Colon Crapperdick, Colon Crapperdick, and Colon Crapperdick.

[Snickering Hound]

I’ll agree with a lack of inspiring teams to watch in big markets being a part of it.

NY Jets/Giants and Chicago Bears are unwatchable this year.

And write off the entire state of Florida.

But this excuse of so many other choices is laughable. There have been hundreds of channels for years now.

[American Guesser]

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’ve stopped watching because I won’t watch a bunch of spoiled ghetto retards disrespect the police and the country.

[rjsimmon]

The likely leading causes of the NFL’s significant TV ratings decline

1. Eczema
2. Seborrhea
3. Psoriasis

[Lurkinanloomin]

They can keep their heads in the sand.
I’ll keep not watching.

Wouldn’t want to oppress them.

[RegulatorCountry]

The election might have something to do with it, and cable cord-cutting does have something to do with it, but the vast majority of the decline is due to kneeling during the national anthem and they know it. It’s entertainment and escapist fare, dragging political controversy into it is turning people off in a major way.

[Calvin Locke]

...spinning REAL HARD to deny it’s Kaepernick.

The article mentions the anthem protests once, and even then, it's in the same sentence as concussions, at which point the NFL lackey talks about concussions not being an issue with the decline.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Off topic but I missed the ESPN special with Obama the other night. I wonder if Obama pontificated about any of this.

Why does the president go on ESPN to comment on sports and draw parallels to societal issues anyway??? Was he just making yet another liberal political statement???

[Billthedrill]

The flak in the Comments section ought to give the author a clue. I’ve read milder stuff on FR.

[GOPJ]

I call it the PTN Effect ( Penney, Target, NFL.) This is the same effect that is sitting and waiting to vote this year.

You're right... and good point about the human sex drive - without it there would be NO human race...

[Buckeye McFrog]

Valid point on the cord-cutting.
I knew the NFL would come to regret taking games
away from “free” TV.

[Buckeye McFrog]

No Steelers have been kneeling or raising fists.

To be fair only a tiny minority of players league-wide have done this. The vast majority of black players have not done it.

It’s Roger Goodell’s lack of response that is ticking people off.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Reasons for NFL ratings decline:

• Over expansion - there are only so many exceptional athletes available. Mediocrity is the new norm. Thugs fill the vacuum and the quality of the product suffers.
• Bye week - Most NFL fans follow one team. The bye week means they go at least two weeks between games.
• Night games - Thursday and Sunday. If you work or go to school in the morning, staying up 'till Midnight isn't always an option. Combined with the bye week, a fan could conceivably go four weeks without being able to watch their team.
• Social activism - Football is entertainment and an escape from every day problems. Being reminded that someone has breast cancer (or worrying about it yourself if you are a female) is depressing.
• Ditto for these "protests" - Fans that are still around after the above are going to find this the "last straw" and find something better to do with their three hours.

[ladyjane]

I was just about to post that. I used to be a big fan. Don’t want to watch a bunch of thugs running around the field and it’s painful listening to them talk about the game and the plays. Thug ball.

[dirtymac]

What I am sick of is the hiring of females to find out how someone feels about loosing the game, career ending injuries, or new hair dos. I am also nauseated by the constant fashion shows of retro uniforms. Roslenberger, et al, looked like a swarm of bees last week.

I don’t mind the women but I don’t hiring them because they are women.

It’s a damn football game! not a social experience

[BuffaloJack]

I am one of the causes of the NFL ratings drop.
I have not watched a single game or purchased any sponsor’s products since the sniveling weasels at the NFL decided to boycott the national anthem of MY COUNTRY.
These football stars are not heroes, my heroes wear dog tags.

[dfwgator]

Off topic but I missed the ESPN special with Obama

You and the entire rest of the country.

[Big Red Clay]

That reminded me of a story. My wife’s assistant’s husband (who we hang out with on occasion) is/was a huge Bengals fan. I’m talking a fan that would travel to at least one Bengals road game every year from Omaha. Has loved them since he was a little kid. After the debacle from the playoff game last year he was so pissed that he swore off the Bengals and hasn’t watched them since. Got rid of all his gear and his kid’s gear as well. I was kidding him this spring that he would reconsider once the season rolled around. He hasn’t and says he won’t. I still can’t beleive it.

[kosciusko51]

I did not watch it, but I can’t say I missed it.