Posted on 12/26/2017 10:14:39 AM PST by Kaslin
We’re quickly approaching New Years, which is traditionally a time for reflection on the events of the past year and plans for how to do better over the next twelve months. That’s particularly true for the NFL, which has seen both its television ratings and live attendance in many stadiums plunge precipitously in 2017. As the Washington Times reports this week, the leadership in the league is busy analyzing precisely what caused all of this and how they might address it in 2018.
Your first guess might logically be that the National Anthem protests were a big driving factor. That was definitely part of it, but media analysts and league insiders are also seeing a number of other disturbing trends affecting their bottom line, many of which were entirely of their own making.
The NFL is approaching the playoffs looking for a ratings turnaround after a year of record-low television numbers.
Outcry over players protesting by taking a knee during the national anthem isn’t helping, but it’s only one of several reasons fans are turning away from professional football, media analysts say.
Injuries to marquee players such as Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, teams with losing records in the nation’s largest media markets such as New York and Chicago, a glut of prime-time games, and viewers with other options have also taken a toll.
“I’d be stunned if any single factor contributed more than 2 percent to the ratings decline,” said Andrew Billings, director of the University of Alabama’s Sports Communication program.
So how bad were the numbers overall? In week 15, average television viewership was down 9 percent from the same point in 2016. Week 14 was similarly off. That translates into an average loss of 1.6 million viewers for each televised game overall. And it’s been an ongoing problem rather than a case of a single week here or there when the nation was otherwise distracted.
Some of the drivers of this were, to be fair, beyond the control of the league. Two of their biggest markets are New York and Dallas, and if you’ve been following the fortunes of the Giants, the Jets and the Cowboys you can see how people might be less excited to tune in. Ratings for the Cowboys and Giants games are down by 7% while viewership for New York Jets games is off by, er… 37%. Doesn’t that seem a bit unfair? True, my Jets are stinking up the joint at 5-10 going into the final week, but the Giants have only won two games! C’mon, man.
The league couldn’t predict or correct for the implosion of those popular teams in large media markets, but other factors were definitely under their control. The obvious target of criticism is the anthem protests which the league could have shut down as soon as Kaepernick started all of this. They didn’t do that and they’ve paid the price. If a combination of new rules from the top and a tougher line from the owners can eliminate that problem over the offseason they may begin to recover next fall.
But the other big driver seems to have been market saturation. The NFL Network has simply gotten too greedy, trying to have football on for half the days of the week. (That’s in addition to locking off certain games so they are only available on their own cable network, which not everyone has or wants.) We’re up to four different game slots on Sundays when there’s a game in London (another colossally bad idea), with prime time games on both Monday and Thursday, in addition to Sunday night. No matter how big of a fan you may be, there’s such a thing as too much football. Fans primarily want to watch their own team, and if they’re not playing they’ll watch one or two other games. But now the market is drowning in games and fewer people are making the time to watch.
On the bright side, all of these things sound fixable… except for the Jets fielding a winning team, apparently. Now that Roger Goodell has somehow landed himself another plush, five-year contract, will he make the needed course corrections and turn this around? Money is what makes the league go ’round, so I’m holding out hope that he will.
I was in a Hallmark store on Saturday and paid for my purchase with a debit card that had an Ohio State Buckeye theme. The clerk asked if I was a football fan, I didn’t get it and then she pointed out my card. I said not NFL football and she agreed as she and husband have given it up also. There were two customers behind me and they both chimed in and refused to watch, one guy was still ranting as I walked out the store.
They pretty much already have. From what I've read, 75% of the players in the NFL are black.
That in itself wouldn't be an issue, were it not for the fact that so many of them buy into the notion that America is a racist country, and that so many of them harbor a grudge against the nation that has given them so much.
I’m out as long as Goodell is head of the league,
Once again, a years worth of games have transpired, and the average team has a .500 record.
Why do fans put up with this?
Amen!!!
Dump the thugs. Repopulate rosters with good players with good character.
Game attendance is down?
Dang; why don’t they come up with even MORE fancy ways of getting close-up video and overhead shots of the action into the STADIUMS?
I can see SO much more interesting stuff at HOME with out the hassle of overpriced tickets, food and drink; security feelups and scandoulous parking prices!
I also don’t get rained/snowed/bird pooped on and I can stay warm and have a VERY short line into the restroom; that is only a few feet away.
No beer gets spilled on me by the jerk behind me, and most of my popcorn will NOT get bumped out of my hand.
I can do my OWN ‘Kiss-Cam’ if I want; and even go FARTHER than THAT at half-time!!
How can the NFL claim they need to improve when they just re-hired Goodell for a mega contract.
He must be doing everything right! ;-)
I stopped watching NFL football for the first time in fifty years. I watched every NY Giants game for fifty years and watched none this season.
It takes a world-class f___-up by the NFL to make that happen.
Boycott the jerks—if they won’t see the light let them feel the heat!
re: excessive celebration.
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
John ‘Diesel’ Riggins said it best (When asked why he didn’t ‘celebrate’)
‘You have to act like you have been there before and intend to get there again’.... (Or words to that effect)
Exactly. And this started in pre-season 2016 while Obama was still President. The 2015 to 2016 drop off was worse I think than 2016 to 2017. Anyway, two years of declining ratings and they still won't admit to the reason. Crazy.
I agree with you. Dump the thugs and SJW BS. Americans don’t pay a vast fortune to watch athletes disrespect the flag.
Excellent list. I’ll sign the letter.
Goodell is Baddell.
First, they have to get a clue.
Next, consult the Dixie Chicks.
Things changed, slowly and by degrees. Refs called more ticky-tacky penalties, and most long-yardage plays had flags come out. This, along with interminable "instant replay" delays" slowed the games down. The NFL added Sunday morning games in Europe, and Sunday night games to their schedule. Mondays were no longer locked-in from 9 to midnight, they added an extra game here and there. Thursdays (beyond Thanksgiving) were added in, and the games weren't broadcast on National TV. I began to lose interest.
Bob Costas insisted on lecturing us on his current political fad, and BO showed up on telecasts to pimp his latest thoughts. That really turned me off, never mind whether I agree or not, I want to see football, not more politics.
So, when Kapernick (and others) did his thing last season, I started to pull away from it. Kept a finger in, watched a few games, including one of the better Super Bowls of all time, but it was more out of habit than anything else.
This year, nada. The politics turned me off completely, and the fact that the players, owners, and top brass (Goodell) told me, and everyone like me, to "Kiss Off" when we complained, proved that it was the right decision. My old favorite team is probably going to make the playoffs, but I've not seen more than a few minutes of them playing.
Honestly? I thought that I'd miss it more.
I'm not Boycotting, that would imply that I might go back if their behavior changes. Nope, I'm "indifferent", which for the NFL is much, much worse. For instance, quite often this season I've completely forgotten about the Thurs/Mon night games. I can't even tell you the two teams that played last night, or the score, or even if they played - it was Christmas, after all. I don't even give the game a thought until just now, something that would have been totally inconceivable two years ago.
My indifference has been a while in coming. However, this year's political foolishness just proved that I made the correct decision.
I’m out as long as Goodell is head of the league,
...
I agree. They could have disciplined Krappernick last year and ended this, but they didn’t. They could have not renewed Goodell’s contract, but they did. I think the NFL is finished.
“There is no cure to suicide.”
That really is the bottom line.
Political stands, including Susan G komens search for the dollar, Concussion protocols and rule changes, including extra points from the 60 yard line...just a little sarcasm there. Too high of pay, high ticket prices, the act of the league joining into the common cause of BLM and never Trump. Last and most importantly, the ripping away of the facade of “The game”. It is impossible to go back and be transformed from a week of responsibilities to that awe, wonder and purity of “THE GAME”. They destroyed a myth, like telling us Santa doesn’t exist every day of the year. Then telling us the Elves are oppressed.
I made a reply already, but I should have read yours first. I agree with every point.
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