Posted on 10/10/2016 5:49:16 PM PDT by SkyPilot
The NFL has a ratings problem. The causes are many, and the leading cause is certainly up for debate. But that isn’t stopping the NFL from denying that the problem has some controversial undercurrents – or that the problem exists in the first place.
Sunday Night Football between the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants drew a 10.2 overnight rating as it mostly went up against the second presidential debate, according to Sports Media Watch. It’s a steep drop from 13.1 in Week 5 of the 2015 season and the lowest overnight rating since Week 8 of the 2013 season.
The presidential debate, and the 2016 election season, are no doubt cutting into TV ratings for everyone, not just the NFL. But for an 11 percent overall drop through the first four weeks of 2016 that is likely to deepen after Week 5? Seems more like a convenient excuse.
Yet, here’s the NFL sending an internal memo to all 32 teams reassuring them that the ratings are nothing to worry about. “There is no question that unprecedented interest in the Presidential election is impacting primetime ratings,” reads the letter from NFL reps Brian Rolapp and Howard Katz. Curiously, the letter brings up the effect that the backlash over the growing national anthem protests among players is having on the ratings, which they dismissed.
“Finally, it is worth noting that we see no evidence that concern over player protests during the National Anthem is having any material impact on ratings. In fact, our own data shows that perception of the NFL and its players is actually up in 2016.”
Surely the fans are going to trust “data” coming from within the NFL. They never lie about anything. …
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.cbslocal.com ...
This is a great piece. The author has two statements that are on the money:
1. The NFL allowed players to exercise their freedom of speech rights by protesting the national anthem, fans are in turn exercising their same rights by changing the channel, and yet the league continues to deny that the boycotts over the anthem protests are having any effect on the ratings.
2. An escapist-entertainment league wouldn’t let its own fans escape on Sundays, and it’s costing them.
I think his afro sheen rotted that pussy whipped muslim brain
Baghdad Bob works for the NFL?
They forgot what nation they are the National Football League of and that some of us still love it.
They can whistle past the graveyard until they have to get real jobs.
Great stuff. Would it be asking too much for President Trump’s first State of the Union address to have HIGHER ratings than the 2017 Super Bowl?
:-)
Crapper is bringing on a destructive reaction from the fans who pay is salary.
This is delusional...
You can bet the $100 million contract says the player shall not bring disrepute upon the teams or the league, or cause any depreciation of same’s business, reputation, or market position.
I work with at least 5 other guys who have said flat-out they won’t watch the NFL this season.
Parse it any way you want, NFL Big Wigs, but the numbers don’t lie.
Think of all those taxpayer subsidized stadiums....
The NFL needs to be bankrupted, their assets seized to repay the citizens.
That picture is why I quit watching NFL. When I see an NFL player, I immediately think of that sullen, scowling bitch. Not a pleasant thought. Now, he is the face of the NFL.
The fact that players are forced to wear pink all this month doesn’t help the NFL’s ratings fall, for sure.
I know viewership is down but what about attendance?
When are the sponsors going to demand some refunds for the very pricey ad spots they are paying for based on last year’s attendance figures?
Fine by me. Political correctness has over taken the NFL. Screw them.
A week or so ago there were a lot of tickets available at very discounted prices. Not sure what happened recently.
During the great depression Hollywood had some of its best years because people wanted escapist entertainment. No one watches sports to be lectured about politically correct BS. I don’t want to watch movies or sports filled with activist nit wits I’d like to punch.
IMHO, however, the worst excesses of the Black Live Matter have been encouraged and glorified by the media to make it impossible for Trump to reach out to the black community. African Americans are getting restless on the DNC plantation and the overseers fear they will bolt if not misdirected with such silliness as this.
I predict that if Hillary!! wins they will try to rope this craziness back in as having served its purpose. Good luck with that...
I have not watched a game this season. I will not watch a game this season.
Real men do not watch NFL anymore :)
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