NFL enduring unprecedented double-digit TV ratings drops this year

fiercecable.com ^ | 4 Oct 2016 | by Daniel Frankel

[DIRTYSECRET]

I knew it was skating on thin ice over other issues. Injuries to star players. Suspensions to star players. Blown calls that cost the game. Last: Going for the big hit instead of the tackle. Going for the interception on a long pass on 4th down. Heads are not in the game.

[wbill]

Let's see...it could be the internet. Yeah! The Internet! Surely that didn't exist before 2016.....waitaminute...

Yeah! The election! That's it! It affected everything, going back to events that were happening even BEFORE the election! Yeah, that's the ticket!

People don't want politics with their sports. Seems that the MSM is rapidly learning this fact.

[scottinoc]

I was thinking this crap was limited to the NFL, so I limited my football watching to college only, but then heard the announcers praise the Michigan players for protesting during the national anthem and how it was “bigger than the game” and all that crap, so I turned that off too.

[TigerClaws]

I’m boycotting and posted their list of sponsors here the first week this started.

Until it stops I won’t be back.

People also develop other habits. Might never see many of these viewers come back.

[dfwgator]

I would dare say the main thing keeping NFL ratings afloat is the Fantasy Leagues, people watch just to see how their fantasy players are doing.

[bgill]

Keep it up, NFL. Those boycotting fans may see they can live without football indefinitely.

[PGR88]

So does the NFL lose money?

Exactly. What does this do to TV revenue?

[DIRTYSECRET]

In summary: It’s blacks. Condi can still save it.

[Delta 21]

Yay Capitalism !

[submarinerswife]

We wouldn’t pay to the NFL Sunday ticket, if not for every year we get it free from Directv.

I really despise watching in October for the NFL pandering to women. Making the players wear bright pink is feminzing men.

[SkyDancer]

I guess if it costs money to the stations they’ll drop NFL broadcasts?

[cherry]

the nba apparently is in on the America bashing as well...looks like our TV watching will be avoiding them as well...

[Chengdu54]

Virtually all the significance of pro football has drained away for me over the past several years. From various acts of thuggery to manifest acts of ignorance and bigotry to lame Super Bowl halftime shows to current displays of political stupidity. And then I think, my God these are adults making millions of dollars for acting like total punks. Yeah I know there are exceptions, but all in all why the hell would I want to waste precious hours watching this nonsense?

[TBall]

It was fun to watch the Ryder Cup last weekend. Overflowing with patriotism.

[pfflier]

Its time to go after the sponsors too. Budweiser and USAA need to get the message.

[Berlin_Freeper]

United Soccer League Total Attendance Increases by 33 Percent in 2016
http://90soccer.com/ussoccer/united-soccer-league-total-attendance-increases-by-33-percent-in-2016/

[KevinB]

“I would really start with the election — I don’t think you have to look much deeper than that,” Mulvihill said.

Mr. Mulvihill is a certified idjit!

[11th_VA]

I still have my USAA - but I should at least give ‘em a call

[needmorePaine]

I've read a few articles and listened to some sports talk concerning the declining ratings, and no one seems willing to recognize that the protests are turning people off. They look for every other reason under the sun.

Now, I think the declining ratings are part of a trend that started a few years ago, and there are multiple reasons (e.g., declining interest among younger people, changing viewing habits, nebulous rules and bad officiating, etc.), but this year is absolutely being impacted by reactions to the anthem protests.

[peeps36]

It figures that my team is finally playing good football and I can't watch them because of some idiots in the league. I refuse to watch an NFL game this year. I'll go online to check the scores on Sunday.