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NFL Viewership Down 20 Percent, Could Cost League $920 Million In Telecast Profits
National Economics Editorial ^ | Nov 5, 2017 | Editorial Staff

Posted on 11/30/2017 9:17:32 AM PST by Thalean

Colin Kaepernick’s anti-anthem antics have hurt the NFL big-time—the league lost roughly a million regular-season viewers last year, compared to the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In total, this was about a 6 percent drop in viewership.

But that’s nothing compared to this year’s carnage.

In the wake of the latest round of player protests (and President Trump’s twitter assault), viewership is in free-fall.

Forbes reports that this season’s television viewership is down by 3 million relative to the 2013 and 2014 seasons. And when accounting for the telecast’s average reach, and live ticket sales, the NFL’s viewership is down by over 4 million—a staggering 20 percent.

Some have tried to argue that the NFL’s decline is part of a broader trend: millennials and generation Z aren’t as interested in sports as are their parents and grandparents etc. This is true, but losing 20 percent viewership in the space of two years has nothing to do with broad trends—specifics matter. In this case, the anthem protests are squarely to blame.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationaleconomicseditorial.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: mlb; nfl; nflboycott; nflratings; sports
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TSN reports that its MLB views are way up at the same time as the NFL views are down. Don't think the NFL's declining viewership is purely the result of the anthem protests (some of it is part of the natural trend of people pirating broadcasts & opting out of cable packages), but most of it is due to Kaepernick & the rest of the bunch.
1 posted on 11/30/2017 9:17:32 AM PST by Thalean
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To: Thalean

I am not just done with the NFL for 2018. I am done.


2 posted on 11/30/2017 9:18:56 AM PST by boycott
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To: Thalean

I’m hoping for 1 billion in losses!


3 posted on 11/30/2017 9:19:43 AM PST by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: Thalean

Good to see someone out there has an IQ above room temperature—I was beginning to wonder!


4 posted on 11/30/2017 9:19:55 AM PST by cgbg (Hidden behind the social justice warrior mask is corruption and sexual deviance.)
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To: Thalean

After the season ends (seeing how the numbers work on the Super Bowl and attendance for the whole season)...I think the NFL owners will meet and discuss this at length. They could afford one single season like this...but a repeat would put them into a difficult position.

I think the draft and salaries offered for the incoming crowd will be affected. I also think that contract offers for the players over thirty years old will be affected and some will see either no contract offered or a marginal cut. Big contracts for quarterbacks? Forget about it for the next twelve months.


5 posted on 11/30/2017 9:22:22 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: Robert A Cook PE

Honestly, sports leagues shouldn’t be getting involved politically anyways, and the same thing can probably be said of consumer brands too. Like who cares what the NFL thinks of Trump? Who cares what they think of the GOP tax bill? It’s a sport’s league.

Likewise for Starbucks: if you virtue signal & pick Syrian refugees over unemployed Americans, don’t be surprised if millions of people stop drinking your coffee.

Liberal cognitive bias is astounding. Lack any self awareness.


6 posted on 11/30/2017 9:22:29 AM PST by Thalean
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To: Thalean
Only proves there was life before the NFL....AND....

this country is loaded with Patriots first....

7 posted on 11/30/2017 9:23:11 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Thalean

Wow. The NFL looks like they are on their way out. I wonder how Bill Belichick and Tom Brady feel.

Brady and Belichick are seen as “white conservative men who place success and winning over the “justice of the oppressed”.

What would Lombardi do? What would Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, and the other legends do?


8 posted on 11/30/2017 9:23:13 AM PST by GuavaCheesePuff
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To: Robert A Cook PE
I'm hoping for $1 billion in losses!

What about NFL sanctioned merchandise? I'm thinking a whole lot of folks aren't going to buy that over-priced junk for Chrismas presents this year.

9 posted on 11/30/2017 9:23:17 AM PST by grania (Deplorable and Proud of It!)
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To: Thalean

Social Justice


10 posted on 11/30/2017 9:23:51 AM PST by butlerweave
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To: Thalean

Wait until they get hit with the decline for the Play-offs and the Superbowl. Weakly stuff they can explain away somewhat. Play-offs and Superbowl are too visible and the add buys too high dollar, it’s going to leave a mark.


11 posted on 11/30/2017 9:24:08 AM PST by CMAC51
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To: Thalean

Each of these idiot owners own other businesses. If any of the people working in those other businesses showed up and desecrated or disrespected a flag on company time because they had a beef about something, that employee would be history.


12 posted on 11/30/2017 9:24:53 AM PST by RinaseaofDs (Truth, in a time of universal deceit, is courage)
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To: Thalean

20% is HUGE!!
There must be a whole lotta ‘splainin’ going on at the Board Meetings.”This is just a consumer blip. Nothing to see here!”


13 posted on 11/30/2017 9:24:59 AM PST by lee martell
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To: Thalean

Winning !!!


14 posted on 11/30/2017 9:25:03 AM PST by BuffaloJack (Men stand up for freedom; slaves kneel before their masters.)
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To: Thalean

The product isn’t that good any more, and hasn’t been for several years. I went to a Colts game a few years ago, and the numerous long commercial breaks just left me sitting there in the seat wondering why I was there. Of course, the Colts getting blown out at home might have contributed.

But it’s the same when watching a game on TV. I’d find myself wandering off to go do a project or something just to escape the boredom. So the fan interest has been something of a “bubble,” people watching just because they always had. Kapernick burst the bubble. People stopped watching, they don’t miss it, and if they do try to watch again, they realize it’s just not a good product.

NHL Hockey, on the other hand, is now very watchable and enjoyable. With large-screen HD televisions and modern camera technique, the constant action keeps my attention.


15 posted on 11/30/2017 9:25:07 AM PST by henkster
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To: Thalean

2018.

LOTS of people are not going to buy their long term season tickets.

It is going to get mucho worse for the NFL.


16 posted on 11/30/2017 9:25:52 AM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: Thalean

If I want politics, it certainly won’t come from nfl criminals.


17 posted on 11/30/2017 9:26:20 AM PST by Joe Boucher (President Trump makes obammy look like the punk he is.)
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To: lee martell

Half of the Board members are probably joining in the boycott!


18 posted on 11/30/2017 9:26:34 AM PST by cgbg (Hidden behind the social justice warrior mask is corruption and sexual deviance.)
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To: Thalean

Off Topic:
So the kids are being called “Generation Z”?
I would feel like an afterthought, were my generation given that dubious title.


19 posted on 11/30/2017 9:27:20 AM PST by lee martell
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To: grania
Good point.

Wearing an NFL shirt or sweater is becoming an anathema.

20 posted on 11/30/2017 9:28:01 AM PST by Ciaphas Cain (I don't give a damn about your feelings. Try to impress me with your convictions.)
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