LOL. Yes I’m laughing at the misfortune of others.
While these contracts run through 2021, you can bet that the networks are already sharpening their pencils, and thinking about when the contracts are up for renewal.
These networks are paying big bucks for the right to broadcast the NFL. If audience erosion happens, then it stands to reason, that the networks offers for buying the rights to NFL football will decline too.
Heck, some networks might pull out entirely, not even put bids in, but instead decide to show more programming such as “American Ninja Warriors” or “Dancing With The Stars” type shows instead of the NFL.
Look at the Olympics. Far fewer cities around the world even place bids to host those games anymore. The NFL may find fewer networks willing to bid on NFL football the next time around. It’s possible.
“These networks are paying big bucks for the right to broadcast the NFL. If audience erosion happens, then it stands to reason, that the networks offers for buying the rights to NFL football will decline too.”
It’s funny you mention the networks, because they are in many ways, responsible for the decline themselves. And that goes beyond ESPN because the other networks have “sports divisions” and commentators who are no different that the tribe at ESPN. It would be a wonderful outcome if, for openers, the NFL went under and took the networks with them. When they finally were forced to pay strict attention to their viewership, a lot of the political nonsense would stop by necessity.
I can see them all scurrying around like cats covering $hit, trying to find replacement programming that would render the revenue that they were getting from the NFL. And there would be a possible “health benefit” when all the fat-a$$ed “sports junkies” were forced to do something with their time rather that sitting in front of their “big screens” blowing farts and drinking beer.
ANW athletes are as good as NFL players
The networks used to be glad to pay a premium for broadcasting NFL games, because the league brought in a steady, dependable audience year after year. This controversy has done the near impossible, it has made the NFL risky. Now, not only should the NFL get less money simply on ratings, the next contracts will have it at a discount, not a premium, to allow for the risk involved in advertising on the NFL.
As I said on another thread, lets watch how this will effect the value of the NFL franchises. I can’t wait to see the annual Forbes article on that. With sliding ratings, etc., they will go down.