Sagging NFL TV ratings leave owners scrambling for answers

[BigRedRage]

I've heard from others that they'll start watching the NFL again once they put a stop to the anthem protests.

Regardless of your feelings about it, there are people ticked off about the protests by players. It is seen by many as both anti-police and unpatriotic.

It also appear that one of our own is boycotting as well.

I imagine it is a small percentage of the drop. I dont think significant amounts of people stop watching the nfl because one of the players is a *******.

 

[Capital Card]

I'm just busier right now. I don't miss Cardinal games, but I pretty much have to wait until after kids go to bed to see them.

It's a rare, when I can sit down and channel surf through the Sunday Ticket lineup. When it does happen, I'm usually interrupted within 30 minutes.

 

[devilalum]

Teenagers and 20 somethings are bored to tears by football.

They have so many choices. Why would they willingly watch a 3 hour broadcast that only involves approximately 20 minutes of actual action.

 

[Bert]

I have a whole group of friends who claim to be not watching anymore because of the Kapernick thing. Yes, welcome to Arizona, the land of overreaction.

Here is how that whole thing is being spun in some circles:

The NFL wont let guys wear 9/11 shoes but they let Kapernick kneel! The NFL is Anti America!!!!

I sprained my brain rolling my eyes so hard. God help us all. I agree that the timing of the whole thing sucked and it's not a great look for the NFL, but C'mon man. Anti America? Give me a freakin break.

I'm like guys, the NFL has all these "rules" that are agreed upon contractually with the players union. 9/11 shoes are a violation of a written rule, kneeling during the anthem is not. There's really no discretion being applied here it's just something they never foresaw coming I'm sure. You cant punish someone for something that isn't a rules violation... I'm like, now if Kapernick tried to wear "Black lives matter" shoes, the NFL would come down on him just like the 9/11 shoes... CUZ ITS A FREAKING RULE! lol

But you know, logic and reason, not the strong suit of many...

 

[MrYeahBut]

I enjoy NFL football as much as ever

Oh, I still enjoy the heck out of it and watch pretty much everything that's on, Texans/Colts start to finish is an example of my addiction. I just don't pay for Sunday ticket anymore. Redzone on my phone is good enough to keep up with the rest of the league.

 

[Sandan]

We need to be able to stream games WITHOUT a cable subscription or Direct TV.

There many [and increasing] people like me that do not have and TV. Heck I can't even get broadcast or satellite .. too many trees.

 

[Dback Jon]

The low ratings for the Colts and Texans game had nothing to do with the National Anthem and everything to do with the Colts and Texans...both teams play like hot garbage and the only watchable player for either team (JJ Watt) isn't playing.

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Yup.

And I would bet that 90% of those saying that they are boycotting the NFL because of the issue really aren't

 

[Borderrat]

I have watched much less football this year and have started thinking about giving up my Cardinals season tickets. 26 year season ticket holder here.

Why? I may be in the minority here. Several reasons all coming to a head led by the National Anthem protests. That is what is pushing me over the edge. Tired of seeing the camera rush to the protesters. Did they ever show the playing of the National Anthem on Television before the protesters started? The are all a bunch of hypocrites anyway. Any of them marching in Chicago or protesting there. Ya that would require actually putting in effort. Goodell says they are free to protest but god forbid the Dallas Cowboys honor the 5 slain officers. Anyone watch the Dallas Stars Hockey game opening night. They did it right.

Other reasons are - What is a catch anymore? Tired of it. Big hits that are clean getting flagged. This is still football. Right? Getting bitched at for standing at a game. I am tired of having crap shoved down my throat every week. Domestic Violence? I don't hit women. I am all for Breast Cancer awareness and support it by donations. A full month? If you are going to recognize and raise money for something how about spread it around. I can name numerous other dseases that effect large portions of the population Anyone deal with diabetes? Being a hypocrite but I love Salute To Service week.

I go to enjoy myself and get away from the weekly crap we all deal with. Have a beer, watch a football game and enjoy myself. Just not near as fun as it used to be. Ticket prices, while still reasonable for the Cardinals, keep going up. I took a full Sunday off from any football this year and did not miss it. Actually got a lot done.

 

[gerabbi]

I dont believe the anthem protests have anything to do with it.

I'm boycotting the NFL, because of the protests.

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[BigRedRage]

I'm boycotting the NFL, because of the protests.

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I'm not saying no one does, I am saying it is a minority. Personally, I do not like the protests but A small handful of players being idiots is not going to impact my opinion on the sport itself.

There are far worse things players have done previously and people kept watching. I mean, is murder less of a bad thing than kneeling during the anthem?

 

[oaken1]

rule changes have ruined what was once a pure and beautiful game... I guess as part of an "all inclusive" culture they needed to soften it up so sissy boys can have 10-15 year careers too.
the officiating, with a few exceptions, has actually been pretty decent this season in my opinion.
hell,...these days they may as well just put the QB in a booth on the sidelines and have a remote cannon in the backfield...you count a sack when the defensive player can hit the big red button before the pass....quarterbacks used to be football players too.

the ******** candy arses and their "protest"... I just shut it off and go mow the lawn or grease the tractor or something...
Jurry Jones made a statement that if anyone within his organization does that they will be unemployed the next day, player, coach, staff whatever....after all these years he finally said/did something I can respect...good for him.

the sissies are entertainers, that is all...and they are at work...you go to work to do your job...save the political activist BS for private time.

if I seen some crap like that at home depot I wouldn't buy their products either....and I really dig home depot.

 

[JeffGollin]

Possible answers:

- It's not so much saturation as it is dilution of each game's audience (i.e. not too many games/ more that the average audience of any game may be declining because viewers are watching other available games).

- Social media/online access/I-Phone portability (How do the rating services measure them)?

- Refs slow up most games

- Peewee soccer = fewer young football players = fewer viewers who ever played football.

- More sedentary youth lifestyles in general

- (anecdotal) - My wife almost never watches FB but did catch some of the Jets game. She was repulsed by the Swearinger hit. (No matter that everyone was wearing pads; she cringed when she saw it. Forget logic; her reaction was purely visceral).

 

[Cardsfanstl]

A lot of fans in St. Louis are boycotting the NFL this year. Know quite a few who were diehard Rams fans who refuse to watch the NFL because of how the NFL and Rams trashed St. Louis on their way out of town. For me I refuse to watch any Rams games except for when they play the Cards.

I know the sports bar I go watch games at has less people there this year.

Granted it is just St. Louis so not a big market.

 

[daves]

Jurry Jones made a statement that if anyone within his organization does that they will be unemployed the next day, player, coach, staff whatever....after all these years he finally said/did something I can respect...good for him.

Nope, he never said that, though he did praise his players for not taking part in the protest.
http://www.snopes.com/jerry-jones-speech-911
So the good news is, you don't have any reason to respect Jones!

... dbs

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[Chris_Sanders]

I find Thursday Night Football so difficult to watch these days that if it isn't the Cardinals, I skip it. I am also not getting up at 5 AM to watch a game in London.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I am also not getting up at 5 AM to watch a game in London.

I watched most of that game, but I was up already and nothing else was on. Eventually, I switched to Netflix (Luke Cage).

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I watched most of that game, but I was up already and nothing else was on. Eventually, I switched to Netflix (Luke Cage).

There is another one this week I think.

Yep Giants / Rams at 6:30 AM. So the NFL has games running from 6:30 AM my time and end at around 8:30 PM my time. That is 14 hours of games. Now add in Thursday for 3+ hours and Monday for the same and suddenly your programming is around 21 hours over a 4 day span.

It's madness. People are sick of football by the time Monday night comes around.

Monday night used to get huge ratings because there was no Thursday night and Sunday night games.

 

[Dback Jon]

There is another one this week I think.

Yep Giants / Rams at 6:30 AM. So the NFL has games running from 6:30 AM my time and end at around 8:30 PM my time. That is 14 hours of games. Now add in Thursday for 3+ hours and Monday for the same and suddenly your programming is around 21 hours over a 4 day span.

It's madness. People are sick of football by the time Monday night comes around.

Monday night used to get huge ratings because there was no Thursday night and Sunday night games.

yup - Monday Night used to be an event. A HUUUUUUUUGE deal. Now it is just another game.

 

[BigRedRage]

There is another one this week I think.

Yep Giants / Rams at 6:30 AM. So the NFL has games running from 6:30 AM my time and end at around 8:30 PM my time. That is 14 hours of games. Now add in Thursday for 3+ hours and Monday for the same and suddenly your programming is around 21 hours over a 4 day span.

It's madness. People are sick of football by the time Monday night comes around.

Monday night used to get huge ratings because there was no Thursday night and Sunday night games.

Sunday night was cable (ESPN) and Monday night was NBC. That switch alone says Sunday night should crush Monday night in ratings

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[Cardiac]

I watch less for several reasons.

a) Thursday Night Fb flat out sucks. Hard on the players and I can't watch FB 3 nights a week. It is also why I'm not playing Fantasy FB or even Fan Duel this year. Keeping track of what players are playing on Thursday is just too much of a chore for me.

b) This isn't the NFL's fault by my life is crazy right now and I have to work some Sundays. (Amazon Prime is a PITA).

c) My wife likes FB but can only watch so much in a week so let her have the TV most nights including Mondays and Thursdays.

I don't mind the rule changes so much because I get why they are needed. The NFL doesn't want to get sued out of existence so they need to protect the players more. I like big hits but it isn't why I watch the game and I believe I'm a bit more evolved than the Roman Gladiator days.

Some get frustrated *my wife included) on the rules to protect the QB's but how many games are unwatchable for the general public when the #2 QB has to start?

Do away with Thursday Night FB and get a minor league system in place so that more players can be developed to keep the quality of play up when starters get injured.

 

[slanidrac16]

It's simply over saturation of the product. You have Thursday, Sunday, Sunday night, Monday Night, the NFL network. Segments on ESPN dedicated to the NFL, not to mention the HBO shows. How much football can anyone watch? After the college season ends you also get Saturday games. How many fans do you think have fallen off of the Carolina bandwagon? I'm pretty sure some Cardinal band wagon fans have fallen off too.

This. A nice slice of chocolate cake is delicious. By the 5th slice you're pushing it away. With the over saturation of televised games the NFL simply can't get enough "great " match ups. The Bears are 1-5 and will have been on national tv 4 times over 6 weeks. Great for rarings in Chicago but not much anywhere else.

Also I think Thursday night games are a terrible thing for the quality of play. Players simply can't recover physically in just 4 days. Add a travel date and limited playbook and it's a perfect recipe for a bad game. One way around that would be not to schedule Thursday night games until about week 5. Teams could then get a bye week on the Sunday prior to the Thursday night game.

It will never happen. Goodell and the billionaires think more is better. They are wrong.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

This is just a single year over year comparison - what is the trend over 10 years, what media outlets are they monitoring, do they monitor online viewing or know how many people have been switching to online only viewing (like myself), etc?

 

[NJCardFan]

I watch less now but only because I work on gamedays.

 

[ajcardfan]

I think the pro game is getting less entertaining because there are so many QBs who are square pegs who they are trying to pound into round holes. And, it isn't working and it's not going to change for the NFL, it will just get worse. I mean Ala-freaking-bama is using a running QB and playing faster and less under center. Just 2 or 3 years after Nick Saban complained about exactly that type of offense ruining the college game.

 

[Dude]

NFL ratings are down this year. Are you watching less football?

With a Thursday game, late Sunday game and Monday night game I think that's to much. So as to what I could watch I would say yes.