My thoughts on ratings decline in NFL.

[mrtailgate]

Certainly, there is saturation which we all know. NFL has Sunday, Monday, Thursday and late in the season Saturday.

But my thoughts are contrarian. You would think parity makes everything more interesting. I think it's the opposite. I think the NFL needs at least a couple of dominant teams. When you had whichever teams being the dominant teams, there was interest in seeing if there could be upsets. Now every game is hard enough to pick winners versus points. I see this in other sports as well. Tiger in golf, Tyson in boxing, going back Borg/McEnroe in tennis.

In the NFL, there is nearly a 50-50 chance of your team winning or losing when you factor in home versus away. I think people are less interested in watching when their teams have just as much chance of winning or losing.

Seems completely opposite, but my thoughts are that the parity where everyone is between 7-9 and 9-7 hurts interest across the board.

 

[NitNE73]

I liked what you wrote as soon as I read that your thoughts are contrarian. Most people are like salmon swimming upstream. They just go with the crowd. But contrarians make their own way.

Can't disagree about what you said about needing some dominant teams either. Just make one of those teams the Eagles for the next decade or so.

 

[GreggK]

I also happen to find so much of the NFL is just plain boring. Everything is played so tight and there aren't many surprises.
Which, surprises are what makes college football so much fun.

I also hate the over the top celebrations and all of that other trashy crap that goes along with it.
If I wanted to watch something like that, I would watch the WWE, but I am watching football and I want tradition and honor.

To be honest though, it must be about 10 years since I last watched a full NFL football game. I don't care about it and it lost me as a fan a long time ago.
As a Steelers fan I had a very hard time cheering for Ben Rothlesberger who more than likely sexually assaulted two women on two different occasions.
But of course, none of the idiot fans gave a damn.

It is also pretty clear to me that pretty much everyone in the league is on steroids.

(side note is I don't really give a crap about any of the political stuff. Knee or stand, it doesn't matter to me)

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

Agree.

And patriots.

Certainly, there is saturation which we all know. NFL has Sunday, Monday, Thursday and late in the season Saturday.

But my thoughts are contrarian. You would think parity makes everything more interesting. I think it's the opposite. I think the NFL needs at least a couple of dominant teams. When you had whichever teams being the dominant teams, there was interest in seeing if there could be upsets. Now every game is hard enough to pick winners versus points. I see this in other sports as well. Tiger in golf, Tyson in boxing, going back Borg/McEnroe in tennis.

In the NFL, there is nearly a 50-50 chance of your team winning or losing when you factor in home versus away. I think people are less interested in watching when their teams have just as much chance of winning or losing.

Seems completely opposite, but my thoughts are that the parity where everyone is between 7-9 and 9-7 hurts interest across the board.

 

[LionDeNittany]

Certainly, there is saturation which we all know. NFL has Sunday, Monday, Thursday and late in the season Saturday.

But my thoughts are contrarian. You would think parity makes everything more interesting. I think it's the opposite. I think the NFL needs at least a couple of dominant teams. When you had whichever teams being the dominant teams, there was interest in seeing if there could be upsets. Now every game is hard enough to pick winners versus points. I see this in other sports as well. Tiger in golf, Tyson in boxing, going back Borg/McEnroe in tennis.

In the NFL, there is nearly a 50-50 chance of your team winning or losing when you factor in home versus away. I think people are less interested in watching when their teams have just as much chance of winning or losing.

Seems completely opposite, but my thoughts are that the parity where everyone is between 7-9 and 9-7 hurts interest across the board.

I like the contrarian idea but I think the NFL is much more intelligent than people believe.

They are trying to shift their base from 50+ overweight white male to 20-30 something mixed ethnicity (not individuals but I mean appealing to all ethnicities)

The NFL could have chosen to bury the kneeling thing but they did not. The went and showed it on TV constantly.

It is all part of the plan.

LdN

 

[Tri-Power65]

The NFL could have chosen to bury the kneeling thing but they did not. The went and showed it on TV constantly.

It is all part of the plan.

LdN

It ain't working...

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

I also happen to find so much of the NFL is just plain boring. Everything is played so tight and there aren't many surprises.
Which, surprises are what makes college football so much fun.

I also hate the over the top celebrations and all of that other trashy crap that goes along with it.
If I wanted to watch something like that, I would watch the WWE, but I am watching football and I want tradition and honor.

To be honest though, it must be about 10 years since I last watched a full NFL football game. I don't care about it and it lost me as a fan a long time ago.
As a Steelers fan I had a very hard time cheering for Ben Rothlesberger who more than likely sexually assaulted two women on two different occasions.
But of course, none of the idiot fans gave a damn.

It is also pretty clear to me that pretty much everyone in the league is on steroids.

(side note is I don't really give a crap about any of the political stuff. Knee or stand, it doesn't matter to me)

NFL lost me years ago as well. It’s become so watered down and boring, plus the constant efforts to reduce the game and increase commercials.
And with the celebrations and drama it’s becoming like sports reality tv. It’s not about football anymore. It’s about the business of capturing audience. I get the financial incentive but I’m losing interest in the NFL games. Last year, I think I only watched the super bowl and I haven’t watched an eagles game in at least 2 seasons.

CFB hasn’t gotten as bad yet, but it’s trying...

 

[LionDeNittany]

It ain't working...

That's what they said about the NBA 15 years ago.

LdN

 

[TheBigUglies]

The problem with the NFL is all the sensationalized drama around it with the kneeling vs standing plus all the other BS. Folks watch football to escape all the BS and reality for a while. Add to that the over the top color commentating that is annoying as hell to listen to. Also, the singing intros to Sunday night and Monday night football have run their course and are tiresome. Just show me the game, stop forcing manufactured drama on me to get ratings.

 

[Obliviax]

IMHO, NFL is no longer what it was when I was a kid. The NFL used to be a ton of hard working guys who put the team before their personal interests. They taught, by example, that you could accomplish more working together than working apart.

so the problem is much more nuanced and these several nuances are creating lack of interest:

• Free agency causes the fans to feel used and cheated after investing their hearts on a particular star player.
• Franchise free agency....the ongoing movement of franchises and the fleecing of communities is off putting
• Lack of humility....the ongoing and meaningless sack dances and TD celebrations (like a dog pissing) are off putting, especially when trying to raise an impressionable young man
• Over saturation
• Anthem protests...again, putting personal priorities over team
• ambiguous rules on PI and holding calls.
• Passing game rules have become ridiculous
• Head injuries...but its not just head, it is almost impossible to watch a game without there being a season-ending/career threatening injury.

I don't have the solutions...just pointing out the issues that have caused me to watch very little NFL this year.

 

[BobPSU92]

None of this may matter in light of CTE. Regardless, let's make sure goodell gets his $50 MM a year, a plane, and health insurance for life.

 

[LionDeNittany]

None of this may matter in light of CTE. Regardless, let's make sure goodell gets his $50 MM a year, a plane, and health insurance for life.

What I love about that contract request is it flies in the face of the NFL propaganda.

NFL propaganda suggests Goodell is just hanging on and is a terrible Commish.

The fans boo him and owners hate him.

Fact is, the owners love him, and he plays the heel role to keep the heat off.

LdN

 

[WDLion]

Certainly, there is saturation which we all know. NFL has Sunday, Monday, Thursday and late in the season Saturday.

But my thoughts are contrarian. You would think parity makes everything more interesting. I think it's the opposite. I think the NFL needs at least a couple of dominant teams. When you had whichever teams being the dominant teams, there was interest in seeing if there could be upsets. Now every game is hard enough to pick winners versus points. I see this in other sports as well. Tiger in golf, Tyson in boxing, going back Borg/McEnroe in tennis.

In the NFL, there is nearly a 50-50 chance of your team winning or losing when you factor in home versus away. I think people are less interested in watching when their teams have just as much chance of winning or losing.

Seems completely opposite, but my thoughts are that the parity where everyone is between 7-9 and 9-7 hurts interest across the board.

To many prima donnas.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

IMHO, NFL is no longer what it was when I was a kid. The NFL used to be a ton of hard working guys who put the team before their personal interests. They taught, by example, that you could accomplish more working together than working apart.

so the problem is much more nuanced and these several nuances are creating lack of interest:

• Free agency causes the fans to feel used and cheated after investing their hearts on a particular star player.
• Franchise free agency....the ongoing movement of franchises and the fleecing of communities is off putting
• Lack of humility....the ongoing and meaningless sack dances and TD celebrations (like a dog pissing) are off putting, especially when trying to raise an impressionable young man
• Over saturation
• Anthem protests...again, putting personal priorities over team
• ambiguous rules on PI and holding calls.
• Passing game rules have become ridiculous
• Head injuries...but its not just head, it is almost impossible to watch a game without there being a season-ending/career threatening injury.

I don't have the solutions...just pointing out the issues that have caused me to watch very little NFL this year.

These, plus Fantasy Football and way too many guys accused of domestic abuse/sexual assault and/or drugs. Would also add people have lots of choices on Sunday afternoons (or whenever NFL games are on - college football, social media, Netflix, video games, movies, etc.). People can follow along on twitter if they want noting they really only care about their fantasy football players.

 

[BBrown]

Certainly, there is saturation which we all know. NFL has Sunday, Monday, Thursday and late in the season Saturday.

But my thoughts are contrarian. You would think parity makes everything more interesting. I think it's the opposite. I think the NFL needs at least a couple of dominant teams. When you had whichever teams being the dominant teams, there was interest in seeing if there could be upsets. Now every game is hard enough to pick winners versus points. I see this in other sports as well. Tiger in golf, Tyson in boxing, going back Borg/McEnroe in tennis.

In the NFL, there is nearly a 50-50 chance of your team winning or losing when you factor in home versus away. I think people are less interested in watching when their teams have just as much chance of winning or losing.

Seems completely opposite, but my thoughts are that the parity where everyone is between 7-9 and 9-7 hurts interest across the board.

Here's MO why the ratings are down. Its a boring watered down league with too many stoppages and the refs becoming too much of the show.
I know people have "issues" with the National anthem but I now have more of an issue with the stupid ass endzone antics. They aren't funny or creative. They are often crude and ridiculous.
I didn't even watch the game last night. Miami? really I've watched paint dry that was more interesting than Miami and their "entitled" man child QB.
Oh and another reason ESPN's ratings are down. A 2 hour pregame production from a group of idiots.

 

[Obliviax]

These, plus Fantasy Football and way too many guys accused of domestic abuse/sexual assault and/or drugs. Would also add people have lots of choices on Sunday afternoons (or whenever NFL games are on - college football, social media, Netflix, video games, movies, etc.). People can follow along on twitter if they want noting they really only care about their fantasy football players.

I knew I missed a couple.

Watching the Jerry Jones/Goodall fiasco right now, as well. How an owner would want to retain Goodall is beyond me. it would be like hiring Bernie Madoff to do your taxes.

 

[BBrown]

I like the contrarian idea but I think the NFL is much more intelligent than people believe.

They are trying to shift their base from 50+ overweight white male to 20-30 something mixed ethnicity (not individuals but I mean appealing to all ethnicities)

The NFL could have chosen to bury the kneeling thing but they did not. The went and showed it on TV constantly.

It is all part of the plan.

LdN

Well then they better be careful because those 20-30 year old millenials will not be watching for long.
Their attention span doesn't allow for it.

 

[BBrown]

The problem with the NFL is all the sensationalized drama around it with the kneeling vs standing plus all the other BS. Folks watch football to escape all the BS and reality for a while. Add to that the over the top color commentating that is annoying as hell to listen to. Also, the singing intros to Sunday night and Monday night football have run their course and are tiresome. Just show me the game, stop forcing manufactured drama on me to get ratings.

+1000.

 

[demlion]

I have been bored silly by the NFL for AT LEAST 25 years. Last time I had a fave team that I really gave a damn about was in HS.

It may just be me, but I would not care if it folded up.

 

[demlion]

I had to laugh when we heard all these dire predictions coming out of the stand/kneel drama. Really, if it vanished tomorrow I would hardly notice. I still love college ball, but that is waning, too.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

When the nfl started changing its long-standing rules in order to favor offenses, the game started to decline. It must suck to be a DB in today’s league...they can’t even sneeze near a WR without drawing a flag. All-time, HOFers like Mel Blount couldn’t play in today’s game...his coach would bench him for too many penalties. Every time I see a wr throw his hand up with the flag throwing gesture after a closely contested ball, I just want to vomit. Whatever happened to competing? If you want the ball, go get it.

Scoring should be hard and yet every week at least one team makes it to 40 or 50 points. Offensive statistics - especially passing - are also ridiculous.

 

[palmettolion]

Too much play stoppage/reviews take too long
Too many commercial breaks
Showing the same 6 commercials during said commercial breaks
Over commercialization of everything/anything they can commercialize
No rhythm or flow to the game or any of the offense (ironically, also why I don't like mumble rap)
Too much involvement in social issues (think pink/breast cancer "awareness", fake military appreciation, etc.)
Hiding profiteering behind said social issues
Listening to the plight of millionaires crying about billionaires
Calling your league a non profit organization and forcing Joe Public to pay for your tax breaks/exemptions
The drunken clown show knuckledraggers that support their favorite teams and excuse the criminal behavior of their favorite players

 

[Cletus11]

Biggest issue is that the younger generation has no where near the love of sports (and football) as Generation X/Y and older. Just is not there. So they are not watching in anywhere near the numbers that the previous generations did. So every day, as older people die and/or don't watch TV anymore because too old, there is nobody to replace that viewer to an extent as the nobody new is watching.

Rating have dropped more quickly the last few years as more people cut cable and just get sick of the NFL for the variety of reasons given. I don't see the NFL ever getting back to the same viewership as a decade ago.

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

I had to laugh when we heard all these dire predictions coming out of the stand/kneel drama. Really, if it vanished tomorrow I would hardly notice. I still love college ball, but that is waning, too.

+1
Regretfully, re: CFB.

 

[Ian]

Simple. The product is not good and getting worse.... Wait till Brady, Rogers, Rivers, Manning, Brees, Big Ben, and Ryan depart. The QB's coming in are not of that level. The league needs prime time QB play and outside of the 6 mentioned above, there is none!

 

[JWB389]

I admit that I watched my first meaningful NFL action of 2017 last night. maybe a quarter of the game. I'm just not interested in it. As several above have said. it's too boring, too manufactured. I did not stop watching over the kneeling for the anthem nonsense, although I am not in favor of it.

The thing that immediately caught my attention was all the BS camo they're wearing. Too little too late and an obvious attempt to appease the veteran fans. Seems forced.

 

[lein]

What I love about that contract request is it flies in the face of the NFL propaganda.

NFL propaganda suggests Goodell is just hanging on and is a terrible Commish.

The fans boo him and owners hate him.

Fact is, the owners love him, and he plays the heel role to keep the heat off.

LdN

They love him up to now, when they are losing money.

They lost me when it became overly thuggish what, 5-10 years ago. Haven't watched a regular season or playoff game since. Goodell's handling of the kneelers further demonstrates how out of touch he is with the fans.

 

[Obliviax]

I admit that I watched my first meaningful NFL action of 2017 last night. maybe a quarter of the game. I'm just not interested in it. As several above have said. it's too boring, too manufactured. I did not stop watching over the kneeling for the anthem nonsense, although I am not in favor of it.

The thing that immediately caught my attention was all the BS camo they're wearing. Too little too late and an obvious attempt to appease the veteran fans. Seems forced.

well, you missed a hell of a rerun on American Pickers.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Does anyone think Vegas is/was a good idea for the NFL? It was good for Raiders ownership - who are getting a $1.9bn stadium 50% funded by taxpayers, but they're playing in the 40th largest TV market in the country. Another reason why the NFL sucks - the Rams, Raiders, and Chargers all moving for better stadium deals.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

Agree with much of what has been said. I can't watch the NFL for more than a few minutes, even when it's the Steelers.

The cities no longer have a "team" due to free agency, just consistent uniforms to look at each week, while owners take their teams to whatever city is willing to be fleeced for new stadiums as their schools, roads, and bridges fall apart.

Imagine collecting football cards like we did as kids with baseball cards. Who would want to collect them? ... Pictures of thugs with long hair, tattoos, and jewelry piercings -- just what I would want my kid to grow up idolizing. And that awful looking exterior isn't just skin deep. If not plain old immaturity with the on-field antics, off the field we're treated to rape, assault, and even murder.

Baseball is boring and basketball has become corrupted by rule-bending. It's a tough part of the year for sports viewing with the Nits out of the conversation and golf entering the exhibition season.

 

[Obliviax]

Does anyone think Vegas is/was a good idea for the NFL? It was good for Raiders ownership - who are getting a $1.9bn stadium 50% funded by taxpayers, but they're playing in the 40th largest TV market in the country. Another reason why the NFL sucks - the Rams, Raiders, and Chargers all moving for better stadium deals.

Browns moved because Art Model didn't have the cash for his kids to retain ownership of the franchise after taxes. Balt and MD put together a big cash package, along with a new (smaller) stadium. That was the first time I realized that the NFL did not return the fan interest. I guess I was naive, but at that point, NFL was flaunting it. There are those that believe that the NFL (with good evidence) pearl harbored the CLE franchise to be spiteful.

Regardless, to your point, attendance isn't a gating factor any longer...TV shared revenue is. And for 95% of the fan base, who are TV viewers, they don't care if the game is played in LA, SF, LV or Shanghai.

 

[4rosco]

Simple. The product is not good and getting worse.... Wait till Brady, Rogers, Rivers, Manning, Brees, Big Ben, and Ryan depart. The QB's coming in are not of that level. The league needs prime time QB play and outside of the 6 mentioned above, there is none!

Agree and part of the problem is that CFB is not developing the traditional NFL QB anymore. As more teams use the RPO or spread offense you have QBs who have never taken a snap under center. When they go to the they are not ready and have to be taught how to play the position from under center.

 

[NedFromYork]

College basketball is going through a little of this right now as well imo. There are no Patrick Ewing Hoyas or undefeated UNLV Running Rebels or xxx.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

IMHO, NFL is no longer what it was when I was a kid. The NFL used to be a ton of hard working guys who put the team before their personal interests. They taught, by example, that you could accomplish more working together than working apart.

so the problem is much more nuanced and these several nuances are creating lack of interest:

• Free agency causes the fans to feel used and cheated after investing their hearts on a particular star player.
• Franchise free agency....the ongoing movement of franchises and the fleecing of communities is off putting
• Lack of humility....the ongoing and meaningless sack dances and TD celebrations (like a dog pissing) are off putting, especially when trying to raise an impressionable young man
• Over saturation
• Anthem protests...again, putting personal priorities over team
• ambiguous rules on PI and holding calls.
• Passing game rules have become ridiculous
• Head injuries...but its not just head, it is almost impossible to watch a game without there being a season-ending/career threatening injury.

I don't have the solutions...just pointing out the issues that have caused me to watch very little NFL this year.

Obli.....great list.

I don’t like all the “look at me” personal celebrations....like when a guy makes a tackle for a yd loss while his team is losing 35-0. All the TD celebrations are crap crap crap.

And the rule makers keep coming up with 100s of bullshit explanations of why a catch isn’t a catch.

Too many too long timeouts seemingly after EVERY change of possession.

Football to me has ALWAYS been CFB and, to a lesser extent, high school football. I think about the NFL only as an afterthought after my Sun golf or as the bad weather sets in.

 

[JeffClear]

I think there are multiple reasons but I think the biggest is it’s die hard fans can’t afford it anymore. In many ways it is similar to what happened to NASCAR.
In the 70s, 80s, and 90s the NFL had a large a blue collar fan base. With the prices of tickets these days a working class family would have to mortgage their home to buy Steeler season tickets for the family.
To be fair, TV ratings overall have declined and the NFL still dominates its time slots. But college football has not seen its ratings decline.
I think this is because college football fans are more likely to have college degrees and college grads have faired better than blue collar workers.
Plus college football is a better product. I have thought this for decades but it was surprising to see ESPN analysts saying this on the air when their network is paying billions to the nfl.

 

[Obliviax]

I think there are multiple reasons but I think the biggest is it’s die hard fans can’t afford it anymore. In many ways it is similar to what happened to NASCAR.
In the 70s, 80s, and 90s the NFL had a large a blue collar fan base. With the prices of tickets these days a working class family would have to mortgage their home to buy Steeler season tickets for the family.
To be fair, TV ratings overall have declined and the NFL still dominates its time slots. But college football has not seen its ratings decline.
I think this is because college football fans are more likely to have college degrees and college grads have faired better than blue collar workers.
Plus college football is a better product. I have thought this for decades but it was surprising to see ESPN analysts saying this on the air when their network is paying billions to the nfl.

I agree...but it is more than this. I simply don't want my children emulating football players, owners and, in many cases, fans.

 

[BBrown]

Too much play stoppage/reviews take too long
Too many commercial breaks
Showing the same 6 commercials during said commercial breaks
Over commercialization of everything/anything they can commercialize
No rhythm or flow to the game or any of the offense (ironically, also why I don't like mumble rap)
Too much involvement in social issues (think pink/breast cancer "awareness", fake military appreciation, etc.)
Hiding profiteering behind said social issues
Listening to the plight of millionaires crying about billionaires
Calling your league a non profit organization and forcing Joe Public to pay for your tax breaks/exemptions
The drunken clown show knuckledraggers that support their favorite teams and excuse the criminal behavior of their favorite players

Agree, especially with the same 6 commercials. I know its wrong but right now I want to shoot the Dr. Pepper guy in the head.

 

[WestSideLion]

Agree and part of the problem is that CFB is not developing the traditional NFL QB anymore. As more teams use the RPO or spread offense you have QBs who have never taken a snap under center. When they go to the they are not ready and have to be taught how to play the position from under center.

Wentz and Goff are doing ok in year 2.

 

[Obliviax]

Agree, especially with the same 6 commercials. I know its wrong but right now I want to shoot the Dr. Pepper guy in the head.

Ha! And, sadly, the Dr. Pepper guy has been more entertaining then the Thursday night games they've been showing.

 

[BBrown]

Biggest issue is that the younger generation has no where near the love of sports (and football) as Generation X/Y and older. Just is not there. So they are not watching in anywhere near the numbers that the previous generations did. So every day, as older people die and/or don't watch TV anymore because too old, there is nobody to replace that viewer to an extent as the nobody new is watching.

Rating have dropped more quickly the last few years as more people cut cable and just get sick of the NFL for the variety of reasons given. I don't see the NFL ever getting back to the same viewership as a decade ago.

That is an excellent point and a very big problem. Because, as another poster noted, the League already seems to be catering to the Millenials. My thinking is they aren't going to stick around to watch it let alone go to the games. They don't have the vested interest in it let alone the ability to sit and watch it for more than an hour.
I see the same thing creeping into the college game as well.