Football N.F.L. Considers Reducing Ads and Length of Games - Page 3

Stinger · 11-10-2016, 08:58 PM

As Ratings Plummet, N.F.L. Considers Reducing Ads and Length of Games

By KEN BELSONNOV. 10, 2016

N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Thursday that the league was looking at a variety of ways to shorten game broadcasts, including trimming some advertising, to keep the action moving.

The league has seen its television ratings plunge this season, something that Goodell has said is related to a number of factors, including the intense interest in the presidential election, as well as shifts in the way fans have been watching games.

Though television ratings are down by double digits so far this season, Goodell said that N.F.L. ratings had risen 27 percent in the past decade even as ratings for prime-time television had fallen 36 percent. Speaking on Thursday at the annual DealBook conference hosted by The New York Times, he called this year’s decline “cyclical.”

Goodell noted, though, that the pace of games could also be a factor in the ratings decline. Fans have complained for years that games are too long, and they frequently express annoyance at the number of commercial breaks and video reviews. Last season, the average length of regular-season games, from kickoff to final whistle, was 3 hours 8 minutes, six minutes longer than in 2008.

Get the big sports news, highlights and analysis from Times journalists, with distinctive takes on games and some behind-the-scenes surprises, delivered to your inbox every week.

Goodell said the league was considering a number of potential solutions to improve the pace of games, including running fewer advertisements and changing when they run. The league is also looking at ways to speed up video reviews by its officials as well as the time it takes referees to announce penalties on the field.

“We want to take as much what we call dead time, non-action out of the game, so that we can make the game more exciting,” Goodell said.

The league has expanded the number of games it plays on Thursday nights and overseas, leading some to speculate that the N.F.L. may be reducing interest in the game. Goodell said he was mindful of that possibility.

“Every game counts, so that makes our inventory incredibly valuable,” he said, adding that the league has to be careful not to saturate the market.

Goodell said he was aware of a surge of complaints that officials were botching calls on the field. He said the league was looking at how best to use technology to improve officiating without slowing down the game. “I was at Giants Stadium in the parking lot last weekend, and I got a lot of feedback from fans,” he said.

Goodell was uncertain how the election of Donald J. Trump — who brought a lawsuit against the league three decades ago — would affect the N.F.L. He noted that Trump favored less regulation, but he said that the primary concern for the league was its ability to reach fans through the media and technology. It was unclear what changes, if any, a Trump administration might make that would affect those industries.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/sp...mmercials.html

**Buehler445** · 11-11-2016, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

I know people hate the idea of in-game advertising (on jerseys, walls, digital stuff on the field, etc.), but I really wish they'd do more of that and less traditional ads.

Hell, call it the State Farm opening kickoff and the Budweiser 2-minute warning. Just let us watch more of what's going on in the game and less bullshit.

I think it is a really strong sign that the owners have determined that the ratings drop is not an aberration.

Hopefully they actually take steps to make the game better.

Red Dawg · 11-11-2016, 08:36 AM

MNF is the worst of all. Every time there is a FG, punt and time out there's a commercial.

**Buck** · 11-11-2016, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Maybe because young people don't watch TV?

Ding ding ding!

I've been saying, put the games on the internet for free and they'll make more money than they could possibly imagine.

PutQuinnIn · 11-11-2016, 08:54 AM

NFL looking at ways to make less money? Nope.

**sd4chiefs** · 11-11-2016, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuckdaddy

MNF is the worst of all. Every time there is a FG, punt and time out there's a commercial.

They could start by not going to a commercial after the Kick off.

Game starts. Kickoff into the end zone with no run back like 90% of the time. Takes about 5 seconds then go to 5 minutes of commercials. F***ing stupid.

scho63 · 11-11-2016, 09:06 AM

He is a complete buffoon! He has no idea that he has diluted the product with too many games on too many days, including the silly shit from London at 6am West Coast time 9am East Coast time.

Swanman · 11-11-2016, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

I have no idea why the head ref has to make the call anyway. Just have someone in the booth (or even a head office) make the call and let the ref know. It'd be way faster and hopefully make calls more consistent.

That's what they do in MLB and it seems to work quickly and fairly accurately.

Dayze · 11-11-2016, 09:14 AM

get rid of the two minute warning for starters.
nearly as meaningless as XP FGs were up until this year.

my absolute favorite is when they return from commercials, cut away to a blimp shot or some other series of nice shots of the city they're in etc, but you can't see any of the shot because there is a huge graphic that takes up the entire screen as they cycle through the sponsors that 'brought you the game'...the same sponsors you just endured full commercials for prior to them returning to the broadcast.

it's like 'wow....neat City...too bad you can't see any of it because of the advertising logos'
lol

cut away from all the dumb shit the players do after making an absolutely routine play. tackle after a gain of 5 yards on 1st down....get up and strut around like you're in a WWE ring....and be sure to keep that camera on them the entire time.

BlackHelicopters · 11-11-2016, 09:29 AM

NFL needs to quit monkeying with things. On demand and online are where it is now. Look forward NFL . Quick.

Pasta Little Brioni · 11-11-2016, 09:38 AM

"Consider" *loud fart* sniff

Ok gents let's add MOAR commercials!!

Nightfyre · 11-11-2016, 10:30 AM

Kickoffs and extra points are practically dead time that slow the flow of the game a ton.

Dayze · 11-11-2016, 10:37 AM

I wish something could be done about kickoffs. it seems, not sure what the actual percentage is, that nearly every kick off is a touchback. I especially don't like the kicks that land out outside of the endzone. I mean, I get it - if you can kick it out of the field of place, not even bouncing /landing in the field of play...you do it. but damn. makes for a boring game. maybe something like if you kick it and it lands out of the back of the endzone, the team starts at the 25 or something. at least make a returner decide if he should come out of the end zone by letting him catch it.

I know..I'm sure it's a dumb idea. but, I don't even watch kickoffs anymore. Use that time to get beer, go to the bathroom etc. 95% of the time it's a boring, meaningless play.

Eleazar · 11-11-2016, 11:18 AM

Maybe they should consider returning to tackle football and a definition of a catch that at least two people can agree upon

Kiimo · 11-11-2016, 11:32 AM

Get rid of

-ad break after kickoffs
-two minute warning
-TV timeout.

Those three will go a long way.

displacedinMN · 11-11-2016, 12:03 PM

Run a in picture ad during a replay.

11-10-2016, 08:58 PM
Stinger Bazinga Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $4304507	N.F.L. Considers Reducing Ads and Length of Games As Ratings Plummet, N.F.L. Considers Reducing Ads and Length of Games By KEN BELSONNOV. 10, 2016 N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Thursday that the league was looking at a variety of ways to shorten game broadcasts, including trimming some advertising, to keep the action moving. The league has seen its television ratings plunge this season, something that Goodell has said is related to a number of factors, including the intense interest in the presidential election, as well as shifts in the way fans have been watching games. Though television ratings are down by double digits so far this season, Goodell said that N.F.L. ratings had risen 27 percent in the past decade even as ratings for prime-time television had fallen 36 percent. Speaking on Thursday at the annual DealBook conference hosted by The New York Times, he called this year’s decline “cyclical.” Goodell noted, though, that the pace of games could also be a factor in the ratings decline. Fans have complained for years that games are too long, and they frequently express annoyance at the number of commercial breaks and video reviews. Last season, the average length of regular-season games, from kickoff to final whistle, was 3 hours 8 minutes, six minutes longer than in 2008. Get the big sports news, highlights and analysis from Times journalists, with distinctive takes on games and some behind-the-scenes surprises, delivered to your inbox every week. Goodell said the league was considering a number of potential solutions to improve the pace of games, including running fewer advertisements and changing when they run. The league is also looking at ways to speed up video reviews by its officials as well as the time it takes referees to announce penalties on the field. “We want to take as much what we call dead time, non-action out of the game, so that we can make the game more exciting,” Goodell said. The league has expanded the number of games it plays on Thursday nights and overseas, leading some to speculate that the N.F.L. may be reducing interest in the game. Goodell said he was mindful of that possibility. “Every game counts, so that makes our inventory incredibly valuable,” he said, adding that the league has to be careful not to saturate the market. Goodell said he was aware of a surge of complaints that officials were botching calls on the field. He said the league was looking at how best to use technology to improve officiating without slowing down the game. “I was at Giants Stadium in the parking lot last weekend, and I got a lot of feedback from fans,” he said. Goodell was uncertain how the election of Donald J. Trump — who brought a lawsuit against the league three decades ago — would affect the N.F.L. He noted that Trump favored less regulation, but he said that the primary concern for the league was its ability to reach fans through the media and technology. It was unclear what changes, if any, a Trump administration might make that would affect those industries. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/sp...mmercials.html
Posts: 10,179

11-11-2016, 08:36 AM	#32
Red Dawg Going home eventually Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $4802858	MNF is the worst of all. Every time there is a FG, punt and time out there's a commercial. __________________ If you're not first you're last!
Posts: 30,360

11-11-2016, 08:54 AM	#34
PutQuinnIn Game Manager Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA Casino cash: $9735837	NFL looking at ways to make less money? Nope.
Posts: 1,142

11-11-2016, 09:06 AM	#36
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $2821110	He is a complete buffoon! He has no idea that he has diluted the product with too many games on too many days, including the silly shit from London at 6am West Coast time 9am East Coast time. __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
Posts: 50,425

11-11-2016, 09:14 AM	#38
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5219358	get rid of the two minute warning for starters. nearly as meaningless as XP FGs were up until this year. my absolute favorite is when they return from commercials, cut away to a blimp shot or some other series of nice shots of the city they're in etc, but you can't see any of the shot because there is a huge graphic that takes up the entire screen as they cycle through the sponsors that 'brought you the game'...the same sponsors you just endured full commercials for prior to them returning to the broadcast. it's like 'wow....neat City...too bad you can't see any of it because of the advertising logos' lol cut away from all the dumb shit the players do after making an absolutely routine play. tackle after a gain of 5 yards on 1st down....get up and strut around like you're in a WWE ring....and be sure to keep that camera on them the entire time. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,358

11-11-2016, 09:29 AM	#39
BlackHelicopters Spiraling down the Drain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $2760588	NFL needs to quit monkeying with things. On demand and online are where it is now. Look forward NFL . Quick. __________________ "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think it applies to my family." "Fredo. You are my brother, and I love you. But never take sides against the Family again. Ever." 2019 Adopt a Chief - Travis Kelce #87
Posts: 31,659

11-11-2016, 09:38 AM	#40
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $4028880	"Consider" loud fart sniff Ok gents let's add MOAR commercials!! __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 68,380

11-11-2016, 10:30 AM	#41
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $3688849	Kickoffs and extra points are practically dead time that slow the flow of the game a ton.
Posts: 18,535

11-11-2016, 10:37 AM	#42
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5219358	I wish something could be done about kickoffs. it seems, not sure what the actual percentage is, that nearly every kick off is a touchback. I especially don't like the kicks that land out outside of the endzone. I mean, I get it - if you can kick it out of the field of place, not even bouncing /landing in the field of play...you do it. but damn. makes for a boring game. maybe something like if you kick it and it lands out of the back of the endzone, the team starts at the 25 or something. at least make a returner decide if he should come out of the end zone by letting him catch it. I know..I'm sure it's a dumb idea. but, I don't even watch kickoffs anymore. Use that time to get beer, go to the bathroom etc. 95% of the time it's a boring, meaningless play. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy Last edited by Dayze; 11-11-2016 at 11:57 AM..
Posts: 37,358

11-11-2016, 11:18 AM	#43
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	Maybe they should consider returning to tackle football and a definition of a catch that at least two people can agree upon
Posts: 80,659

11-11-2016, 11:32 AM	#44
Kiimo MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Studio City, CA Casino cash: $4108742	Get rid of -ad break after kickoffs -two minute warning -TV timeout. Those three will go a long way.
Posts: 12,533

11-11-2016, 12:03 PM	#45
displacedinMN It was not a fair catch Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Correcting papers Casino cash: $2992630	Run a in picture ad during a replay. __________________ #investigatecarlcheffers
Posts: 36,236