NFL Draft NFL Excuses Run Out After Ratings Declines Continue - Page 20

Eleazar · 11-03-2017, 05:07 AM

NFL's Litany of Excuses Runs Out After Ratings Fall for Second Year

By Lucas Shaw
Bloomberg.com
November 2, 2017, 11:30 AM CDT

TV networks are running out of excuses for the dwindling popularity of the National Football League.

They blamed the election for ratings declines last year, and hurricanes for a soft week one in September. Protests during the national anthem, and President Donald Trump’s criticism of the league, have faded from the headlines.

Advertisers are starting to believe a different explanation: the viewers aren’t coming back. Audiences are down an average 7 percent from a year ago through the first eight weeks of the season, excluding last Monday. That’s on top of a decrease of about 8 percent last season that spurred numerous changes in the broadcasts, from shorter commercials to better matchups earlier in the year.

“There’s just not as many people watching TV the way they used to watch TV,” said Jeremy Carey, managing director of Optimum Sports, a sports marketing agency. “It’s going to be an issue for advertisers when they can’t reach a large-scale audience the way they have.”

With CBS Corp., 21st Century Fox Inc. and Walt Disney Co. set to report earnings in the next few days, analysts are bound to raise questions. These companies have used the popularity of the games to extract additional fees from cable operators, promote other shows on their networks and sell lots of commercials. Pro football games drew about $3.5 billion in ad spending last year, including the postseason, according to SMI Media Inc.

Media companies have spent billions of dollars on the right to air football games, which had been immune to the erosion of viewership for other TV programming. Audiences for TV networks have diminished for years as the growing popularity of online alternatives Netflix and YouTube and the availability of most shows on-demand have reduced the appeal of dramas and comedies. Live TV, like sports, was supposed to be immune, but that theory looks highly questionable now.

Ratings for the NFL suggest the same societal trends are now affecting the league, even if the declines aren’t as dramatic. The drop in game viewership ranges from 5 percent for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” to 11 percent for the CBS Sunday package. “Monday Night Football,” on Disney’s ESPN, has attracted more fans this year than a year ago, but the numbers are still down from 2015.

Viewership of the four main broadcast networks fell 8.7 percent last year, and 12 percent among adults 18 to 49, an important demographic for advertisers.

CBS’s 11 percent slump for NFL games is the steepest of the networks. Its parent company, which reports earnings after the close Thursday, is more vulnerable than rivals to the trend because the vast majority of its earnings come from the broadcast network. The declines at CBS reinforce a complaint that has gotten louder and louder in recent weeks: The league got greedy in adding the Thursday night game on broadcast.

Reserving top games for Thursday night robbed other time periods of good match-ups. After a nosedive in ratings at “Monday Night Football” last season, the league has scheduled better games for that time period, further damaging Sunday afternoon.

“Ratings declines on both general entertainment and NFL programming could be the single biggest point of focus for investors this quarter, and we’re not sure what media companies can say about the health and tone of the ad market to assuage fears,” Steven Cahall, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a note last month.

Viewership is dropping fast among people under 54 -- a key demographic for advertisers -- and even faster among those 18 to 34. Audiences for games on CBS, NBC and Fox have slid at least 10 percent among that younger cohort.

Advertisers aren’t abandoning the NFL, one of the only places they can still reach more than 10 million people at once. But they are growing concerned. John Schnatter, who appears in TV spots on behalf of his Papa John’s Pizza International Inc., laid into the league on a conference call this week, blaming the ratings for his company’s slow revenue growth and calling for the league to put an end to player protests.

Networks and other advertisers identify a wide range of reasons for the NFL’s struggles. The league has overexposed itself by making highlights available on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Snapchat. Identifiable stars like Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers have either retired or gotten hurt. The quality of play has deteriorated. Player protests and concussions have driven away some fans.

Some executives argue viewership of the league has still improved over the long term while dropping for every other show. Yet the amount of time people have spent watching football this season is at the lowest point since 2011, back when there were fewer televised games, according to Mike Mulvihill, Fox Sports’ head of research.

“The cumulative effect of everything happening in the world at large is having an impact on NFL viewership,” Mulvihill said. “ The league was defying the laws of gravity.”

Eleazar · 12-29-2017, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackOp

I can tell you this...I used to watch all three games on Sunday. Now, it's boring...I'm assuming that I'm not alone.

I think you are right about this point. I am not watching nearly as much NFL as I once did, and I don't think many people that I know are either.

For me this is mainly because the quality of the game seems to have deteriorated so much with all the rule changes and etc. that it's just not as much fun to watch anymore. I used to tune in to any NFL game that was on, now I am almost Chiefs-only.

This isn't just football though, it's more or less all televised sports. I'm down to watching my teams only except for the biggest games.

I don't really buy that there are hordes of people sitting on their couch with their TVs turned off, choosing to watching the games on their phones instead. Most people have access to the games and aren't watching or attending when they could be.

People are just choosing to do other things now, I think millennials especially are likely to be doing things instead of watching things, they are after experiences and not passive entertainment. We could go on and on, but I think this trend is going to continue unless something changes.

cosmo20002 · 12-29-2017, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over Yonder

There were 2 things that have not happened in the Yonder household in a long, long time happen this year.

1. Going a full season without attending a Chiefs game.
2. Absolutely no NFL merchandise under the Christmas tree.

Lot's of little reasons, but the one thing I cannot and will not overlook is the protests and how the league provided cover for those poor mistreated millionaires. This league is so strict with appearances that they will fine players for stuff like wearing the wrong shoes or a small patch of some form on their clothing, but taking a crap on America, that's cool they have rights you know

I don't know how much money the league lost this year from people like myself, but I'm guessing not enough to end the hypocrisy. It's a shame, I enjoy an afternoon at Arrowhead

Had an extended family member tell me over Xmas that he hadn't watched a game all season nor bought any NFL stuff because of the flag stuff. I've known this guy 15 years, an I have never once heard him bring up the NFL, or join in any conversation about football. When games were on, he watched as much as any of the disinterested wives.

But now--he's not watching "because of the flag." Yeah, right.

**Bearcat** · 12-29-2017, 01:56 PM

A couple points....

- The NFL could continue to decline for years and still be pretty damn popular compared to other entertainment options.

- The NFL has created the Bud Light of sports, watered down for mass consumption. I think it's safe to assume there's a larger percentage of people here who agree the NFL isn't as good anymore because if you're posting on a football message board, you are/were probably a pretty hard core fan, possibly having watched the NFL for decades.

**Bugeater** · 12-29-2017, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It'll be interesting to see the playoff attendance. Wasn't it just last season where several playoff games didn't sell out because the pricing was stupid high?

It probably doesn't help that STHs often have to pay for playoff tickets before they know for sure if the team is even going to make the playoffs. And if they don't, you don't get your money back, you just get a credit towards next year's season tickets.

BlackOp · 12-29-2017, 02:19 PM

I have to DVR a game and start it about an hour after it begins...the extended commercial breaks have become excruciating.

On example was a time out before the 2 minute=commercial..then 2 minute=commercial, they scored on the next play/review=commercial, extra point=commercial, kick-off=commercial.

There was about 15 minutes where 4 plays happened....I literally cleaned out my closet while this was happening.

cosmo20002 · 12-29-2017, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinky Nuts McGee

It probably doesn't help that STHs often have to pay for playoff tickets before they know for sure if the team is even going to make the playoffs. And if they don't, you don't get your money back, you just get a credit towards next year's season tickets.

You have to sign up, but they don't charge you until they actually qualify for a game.

And, you can get your money back if they don't play the game. But for a STH, it shouldn't be that big of a deal to have them just use it as a credit for next year's tickets since the first payment is due pretty quickly after the season ends.
But, I don't know if it is an issue anyway. They've charged me for the 1st round playoff game, but not for a 2nd potential home game. I don't think I get charged for that until it is scheduled.

ThaVirus · 12-29-2017, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

In the past year, I’ve been to Rams, Dodgers and Clippers games.

The game day experience was exactly as it had always been.

I totally get that people might not want to drop $150-$300+ dollars to hit a single game but that’s just the cost of entertainment these days.

If people truly stop attending NFL games in droves, the market will adjust and teams will lower their parking, concession and ticket prices.

But I don’t understand why that would make the actual game itself “special”.

Yeah, the cost of everything is going up.

Look at how expensive it is to eat out or take your family to the movies these days as opposed to 20-30 years ago.

**Bearcat** · 12-29-2017, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Yeah, the cost of everything is going up.

Look at how expensive it is to eat out or take your family to the movies these days as opposed to 20-30 years ago.

Some light Googling says the average cost of an NFL ticket has increased by $30 (50%) in the past 10 years, and that doesn't include the increased cost of parking, etc.

Yeah, that's a little crazy.

Pablo · 12-29-2017, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over Yonder

That's fine, but this dummy American will continue to keep his pennies in his pocket when it comes to all things NFL until it stops. That's all I was saying in my post.

You could really stick it to them and stop watching all things NFL, and stop using websites dedicated to NFL teams too!

GloryDayz · 12-29-2017, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Had an extended family member tell me over Xmas that he hadn't watched a game all season nor bought any NFL stuff because of the flag stuff. I've known this guy 15 years, an I have never once heard him bring up the NFL, or join in any conversation about football. When games were on, he watched as much as any of the disinterested wives.

But now--he's not watching "because of the flag." Yeah, right.

Well you showed him... LOL, I'm sure if you're in the room people are all but trying to kill themselves a'la the movie Airplane...

**Bugeater** · 12-29-2017, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

You have to sign up, but they don't charge you until they actually qualify for a game.

And, you can get your money back if they don't play the game. But for a STH, it shouldn't be that big of a deal to have them just use it as a credit for next year's tickets since the first payment is due pretty quickly after the season ends.
But, I don't know if it is an issue anyway. They've charged me for the 1st round playoff game, but not for a 2nd potential home game. I don't think I get charged for that until it is scheduled.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. I could have sworn that George was grumbling about the policy at one time, but it's been a few years so I either misunderstood or am not remembering correctly, neither of which would come as a surprise to me.

Chief Pagan · 12-29-2017, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

What? Why were games in the 80’s and 90’s “special”?

Because it was cheap entertainment?

Maybe it was because the TVs were so bad you had to look twice to see what type of football they were playing?

Over Yonder · 12-30-2017, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

You could really stick it to them and stop watching all things NFL, and stop using websites dedicated to NFL teams too!

I never once said I was trying to stick it to anybody. If this is the direction the NFL chooses to go, more power to them. They just ain't taking my money with them. The website thing is kinda silly, wouldn't you say? I haven't given the NFL a dime for posting here (although that brings up an off the subject point, I really need to donate a bit to this site because I really enjoy it )

**DaneMcCloud** · 12-30-2017, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over Yonder

I never once said I was trying to stick it to anybody. If this is the direction the NFL chooses to go, more power to them. They just ain't taking my money with them. The website thing is kinda silly, wouldn't you say? I haven't given the NFL a dime for posting here (although that brings up an off the subject point, I really need to donate a bit to this site because I really enjoy it )

Your Avatar belies your said beliefs and intentions.

You might want to change that if you want any type of credibility.

Or not.

Over Yonder · 12-30-2017, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Your Avatar belies your said beliefs and intentions.

You might want to change that if you want any type of credibility.

Or not.

I am not going to go all D.C. here, but I know you post over there same as me. Did you miss where and why I picked that avatar? It just struck me as funnier than crap when it was posted. Nothing evil or conniving.

I'm not really looking for any type of credibility, just sharing my thoughts on a message board. If I happen to see something else that strikes me as funnier, I will probably change it

11-03-2017, 05:07 AM
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	NFL Excuses Run Out After Ratings Declines Continue NFL's Litany of Excuses Runs Out After Ratings Fall for Second Year By Lucas Shaw Bloomberg.com November 2, 2017, 11:30 AM CDT TV networks are running out of excuses for the dwindling popularity of the National Football League. They blamed the election for ratings declines last year, and hurricanes for a soft week one in September. Protests during the national anthem, and President Donald Trump’s criticism of the league, have faded from the headlines. Advertisers are starting to believe a different explanation: the viewers aren’t coming back. Audiences are down an average 7 percent from a year ago through the first eight weeks of the season, excluding last Monday. That’s on top of a decrease of about 8 percent last season that spurred numerous changes in the broadcasts, from shorter commercials to better matchups earlier in the year. “There’s just not as many people watching TV the way they used to watch TV,” said Jeremy Carey, managing director of Optimum Sports, a sports marketing agency. “It’s going to be an issue for advertisers when they can’t reach a large-scale audience the way they have.” With CBS Corp., 21st Century Fox Inc. and Walt Disney Co. set to report earnings in the next few days, analysts are bound to raise questions. These companies have used the popularity of the games to extract additional fees from cable operators, promote other shows on their networks and sell lots of commercials. Pro football games drew about $3.5 billion in ad spending last year, including the postseason, according to SMI Media Inc. Media companies have spent billions of dollars on the right to air football games, which had been immune to the erosion of viewership for other TV programming. Audiences for TV networks have diminished for years as the growing popularity of online alternatives Netflix and YouTube and the availability of most shows on-demand have reduced the appeal of dramas and comedies. Live TV, like sports, was supposed to be immune, but that theory looks highly questionable now. Ratings for the NFL suggest the same societal trends are now affecting the league, even if the declines aren’t as dramatic. The drop in game viewership ranges from 5 percent for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” to 11 percent for the CBS Sunday package. “Monday Night Football,” on Disney’s ESPN, has attracted more fans this year than a year ago, but the numbers are still down from 2015. Viewership of the four main broadcast networks fell 8.7 percent last year, and 12 percent among adults 18 to 49, an important demographic for advertisers. CBS’s 11 percent slump for NFL games is the steepest of the networks. Its parent company, which reports earnings after the close Thursday, is more vulnerable than rivals to the trend because the vast majority of its earnings come from the broadcast network. The declines at CBS reinforce a complaint that has gotten louder and louder in recent weeks: The league got greedy in adding the Thursday night game on broadcast. Reserving top games for Thursday night robbed other time periods of good match-ups. After a nosedive in ratings at “Monday Night Football” last season, the league has scheduled better games for that time period, further damaging Sunday afternoon. “Ratings declines on both general entertainment and NFL programming could be the single biggest point of focus for investors this quarter, and we’re not sure what media companies can say about the health and tone of the ad market to assuage fears,” Steven Cahall, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a note last month. Viewership is dropping fast among people under 54 -- a key demographic for advertisers -- and even faster among those 18 to 34. Audiences for games on CBS, NBC and Fox have slid at least 10 percent among that younger cohort. Advertisers aren’t abandoning the NFL, one of the only places they can still reach more than 10 million people at once. But they are growing concerned. John Schnatter, who appears in TV spots on behalf of his Papa John’s Pizza International Inc., laid into the league on a conference call this week, blaming the ratings for his company’s slow revenue growth and calling for the league to put an end to player protests. Networks and other advertisers identify a wide range of reasons for the NFL’s struggles. The league has overexposed itself by making highlights available on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Snapchat. Identifiable stars like Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers have either retired or gotten hurt. The quality of play has deteriorated. Player protests and concussions have driven away some fans. Some executives argue viewership of the league has still improved over the long term while dropping for every other show. Yet the amount of time people have spent watching football this season is at the lowest point since 2011, back when there were fewer televised games, according to Mike Mulvihill, Fox Sports’ head of research. “The cumulative effect of everything happening in the world at large is having an impact on NFL viewership,” Mulvihill said. “ The league was defying the laws of gravity.”
Posts: 80,659

12-29-2017, 01:56 PM	#288
Bearcat Would an idiot do that? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arizona Casino cash: $2524931	A couple points.... - The NFL could continue to decline for years and still be pretty damn popular compared to other entertainment options. - The NFL has created the Bud Light of sports, watered down for mass consumption. I think it's safe to assume there's a larger percentage of people here who agree the NFL isn't as good anymore because if you're posting on a football message board, you are/were probably a pretty hard core fan, possibly having watched the NFL for decades.
Posts: 55,640	2 0

12-29-2017, 02:19 PM	#290
BlackOp MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $5855267	I have to DVR a game and start it about an hour after it begins...the extended commercial breaks have become excruciating. On example was a time out before the 2 minute=commercial..then 2 minute=commercial, they scored on the next play/review=commercial, extra point=commercial, kick-off=commercial. There was about 15 minutes where 4 plays happened....I literally cleaned out my closet while this was happening.
Posts: 17,754