NFL Excuses Run Out After Ratings Declines Continue

[Eleazar]

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.”

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by Bwana

I have to hand it to the guys that were saying Papa Johns pizza sucks. I hadn't ordered one for years so I gave it a shot last night. Some meth head shows up with my pizza and some wings last night after about an hour. They got one of the ingredients wrong but it was close enough so I tied into the first piece. It was so salty I though I was eating a salt block. All I could choke down was one piece. I literally wouldn't even give it to my dogs, I just tossed it. The wings were soso, but nothing I would ever order again. They also forgot the ranch with the order. Papa John and old 5 head can both kiss my ass.

Funny story



Seriously though most pizza has way too much salt on it that I find myself drinking lots of water afterwards so I usually just eat two pieces of whatever kind is on my plate, usually through work function or parties as I don't eat it normally.

When asked what kind of pizza do you like? I'll say I don't like pepperoni and I get read the riot act like I'm not normal so I just say whatever it doesn't matter. I'd rather eat my own food anyway.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by notorious

I used to watch every game possible, now it's just Chiefs, and even then I am thinking about doing something else.

I am probably in the minority, but it's officiating for me. The game is harder and harder to watch.

Officiating is part of it, some of it is rules, some is bad coaching, some is injuries, but the end result of that is a SHITLOAD of bad ****ing football. Just a ****ing mountain of it.

There has been some good football. Hell, when the Chiefs were rolling early it was fun to watch. Atlanta, when Shanarat Junior was still there could roll out some beautiful plays. Cam Newton, when his moron ass coaches don't think he needs to run a draw on 3rd and 5 can be really fun to watch.

But that shit is few and far between. Far more often, we get Bortles throwing balls right to the other ****ing guy, OL asshats that can't seem to even fall down in front of a guy to slow them down. LBs that don't know gap assignments, DB's that can't cover without a flag, Coaches that subscribe to the Squirmin Herman Mother****ing Sack of **** Edwards newsletter featuring the vaunted R2P2. It's just not very good far too often.

From my perspective:

1. I am busy. I grew up and got some responsibility. It seems like I hear a lot of people saying that everyone is busier. I believe it. Kids these days do way more activities (and less work) than I did at their ages. There is just a lot of shit going on. Less time to sit and watch football.

2. Bad football. See above. Less appealing. Easier to go find something else to do.

3. Bad commercials. I don't know if the commercials are actually worse or if I am just less tolerant. Either way, son of a bitch some of the commercials are terribad. Makes it far easier, when coupled with bad football to shut that ****ing shit off.

4. Too much shit that's not about football. I don't give a **** about the narratives that one who sucks the peniss are spewing all over the place. Social Justice, suspensions, revenge, what the **** ever these assfaces feel compelled to talk about besides the football.

Originally Posted by Loneiguana

Some uppity black men made them uncomfortable and in their temper tantrum they want to watch it all burn.

They were reminded they hate the players more then the love the game.

For ****s ****ing sake. Stop listening to Bomani Jones. If you can't do that, keep that moronic shit in DC.

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by threebag02

BigRedChief or one of the Floridians

Not it!

[St. Patty's Fire]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

This is why the NFL is dying...you have the owner of a Pizza company ordering the owners of the NFL to do change things to increase his revenue growth.

This is partially why you get the predetermined SB match-ups and the rigged outcomes.

The NFL is merely a televised vehicle to sell unrelated products now...essentially, they pay their bills. The NFL answers to them...

What the? I thought Papa John just wanted to give the Denver turf guy his time in the limelight?

He won't be gettiing anymore Papa Blessings from me, that's for sure.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Bwana

I have to hand it to the guys that were saying Papa Johns pizza sucks. I hadn't ordered one for years so I gave it a shot last night. Some meth head shows up with my pizza and some wings last night after about an hour. They got one of the ingredients wrong but it was close enough so I tied into the first piece. It was so salty I though I was eating a salt block. All I could choke down was one piece. I literally wouldn't even give it to my dogs, I just tossed it. The wings were soso, but nothing I would ever order again. They also forgot the ranch with the order. Papa John and old 5 head can both kiss my ass.

I haven't had one of their pizza's in years but when they first went national, it was pretty good. Definitely better than the other chains at the time. But that happens to every pizza company; the bigger they get, the worse the quality becomes over time. Pizza Hut today is NOTHING like it was in the 70's and early 80's.
As near as I can tell, only Dominoes has made an effort to keep the crust legit and evolve with the times in terms of toppings. A lot of people seem to dislike them, though. Godfathers seems to be making a comeback but I haven't been compelled to give them a try.
Most people I know buy a good cheese pizza at the store and then load it up with their own toppings. I like making a Chef Boyardee pizza now and again myself. If you can make one of those work, you definitely know your shit.

As to the football...

I started watching pro ball in the mid 70's as a youngster. Off the top of my head I would say that the pro game was golden from the time of the AFL until about the mid 2000's. From the time I turned KC off(1999-2008)until I came back, you could tell that the entire tone of the game had changed, and not for the better. It didn't help that the Chiefs were sucking heap big shit at the time, but even the teams that were doing well weren't churning out a very watchable product. The focus had shifted almost entirely to offense and the elements of defensive play that had brought me to the table to begin with were dead or dying.
I just looked up Goodell's tenure: 2006-present. What a shock. I'm shocked I say. Jeez...
And now, certain elements of everyday living and the assault of politics that we could all enjoy a break from on Sunday have become a part of the package as well. It's no surprise to me at all that people are turning away or becoming less involved. Add to that the growing suspicion of a scripted outcome, and it's the beginning of the end.

[RippedmyFlesh]

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

Add to that the growing suspicion of a scripted outcome,

This has gone from a tin foil hat idea to a legitimate concern sadly. Way worse to me than any anthem bull shit.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

This has gone from a tin foil hat idea to a legitimate concern sadly. Way worse to me than any anthem bull shit.

The evidence/coincidences are pretty compelling.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Bwana

I have to hand it to the guys that were saying Papa Johns pizza sucks. I hadn't ordered one for years so I gave it a shot last night. Some meth head shows up with my pizza and some wings last night after about an hour. They got one of the ingredients wrong but it was close enough so I tied into the first piece. It was so salty I though I was eating a salt block. All I could choke down was one piece. I literally wouldn't even give it to my dogs, I just tossed it. The wings were soso, but nothing I would ever order again. They also forgot the ranch with the order. Papa John and old 5 head can both kiss my ass.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Fairplay

Seriously though most pizza has way too much salt on it that I find myself drinking lots of water afterwards so I usually just eat two pieces of whatever kind is on my plate, usually through work function or parties as I don't eat it normally

Yeah, that's cheap, shitty pizza.

I don't touch "poverty pizza" and I don't serve it at birthday parties, either.

Gross.

[kcchiefsus]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Yeah, that's cheap, shitty pizza.

I don't touch "poverty pizza" and I don't serve it at birthday parties, either.

Gross.

Mr. high and mighty piece of shit

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by Valiant

I think it would be an interesting test. Run a contest for every team. Select one to two of the most knowledgeable fans on their teams. Then have them in the broadcast booth adding some flair and actual knowledge to the viewers. Friendly smacktalk. Have a professional in there also to keep things in line and moving forward.

I got to lay the knowledge on an Arkansas fan today that Coastal Carolina one had a QB that made it to the NFL

[threebag]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

I got to lay the knowledge on an Arkansas fan today that Coastal Carolina one had a QB that made it to the NFL

Hell Yeah

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsus

Mr. high and mighty piece of shit

It's called being courteous and respecting your guests.

When people take 3-4 hours out of their Saturday or Sunday, pay for parking and bring a gift (that are usually in excess of $20 dollars), I provide quality food.

This past summer, I ordered a dozen pizzas from Santa Monica Pizza company along with a couple of deli tray's from Art's.

I'm not buying Subway and Little Caesar's or Domino's.

[threebag]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It's called being courteous and respecting your guests.

When people take 3-4 hours out of their Saturday or Sunday, pay for parking and bring a gift (that are usually in excess of $20 dollars), I provide quality food.

This past summer, I ordered a dozen pizzas from Santa Monica Pizza company along with a couple of deli tray's from Art's.

I'm not buying Subway and Little Caesar's or Domino's.

I won't buy my guests or co-workers anythjng I wouldn't eat myself.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by threebag02

I won't buy my guests or co-workers anythjng I wouldn't eat myself.

Exactly