Is the NFL Losing Viewers?

The National Football League has been facing declining viewership numbers for a few years now. Some people have blamed this on the league’s handling of players’ protests during the national anthem, while others believe that the game has simply become too slow and boring. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that the NFL is losing some of its audience.

Introduction

The NFL has seen a decline in viewership in recent years, and some have speculated that the league is losing viewers. There are a number of reasons why this may be the case, including competition from other sports and entertainment options, declining interest in football among young people, and concerns about player safety. Whatever the reasons, the NFL will need to address this issue if it wants to maintain its position as America’s most popular sport.

Data that suggests the NFL is losing viewers

The NFL has seen a decline in viewership over the past few years. This decline has been blamed on a number of factors, including the National Anthem protests, player safety concerns, and the overall decline in interest in the sport of football. However, the data shows that the NFL is still the most watched sport in the United States.

Lower ratings for the NFL

TV ratings for NFL games are down 7% this season, according to data from Nielsen. The drop in ratings comes amid a contentious presidential election and increased interest in other sports, like baseball.

Through Week 7 of the 2016 season, the NFL averaged 16.5 million viewers per game, down from 17.9 million at the same point last year. The declines have been most pronounced on ESPN, which has seen its “Monday Night Football” telecasts fall 20% in viewership.

The NFL’s ratings declines come as other sports leagues have seen modest increases in TV viewership. Major League Baseball’s World Series Game 7 was the most-watched baseball game in close to a decade, averaging just over 20 million viewers. And the NBA has seen a small uptick in TV ratings this season.

Fewer people are attending NFL games

Fewer people are attending NFL games, watching NFL broadcasts, and subscribing to NFL cable channels, according to data from a variety of sources. While the league’s viewership overall is still high, the trend is unmistakable: the NFL is losing viewers.

There are a number of possible explanations for this decline. First, the league has been embroiled in a number of controversies in recent years, from domestic violence to players kneeling during the national anthem. These issues may be turning some fans away from the sport.

Second, the quality of play has declined in recent years. There have been more missed tackles and dropped passes, and fewer big plays. This could be due to a number of factors, including player fatigue (due to the increasing length of the season), poor coaching, or simply that the pool of talent is not as deep as it once was.

Whatever the reasons for the decline in viewership, it is clear that the NFL is no longer immune to the forces that are affecting other traditional television broadcasters.

Reasons for the decline in viewership

There are several reasons that the NFL has been losing viewers over the past few years. One reason is that the quality of the product on the field has declined. Another reason is that the league has been alienating its core fans with its off-field controversies. Let’s take a look at each of these reasons in more detail.

The NFL’s handling of player protests

Since 2016, the NFL has been in decline in terms of television viewership. In fact, since its peak in 2015, the NFL has lost almost 20% of its primetime viewers. There are many reasons for this decline, but one of the most significant is the NFL’s handling of player protests.

In 2016, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Other players soon joined him, and the protests continued even after Kaepernick left the 49ers.

The NFL initially responded to the protests by encouraging players to stand for the anthem. However, after criticism from President Trump, who called on owners to fire protesting players, the league changed its stance. In 2018, the NFL instituted a policy requiring players to stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room.

This policy outraged many players and fans, and only served to alienate those who were already critical of the league’s handling of player protests. The result was a further decline in viewership, as well as a drop in attendance and merchandise sales. In 2019, the NFL abandoned its policy altogether after widespread criticism from players, fans, and even sponsors.

However, by then the damage had been done. The NFL had lost much of its credibility with fans who disagreed with its handling of player protests, and it has been struggling to regain viewers ever since.

The concussion crisis

One of the main reasons for the decline in NFL viewership is the concussion crisis. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cases of former NFL players suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to repeated head trauma. This has led to many fans becoming concerned about the long-term health effects of playing football, and as a result, some have decided to stop watching the sport altogether.

In addition to the concussion crisis, another reason for the decline in NFL viewership is the league’s handling of player protests during the national anthem. In 2016, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick became the first player to kneel during the national anthem as a way of protesting police brutality and racial inequality. His protest quickly caught on with other players, and by 2017, dozens of players were taking a knee during the anthem on a weekly basis.

Many fans were outraged by the protests, and some even stopped watching games as a result. The league has since implemented a rule requiring all players to stand for the anthem, but the damage may already be done; a 2018 poll found that nearly half of all NFL fans believe that player protests are at least somewhat responsible for them watching less football.

The declining quality of play

The NFL has been losing viewers for a variety of reasons. One reason is that the quality of play has declined in recent years. This is due to a number of factors, including the increasing number of players who are retiring early, the declining number of young people who are playing the sport, and the increasing number of injuries that players are sustaining.

Another reason for the decline in viewership is the increase in the prices of tickets and merchandise. Tickets to NFL games have become increasingly expensive, and many fans can no longer afford to go to games. In addition, the price of NFL merchandise, such as jerseys and hats, has also increased.

The third reason for the decline in viewership is the decreasing popularity of football itself. In recent years, football has become less popular among young people. This is due to a variety of factors, including the increasing popularity of other sports, such as basketball and soccer, and the negative publicity that football has received in recent years due to concussions and other health concerns.

The impact of the decline in viewership

It’s no secret that the NFL has been losing viewers over the past few years. But why? There are a few reasons that could be contributing to the decline. Let’s take a look at some of the potential reasons behind the NFL’s decline in viewership.

Lower revenue for the NFL

The NFL is facing a decline in viewership and lower revenue. In 2017, the average game was watched by 14.9 million people, down from 16.5 million in 2016, according to Nielsen data. The drop in ratings has led to a decline in ad revenue for the league. In the 2017 season, ad revenue fell 2% to $3.39 billion, according to Standard Media Index data.

Fewer fans attending games

Fewer people are attending NFL games in person, and that is having a significant impact on the league. According to a report from ESPN, attendance at NFL games was down 5.3% in 2017, and it is down even more so far in 2018. This decline in attendance is likely due to a combination of factors, including the economic downturn, the protests by players during the national anthem, and the increase in options for at-home viewers.

The decline in attendance is having a significant financial impact on the league as well. With fewer people attending games, stadiums are not generating as much revenue from ticket sales and concessions. This can lead to less money available for player salaries, stadium maintenance, and other expenses. In addition, the declining attendance may also lead to lower ratings for televised games, which could lead to less revenue from advertisers.

The NFL is working to address this decline in attendance by improving the fan experience both at stadiums and at home. They are also working to increase their outreach to communities of color, who have been one of the groups most impacted by the decline in attendance. Ultimately, though, it will be up to fans to decide whether they want to continue supporting the league.

Conclusion

It is difficult to say whether or not the NFL is losing viewers. The ratings for the 2017 season were down compared to previous years, but it is hard to attribute this decline to any one factor. The NFL remains one of the most popular sports leagues in the United States, and it is unlikely that this will change in the near future.