NFL TV Ratings Down Over Last Year
I know many were predicting this would happen. Is this just a blip or the beginning of a trend?
Combined, ESPN, Fox, NBC and CBS are spending an average of $5 billion a year for football rights through 2021.
So far this season, viewership on those networks is down about 10% from last season, according to Nielsen, with steeper declines for prime-time games on Sunday, Monday and Thursday. The drop has caught advertisers and rights holders off guard and left them scrambling to find a cause.
“The election is probably the biggest factor that you could point to,” said Fox Sports President Eric Shanks.
The prime time franchises have also been stung by lackluster matchups, leading viewers to tune out early.
The scrutiny surrounding how the league handles injuries and off-field antics of some players and even a backlash against those refusing to stand during the national anthem to protest police brutality may also be contributing to a “more negative view of the NFL in general,” according to Mr. Janedis.
ESPN has experienced the biggest drop, down 17% to average 11.3 million viewers. NBC Sunday night franchise is down 13% from last season. CBS Thursday night package is off 15%. On Sunday afternoons, CBS and Fox are both down 3% in viewers.
Of particular concern is the decline among younger male viewers. ESPN, for instance, is down 24% among men 18-34.
Combined, ESPN, Fox, NBC and CBS are spending an average of $5 billion a year for football rights through 2021.
So far this season, viewership on those networks is down about 10% from last season, according to Nielsen, with steeper declines for prime-time games on Sunday, Monday and Thursday. The drop has caught advertisers and rights holders off guard and left them scrambling to find a cause.
“The election is probably the biggest factor that you could point to,” said Fox Sports President Eric Shanks.
The prime time franchises have also been stung by lackluster matchups, leading viewers to tune out early.
The scrutiny surrounding how the league handles injuries and off-field antics of some players and even a backlash against those refusing to stand during the national anthem to protest police brutality may also be contributing to a “more negative view of the NFL in general,” according to Mr. Janedis.
ESPN has experienced the biggest drop, down 17% to average 11.3 million viewers. NBC Sunday night franchise is down 13% from last season. CBS Thursday night package is off 15%. On Sunday afternoons, CBS and Fox are both down 3% in viewers.
Of particular concern is the decline among younger male viewers. ESPN, for instance, is down 24% among men 18-34.
