In a fractured media environment where award-winning scripted dramas compete for the public's attention along with goofy cat videos, one of the few things that multibillion dollar media and entertainment conglomerates could count on to attract millions of viewers -- and generate the ad revenue that keeps them in business -- was the National Football League.
These days, however, the most popular U.S. professional sport isn't such a sure bet. According to Pivotal Research analyst Brian Wieser, viewership for the NFL was down 14 percent on a year-over-year basis during the first week of the 2017-18 season. That's the lowest level of same-week viewing since 2009.
As a result, Walt Disney (DIS), parent of ESPN; CBS (CBS), parent of CBS MoneyWatch; Fox (FOXA), parent 21st Century Fox and Comcast (CMCSA), whose properties include NBC, are in a bind. They've counted on the NFL to buttress their business as audiences for cable and broadcast networks have dwindled in recent years. It has been an expensive strategy.
Fox, CBS and Comcast signed a $27 billion deal with the NFL for the right tobroadcast games through 2022. ESPN reportedly pays $1.9 billion per year for the rights to "Monday Night Football," a 73 percent increase over the previous contract. NBC and CBS signed a $900 million deal in 2016 for the rights to broadcast Thursday night games.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
I'm done with any sports that get political. Sports used to be a Mano on Mano competition whether by team or single, but was always a respite from anything political. That's why I followed sports. It was an escape from those other sections of the newspaper called News, editorials, Human interest, and Classified.
ReplyDeleteIt was a different world where politics and government didn't exist, just humans in sportingly fair competition among each other for hard earned titles.
Now, even overpaid sports people have become even dangerously political, as in Dennis Rodman.
What a shame on America!
I'll not watch them this year. I'm done. College only.
ReplyDeleteOur household no longer watches NFL games or any commentary
ReplyDeleteTurn it off! It's easy to live without football. Most of them are spoiled rotten overpaid dimwits that don't even know the whole alphabet. Forget about it...
ReplyDeleteI used to love watching the NFL. Couldn't wait all summer for it to come back on. Haven't watched a minute of it this season. No interest whatsoever. Spoiled, rich, entitled brats.
ReplyDeleteI started watching hockey. Don't miss NFL.
ReplyDeleteThe NFL is allowing their sport to be hijacked by the players and their political views on the field. As a result, I am no longer a fan of anything NFL. Apparently many feel as I do. They made a colossal fail when they didn't address the kneeling player during the national anthem. Should have nipped it in the bud. Funny, if a coach knelt in a religious gesture on the field, he would be fined, or fired.
ReplyDeleteDone with the NFL. It's not too late to save them, but they better come up with some new rules to control the players actions on the field. Then fine the rule-breakers before they cause ALL of their teammates to lose a large portion of their paychecks (that are based on ratings). If the owners don't come up with a solution, their investments are shot.
Amen 7:30 I feel the same way no NFL at our home untill the stop the spoiled kids
DeleteI totally agree
DeleteWell, obviously, the liberal media that is financing the NFL with its broadcasting deals and is fine with the players expressing their political views on the field, as long as they are radical left views. Let a conservative player try that. Look what they TRIED to do to Tim Tebow. The liberal media deserves to lose, and lose big, on their broadcasting rights. And when they can't stand the loss anymore, then the players will lose. Rightfully so....
ReplyDeleteToo many thugs in the NFL.
ReplyDeleteThey could have football on the tube every day of the week and the ratings would still be in the toilet.
ReplyDeleteNot withstanding the left wing political editorial that the NFL has become, they like to put Sunday night and Monday night games on at time when I'm sleeping. I'm not staying up till 11"00 to watch a game on Sunday night.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Thursday night games? Forget about it!
I was thinking maybe some of you would be tired of sitting on your butt...guess not.
ReplyDeleteDidn't watch NFL last year and I won't be this year. Most of the players are dumber than a clam ( even though they have college degrees given to them)or criminals.
ReplyDeleteAfter all the grand standing and disrespect for the country that made those entertainers millionaires I gave up on the NFL.
ReplyDeleteI stopped watching when a player who had a $110 million contract refused to stand for America's anthem. Men and women have died to defend this country and he completely disrespected their sacrifices and the team owners kept quiet, thus showing approval of his actions.
ReplyDelete122 but yet I bet you cheer when folks want to wave a confederate flag. Too funny
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteTheir Golden Goose is headed for the ICU.
Games all through the week even though it puts the teams at a disadvantage to recover and prepare.
Yellow flag pollution by refs.
And not stamping out the player disrespect of our country and its symbols. This managerial decision has been the most costly in terms of fan support and interest.
Most players have been coddled in HS and then had to endure pretending to go to class in college while they lived high on the hog with free tuition, books (what for?), and board. What an injustice!
Enough!