Football Ratings Are Down

[bma77]

One would assume the information last night just put this debate about coincidence or politics as a reason why ratings are down, to bed.  Not the reason.

An earlier response stated Yahoo's poll was virtually worthless because it was online.  My only guess to that is because a person could conceivably go to a different computer and vote multiple times.  Though it probably happens, to what degree?

Last night the first real poll was released by a polling company where that cannot happen.  The sample is controlled by the polling company to avoid repeat takers. 

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-tv-ratings-rasmussen-reports-poll-colin-kaepernick-anthem-protest-reaction-effect/95jdoch1ngj103xvbkllcbvk

Results: 

32% of NFL fans polled are less likely to watch NFL games because of the protests
52% No impact
13% more likely to watch more NFL games due to protests


Not sure how anyone can now claim this is merely a coincidence.  Or a poll is worthless.  Or streaming is causing this.  To some degree, to a large constituency of fans, they are upset and taking it out on the NFL Ratings


Another article about it.  "Confirmed: NFL Losing Millions Of TV Viewers Because of National Anthem Protests"

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/10/05/confirmed-nfl-losing-millions-of-tv-viewers-because-of-national-anthem-protests/&refURL=https://www.google.com/&referrer=https://www.google.com/

All the poll results

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/social_issues/are_americans_tuning_out_the_nfl_over_protests

[Tugg Speedman]

Didn't read the article but y'all don't see the difference between peaceful/quiet objection focused on a systemic issue and hateful symbols and words focused on a specific group of people that are different (color, religion) than the person delivering the words?

If not........in before the lock.

One person political protest is another persons hate speech.

All depends on your ideology.

[bma77]

That poll is surely as accurate as the polls that appear every time a major sport's players go on strike and a large percentage of "fans" say they will never attend a game again ..... ever.

These are simply frustration polls. Totally meaningless.

Poor analogy.  We are talking about a week to week phenomenon with customers choosing to not turn on the tv, vs a poll where someone claims they won't go to another game years down the road.

To say they are totally meaningless is wrong.  The proof is in the numbers, and some people are not watching due to protests.  Others are not watching for other legitimate reasons stated here (politics, streaming, bad matchups), but that doesn't mean you can discount that some are voting with their remote control.  One doesn't have to use a poll, all one has to do is read the interviews of real fans by the press that have turned off the tv on Sundays.

[bma77]

Didn't read the article but y'all don't see the difference between peaceful/quiet objection focused on a systemic issue and hateful symbols and words focused on a specific group of people that are different (color, religion) than the person delivering the words?

If not........in before the lock.

[Tugg Speedman]

Funny how that is not a violation of the uniform code, but Tebow's eye black saying "pro life" was.

Everything is viewed through a Political prism.

[GGGG]

He wore those socks during training camp practices.  Not games. 

So again, your comparison is invalid.

[Pakuni]

Funny how that is not a violation of the uniform code, but Tebow's eye black saying "pro life" was.

There is no uniform code for practices.
Poor effort, Jesse.

[bma77]

According to the NFL Operations website, there are policies in place that govern games, practices, training camps. 


http://operations.nfl.com/football-ops/nfl-rules-enforcement/uniform-inspectors/

[MU82]

Pakuni and Sultan insist political protest are not affecting ratings.  This does not help their rationalizations

I am reading more Scoop because of the protests.

[GGGG]

According to the NFL Operations website, there are policies in place that govern games, practices, training camps. 


http://operations.nfl.com/football-ops/nfl-rules-enforcement/uniform-inspectors/

Equipment is different than uniform.

Caption from the picture on this article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/08/05/the-nfls-uniform-rules-border-on-ridiculous/

"Miami Dolphins defensive tackles Jordan Phillips, Earl Mitchell and Ndamukong Suh don't have to follow the NFL's uniform rules in training camp."

Note they are wearing socks that differ from uniform rules.

[MU82]

He wore those socks during training camp practices.  Not games. 

So again, your comparison is invalid.

You expect Smuggles to actually admit he was using false equivalency, a favorite tactic of his (and chicos)? Please.

Having said that, those socks severely undermine the sincerity of Kaepernick's protest, IMHO. When you start with the position that all cops are pigs, it's hard to take you seriously.

Also stupid were his statements that Clinton and Trump are "both racists." Even as one worked tirelessly to fight discrimination, the other was sued for discriminatory practices in his real estate holdings -- just one of dozens of examples of how Kaepernick, like Smuggles, was guilty of citing false equivalents.

[GGGG]

You expect Smuggles to actually admit he was using false equivalency, a favorite tactic of his (and chicos)? Please.

Having said that, those socks severely undermine the sincerity of Kaepernick's protest, IMHO. When you start with the position that all cops are pigs, it's hard to take you seriously.

Also stupid where his statements that Clinton and Trump are "both racists." Even as one worked tirelessly to fight discrimination, the other was sued for discriminatory practices in his real estate holdings -- just one of dozens of examples of how Kaepernick, like Smuggles, was guilty of citing false equivalents.

Agreed.  I don't think his protests are really going to do anything more than "raise awareness."

[Pakuni]

According to the NFL Operations website, there are policies in place that govern games, practices, training camps. 


http://operations.nfl.com/football-ops/nfl-rules-enforcement/uniform-inspectors/

Nothing in the rule book mentions practice. It concerns only game day apparel.

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/8_Rule5_Players_Subs_Equip_GeneralRules.pdf

[MU82]

Nothing in the rule book mentions practice. It concerns only game day apparel.

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/8_Rule5_Players_Subs_Equip_GeneralRules.pdf

But nice try by chicos anyway.

[Pakuni]

You expect Smuggles to actually admit he was using false equivalency, a favorite tactic of his (and chicos)? Please.

Having said that, those socks severely undermine the sincerity of Kaepernick's protest, IMHO. When you start with the position that all cops are pigs, it's hard to take you seriously.

Also stupid were his statements that Clinton and Trump are "both racists." Even as one worked tirelessly to fight discrimination, the other was sued for discriminatory practices in his real estate holdings -- just one of dozens of examples of how Kaepernick, like Smuggles, was guilty of citing false equivalents.

Agreed. Kaepernick has been far from an ideal spokesman for his cause.

[cheebs09]

How many of the "likely not to watch" actually don't watch though? I feel people would find it easy to voice their displeasure on the poll, but when it comes down to it on Sundays, they are tuning in.

If the response was, "I have stopped watching or watching less" then that would be a little more proof to me.

I think the TNF games are tougher to watch this year if you don't have NFLN. I thought the first 8 were on CBS last year. I don't have cable and don't find the product good enough to go through WatchESPN.

The Sunday ratings surprise me a bit. I wonder if big TV markets in MLB playoff race and Ryder Cup cause a change in viewing at all.

[Pakuni]

How many of the "likely not to watch" actually don't watch though? I feel people would find it easy to voice their displeasure on the poll, but when it comes down to it on Sundays, they are tuning in.

If the response was, "I have stopped watching or watching less" then that would be a little more proof to me.

Bingo.
This is what I've been saying is the flaw with these polls. They don't track what people are doing, or even what they claim they are doing. They track what people claim they will be doing.
I have no doubt some people aren't watching because of the protests. I also have no doubt their numbers are insignificant when it comes to affecting the ratings, and there are far more credible theories for the ratings slip.

[brandx]

Poor analogy.  We are talking about a week to week phenomenon with customers choosing to not turn on the tv, vs a poll where someone claims they won't go to another game years down the road.

To say they are totally meaningless is wrong.  The proof is in the numbers, and some people are not watching due to protests.  Others are not watching for other legitimate reasons stated here (politics, streaming, bad matchups), but that doesn't mean you can discount that some are voting with their remote control.  One doesn't have to use a poll, all one has to do is read the interviews of real fans by the press that have turned off the tv on Sundays.

Week 2 NFL Ratings (2012)

12:00 Fox NFL Sunday (Fox) - 3.4
12:00 The NFL Today (CBS) - 2.6
1:00/4:00 The NFL on Fox, singleheader - 13.3
1:00 The NFL on CBS, Game 1 - 11.6
4:25 The NFL on CBS, Game 2 - 14.4
7:00 Football Night in America - 6.4

I wonder what people were protesting about in 2012.

[brandx]

How many of the "likely not to watch" actually don't watch though? I feel people would find it easy to voice their displeasure on the poll, but when it comes down to it on Sundays, they are tuning in.

Probably the same amount who said they would never attend another MLB game when the players were on strike.

People use these polls the same way some people use the internet - just to let off steam.

[GGGG]

Probably the same amount who said they would never attend another MLB game when the players were on strike.

Or would never donate again after Marquette became the Golden Eagles...

[Pakuni]

Or would never donate again after Marquette became the Golden Eagles...

Or would move to Canada when George W. Bush/Barack Obama/Hillary Clinton/Donald Trump is elected president.

[tower912]

A back-up quarterback decides to, and inspires others to, engage in a silent protest to attempt to bring attention to their view of systemic, institutional racism.    A portion of the football watching audience is less likely to watch because of this rarely-actually-seen-on-TV protest.  The league survives and thrives despite strikes, domestic violence, shootings, accessories to murder, soliciting prostitutes before the Super Bowl,  covering up concussions, PED's, increased calls by players for more lax marijuana rules, DUI's, Packer player in hot tubs with young girls,child abuse, but this,  THIS! may be a determining factor for viewership.   

  IMO, it says more about the viewers than it does about the protestors. 

[MU82]

Week 2 NFL Ratings (2012)

12:00 Fox NFL Sunday (Fox) - 3.4
12:00 The NFL Today (CBS) - 2.6
1:00/4:00 The NFL on Fox, singleheader - 13.3
1:00 The NFL on CBS, Game 1 - 11.6
4:25 The NFL on CBS, Game 2 - 14.4
7:00 Football Night in America - 6.4

I wonder what people were protesting about in 2012.

Blackie McBlackerson about to get re-elected?

[brewcity77]

You mean like this actual story that all the defenders of protests have been strangely quite about.

Again, you have the right to protest or speak out ... so long as they agree with your political angle.  Clevenger was not politically correct so he lost his job.


Seattle Mariners catcher suspended for season for Charlotte protest tweets
http://www.wxyz.com/news/national/seattle-mariners-catcher-suspended-for-season-for-charlotte-protest-tweets

No, that is completely wrong. Listen, it's obvious to me that Donald Trump is a fear mongering lunatic that spouts lies to take advantage of weak minded, insecure individuals, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the right to say it.

Just because I disagree with someone doesn't mean they should be silenced. Actually, it means the exact opposite. If you don't believe in free speech for those you disagree with, you don't believe in free speech at all. Take away Kaepernick's or Trump's freedom of speech and you may as well fold up America and embrace a dictatorship, because that's exactly what you'd be endorsing.

[Lennys Tap]

A back-up quarterback decides to, and inspires others to, engage in a silent protest to attempt to bring attention to their view of systemic, institutional racism.    A portion of the football watching audience is less likely to watch because of this rarely-actually-seen-on-TV protest.  The league survives and thrives despite strikes, domestic violence, shootings, accessories to murder, soliciting prostitutes before the Super Bowl,  covering up concussions, PED's, increased calls by players for more lax marijuana rules, DUI's, Packer player in hot tubs with young girls,child abuse, but this,  THIS! may be a determining factor for viewership.   

  IMO, it says more about the viewers than it does about the protestors.

Well done, Tower.