More Signs Football Has Peaked In Popularity

[mu_hilltopper]

Interesting discussion ..  The NFL has upward and downward pressure that is changing viewer habits.

I think the downward pressure items win out.  The NFL isn't disappearing anytime soon, but I'd guess it'll continue losing a percent or two each year.

I am fascinated by what may happen over the next 2-3 weeks.  Will some form of "fan unity" win out?   If players/teams ask the fans to link arms "for unity" will they do that?  Will liberals do it, with conservatives refusing?    I imagine it'll be some of all of that, with a new barrel of monkeys spilled out, now folks knowing who is an American Packer Fan, who is "not."

In this day, it wouldn't shock me if black football players (not to mention NBA, NCAA sports) realize their audience is mostly white and plurality Trump supporters, now visually indicated by "not linking arms" or whatever unity pledge is going on.  How do they react?  The Missouri football team refused to play until their race-related demands were met .. who knows what happens on this new platform.

And .. how long will it all last?  I watched a video of a dude burning his Packer gear in a 55 gallon drum, mad as hell.   In January when GB is yet again sniffing the Superbowl, I want to see a followup on these jersey burning guys.

Interesting .. and awful .. times.

[Tugg Speedman]

Interesting discussion ..  The NFL has upward and downward pressure that is changing viewer habits.

I think the downward pressure items win out.  The NFL isn't disappearing anytime soon, but I'd guess it'll continue losing a percent or two each year.

I am fascinated by what may happen over the next 2-3 weeks.  Will some form of "fan unity" win out?   If players/teams ask the fans to link arms "for unity" will they do that?  Will liberals do it, with conservatives refusing?    I imagine it'll be some of all of that, with a new barrel of monkeys spilled out, now folks knowing who is an American Packer Fan, who is "not."

In this day, it wouldn't shock me if black football players (not to mention NBA, NCAA sports) realize their audience is mostly white and plurality Trump supporters, now visually indicated by "not linking arms" or whatever unity pledge is going on.  How do they react?  The Missouri football team refused to play until their race-related demands were met .. who knows what happens on this new platform.

And .. how long will it all last?  I watched a video of a dude burning his Packer gear in a 55 gallon drum, mad as hell.   In January when GB is yet again sniffing the Superbowl, I want to see a followup on these jersey burning guys.

Interesting .. and awful .. times.

You're correct that the viewership will only get hurt a few percent by the kneeling flap (if the protests and polls are correct).  But that is enough to throw the NFL into chaos.  The NFL is a high cost, high broadcast rights league.  A few years of modest declines in viewers and attendance still keeps it as the top draw but causes enough losses at the broadcasters and to the league that the players will be asked to give back on the CBA which heightens the chance of another strike.

Point is the NFL has a real problem.  The "easy" fix is for the players to stop kneeling.  But that is perceived to be "caving" to Trump.  Conversely, the other option is those upset by the kneeling to stop protesting.  But they too are dug in.  And again 3% to 5% staying away is enough to be a problem for the league.

I have no idea how this ends.  And it until it does, the NFL loses and loses. 

[Spotcheck Billy]

You're correct that the viewership will only get hurt a few percent by the kneeling flap (if the protests and polls are correct).  But that is enough to throw the NFL into chaos.  The NFL is a high cost, high broadcast rights league.  A few years of modest declines in viewers and attendance still keeps it as the top draw but causes enough losses at the broadcasters and to the league that the players will be asked to give back on the CBA which heightens the chance of another strike.

Point is the NFL has a real problem.  The "easy" fix is for the players to stop kneeling.  But that is perceived to be "caving" to Trump.  Conversely, the other option is those upset by the kneeling to stop protesting.  But they too are dug in.  And again 3% to 5% staying away is enough to be a problem for the league.

I have no idea how this ends.  And it until it does, the NFL loses and loses. 

I suspect that if the NFL ever feels this issue will really hurt the owners in their pocketbooks they will just keep the teams off the field during the anthem - that's the easy fix.

[cheebs09]

I think CTE and the quality of the game poses many more problems long term than the protests.

I feel like I'm watching less football than ever before. Mainly because the game is a little more boring and I'm too busy to focus on my fantasy team as much as I did when I was younger.

[Tugg Speedman]

I suspect that if the NFL ever feels this issue will really hurt the owners in their pocketbooks they will just keep the teams off the field during the anthem - that's the easy fix.

Keeping them off the field is way worse,  Right now it is perceived as player driven.  That would escalate it to a league approved protest.

[Tugg Speedman]

Check Into Cash founder pulls ads from NFL games, denounces league as 'unpatriotic'
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2017/sep/26/check-cash-founder-pulls-ads-nfl-games-denounces-league-unpatriotic/451276/

[reinko]

Check Into Cash founder pulls ads from NFL games, denounces league as 'unpatriotic'
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2017/sep/26/check-cash-founder-pulls-ads-nfl-games-denounces-league-unpatriotic/451276/

Sleazebag who runs a company that preys  on low income communities charging 50-100% interest loans, who has been sued multiple times is all of sudden taking his stand.

[GGGG]

Check Into Cash founder pulls ads from NFL games, denounces league as 'unpatriotic'
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2017/sep/26/check-cash-founder-pulls-ads-nfl-games-denounces-league-unpatriotic/451276/

Modern day loan shark takes a stand.

[Tugg Speedman]

Sleazebag who runs a company that preys  on low income communities charging 50-100% interest loans, who has been sued multiple times is all of sudden taking his stand.

And yet the NFL accepted his advertising

[Pakuni]

And yet the NFL accepted his advertising

That's not how it works.

[GGGG]

And yet the NFL accepted his advertising

Actually they didn't. It was local radio advertising.

[Tugg Speedman]

That's not how it works.

Umm, yes ... they always have a veto over all advertising at every level.  Yes, they rarely exercise it, but they do.

[Tugg Speedman]

JPMorgan Suggests Bet Against CBS Amid NFL Anthem Controversy
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-27/jpmorgan-suggests-bet-against-cbs-amid-nfl-anthem-controversy
Strategist recommends buying options ahead of weekend games
Sales of player jerseys seen as proxy for fan sentiment

JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s Shawn Quigg is encouraging investors to bet against CBS Corp. stock ahead of this weekend's NFL broadcasts. The bank recommends buying an option that gives you the right to sell the shares at $57.50 on the likelihood that the stock will fall below that price after the company discloses ratings for the games. CBS closed at $58 on Tuesday.

Quigg noted that the jersey of Alejandro Villanueva -- the only Pittsburgh Steeler to stand on the field during the national anthem during last weekend's game -- was the best-selling jersey in the hours following the player boycott.

"If one uses player jersey sales as a proxy, fans appear to favor an on-field standing presence during the Anthem," he said in the note.

[Pakuni]

Umm, yes ... they always have a veto over all advertising at every level.  Yes, they rarely exercise it, but they do.

That's not what you said.
Not that you would ever shift goalposts or anything.

[Tugg Speedman]

That's not what you said.
Not that you would ever shift goalposts or anything.

Why do you constantly want to pick anal meaningless fights?  What purpose does it serve?

[warriorchick]

Why do you constantly want to pick anal meaningless fights?  What purpose does it serve?

Dude, you are the one who doubles down every time someone disagrees with you.  99% of your threads would die a natural death if you would just stop posting.

[Pakuni]

Why do you constantly want to pick anal meaningless fights?  What purpose does it serve?

You know, coming from most people that's an entirely fair question. It's not my best quality.
Coming from you? Holy lack of self awareness.
Anyhow, I guess it's because I'm not a fan of you consistently twisting facts and distorting reality to further your agenda ... which as far as  can tell seems to be convincing yourself you're smarter than the average bear.

Why do you constantly change the subject when you someone points out you're wrong? I mean, it's not such a big deal to admit that  the NFL does not accept local radio ads, is it?

[Tugg Speedman]

You know, coming from most people that's an entirely fair question. It's not my best quality.
Coming from you? Holy lack of self awareness.
Anyhow, I guess it's because I'm not a fan of you consistently twisting facts and distorting reality to further your agenda ... which as far as  can tell seems to be convincing yourself you're smarter than the average bear.

Why do you constantly change the subject when you someone points out you're wrong? I mean, it's not such a big deal to admit that  the NFL does not accept local radio ads, is it?

But they do, they have standards for all advertising.  Like I said they rarely enforce it.

Every nationally syndicated program has the same standard.

[Jockey]

Has Heisy ventured into Ners territory with his posts?

Constant, repetitive predictive drivel over and over and over, ad nauseum.

Whatever the Russian twitter feeds are pushing, he is buying. (He was smart enough not to buy Apple, though.)

[MU82]

I think CTE and the quality of the game poses many more problems long term than the protests.

I agree. The anthem thing is what investors would call "short-term noise." The CTE thing is going to linger and linger and linger, and most likely get worse and worse.

The hit in that Packers-Bears game last night that almost knocked Adams' head off is the kind of hit the president railed should be legal. (Few even bothered thinking about that part of his speech because of the concentration on the short-term noise.) To him, the "entertainment" of the violent hits outweighs the lives of the competitors.

[Tugg Speedman]

New Poll: NFL More Unfavorable Than Ever, Nosedives by 13 Percent in One Week
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2017/09/29/new-morning-consult-poll-nfl-more-unfavorable-than-ever-n2388490

According to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, the National Football League is seen as more unfavorable than ever before.
http://view.e.morningconsult.com/?qs=1f9ab69dd9af853ee23a51b12ea43befa99e44bdab249383c21471464ec15db999623f17f116e900add0623c51d2a000c78e1041440c6f03d9c816b351a02146

"The NFL's net favorability has dropped from 30% on September 21 to 17% on September 28," the poll shows.

On September 21, 25% of Trump supporters said they had a very favorable view of the NFL and 11% had a very unfavorable view.

As of Sept 28, those numbers have dramatically changed with 33% of Trump supporters say they have a very unfavorable view of the NFL and 16% report having a very favorable view.

NFL's Brand Favorability Drops To Lowest Point Since Morning Consult Started Tracking: The NFL's net favorability has dropped from 30% on September 21 to 17% on September 28.


NFL Takes Huge Hit Among Trump Supporters:

On September 21, 25% of Trump supporters said they had a very favorable view of the NFL and 11% had a very unfavorable view.

As of Sept 28, those numbers have dramatically changed with 33% of Trump supporters say they have a very unfavorable view of the NFL and 16% report having a very favorable view. You can see the trend lines here:

[Tugg Speedman]

I agree. The anthem thing is what investors would call "short-term noise." The CTE thing is going to linger and linger and linger, and most likely get worse and worse.

The hit in that Packers-Bears game last night that almost knocked Adams' head off is the kind of hit the president railed should be legal. (Few even bothered thinking about that part of his speech because of the concentration on the short-term noise.) To him, the "entertainment" of the violent hits outweighs the lives of the competitors.

... because it goes against your political viewpoint.  And since every rationalization you put forth has fallen apart, you're down to calling it "short-term noise."  See the post above regarding your short-term noise.

Then, to make yourself feel better, you take a shot a Trump on some twisted made-up premise.  What is the point of that other than, again, to make yourself feel better and superior?

Thank god you're still long Apple as little else in your sad life seems to be working.

[Tugg Speedman]

Bears/Packers game down 13% from a year ago.  And the 2016 comparable was down 27% from the 2015 debut of Thursday Night Football on CBS.

http://deadline.com/2017/09/packers-win-thursday-night-football-ratings-down-bears-national-anthem-cbs-nfl-1202179245/

However, it still was not a good result for CBS and the NFL as the matchup went late and delivered 9.9/18 in metered market ratings. That's down 13% from the 2016 TNF opener on CBS and NFL Network when the New York Jets beat the Buffalo Bills 37-31. In the first of five TNFs that CBS has this year, last night's game was shown on NFL Network and made its live debut on Amazon Prime.

On a night of no competition from the other nets and with the matchup being shown live on Twitter, last year's September 15, CBS kickoff game ended up with 15.4 million viewers and a 5.4/21 rating among adults 18-49. The start of the third season of TNF on the House of Moonves, those 2016 numbers were a 27% and 29% fall, respectively, from the 2015 TNF debut on CBS and NFL Network.

As for Thursday's overnight numbers, the latest decline comes as the league, broadcasters and cable networks are biting already chewed nails over last year's ratings and what could be coming down the line.

While ratings this year overall are actually up a tiny bit over last year right now, the 2016-2017 NFL season saw a nearly 10% decline from the year before. That's a big hit for the big-money league, and the sting is being felt again with the likes of heavyweight Sunday Night Football hurting this year. Then, there is the increased political spotlight in the usually conservative NFL after President Donald Trump called for a boycott of the league and berated players for following now ex-San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick publicly protesting police brutality and racial injustice by not standing for the national anthem. Last night's linking of arms by both teams was an attempt to deflect some of that attention.

[Babybluejeans]

Heisy, you gotta chill out.

[Jockey]

Heisy, you gotta chill out.

Not till we all believe he is the oracle.