A slide in NFL ratings this season "could be as much a trend as a blip," according to Eddie Pells of the AP. That means "one of the main selling points of live sports to the networks -- they're appointment viewing that most people don't like to record and watch later -- could be eroding, as the fan base fragments, even for America's most popular sport" (10/14). In DC, Drew Harwell wrote the NFL has been "thrust into a crisis this fall, with dwindling ratings sparking questions over whether it can remain a gold mine for television in an age when more Americans are abandoning traditional TV." The league is "seeing its ratings tumble in the same way that the Olympics, awards shows and other live events have." Network and league execs are "scrambling to identify causes." Election years "often thin sports ratings, but the NFL has never seen a drop as dramatic as this year’s." Some advertisers said that they were "content to wait and see whether the season’s ratings improved in coming weeks, believing there were few better options among other sports or TV programming on which they could buy ad time." Media buying firm Amplifi U.S. Chief Domestic Investment Officer Andy Donchin said, "In a sea of very low-rated programs, to have the NFL be so dominant even with these depressed ratings, it's still something we value" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/15).
TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? On Long Island, Bob Glauber wrote having so much football on Saturdays and Sundays these days is "asking an awful lot for fans to keep up with so many games." The "lack of consistency" in the channel location for the NFL's "Thursday Night Football" also is "challenging." At some point, all this football is "simply too much" (NEWSDAY, 10/16). In Minneapolis, Jim Souhan writes, "The NFL wants you to watch more games than ever, but if you do, you will find the league’s product to be watered-down and too often boring" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/17). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay writes the NFL "has saturation and quality control issues." In other words, there is "too much crummy football." Gay: "There are a lot of football games I watch where I wonder if the teams were assembled in the stadium corridor 15 minutes before the game." The product "feels thinly spread, less of an event" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/17).
AFTER A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes, "Maybe certain eyeballs have become tired of the pace of telecasts, bogged down by commercial interruptions." CBS "went to commercial breaks 26 times" during yesterday's Ravens-Giants game, including halftime, with the average break lasting 2 minutes, 30 seconds (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/17).
STILL GOING STRONG: In Detroit, Justin Rogers noted the ratings decline "hasn't hit as strongly locally." Fox through five weeks has averaged a 15.0 local rating for Lions games, down just 3.2%. Lions’ attendance also is "slightly down" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/15).
