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Title: NFL Ratings Down Big on Opening Night Amid Renewed Anthem Protests
Source:
Breitbart
URL Source: http://www.breitbart.com/sports/201 ... -amid-renewed-anthem-protests/
Published: Sep 8, 2017
Author: Dylan Gwinn
Post Date: 2017-09-09 22:09:40 by Tooconservative
Keywords: None
Views: 2699
Comments: 11
The NFL opened its 2017 season Thursday night, in much the same way that it played out the 2016 season. The game featured the team that won the final game of the year last season, the game was high-scoring with plenty of offense, the game featured an anthem protest, and the league’s ratings went down. The game between the Chiefs and the Patriots drew a 14.6 overnight rating on NBC. That rating is down nearly two full points from last year’s 16.5 number for the Panthers-Broncos opener, and more than three points down from the Steelers-Patriots opener in 2015. Why, the steep decline? While the ratings have clearly trended down for a number of seasons, last night’s game did feature an anthem protest from Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters, and it’s entirely likely that many tuned-out after seeing that: — David Eulitt (@davidphotokc) September 8, 2017 The sports media would gladly point the finger at politics, as the cause of the ratings drop. Though, no debate, or matter of pressing national importance was being discussed in politics on Thursday night. Some have opined that coverage of Hurricane Irma, might be the culprit. Though, it rings hollow that coverage of the storm would cause a 12% decline in ratings from last year. Instead, it’s more likely that NFL fans are following through on their warnings of last year. Specifically, the warning where 44% of fans said they would stop watching the NFL if the anthem protests continued. That poll, backed-up by the J.D. Power survey which showed that most fans cited the anthem protests as the main reason for why they stopped watching the league, might have a lot more to do with the ratings drop than Irma. Poster Comment: 
#Chiefs CB Marcus Peters sits on trainer's bench during National Anthem. @SportsDailyKC @KCStar pic.twitter.com/5xnDLi4HqD 
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 10.
#6. To: Tooconservative (#0)
The players enjoy a First Amendment right to protest. They do not enjoy that right at work, in uniform, while representing the team or the NFL. The NFL, if it chose, could end this crap. A coach could end it by telling a player who sits or kneels to keep sitting or kneeling for the next three and a half hours. If Roger Goodell does not have the balls to act, he should be removed by the owners. For a set price, advertisers are guaranteed a certain audience for their ads. When viewership falls beneath the set floor, the advertisers receive a rebate on their advertising dollars. It costs a whole bunch of money last year. It will cost more this year. Employing Colin Kaepernick would cost so much, no owner was willing to go there.
The owners are afraid of social media backlash, I think. They value their huge profits in team jerseys and other pricey knickknacks, probably more than the gate receipts or anything else other than their lucrative television franchise contracts. If NFL football looks like it is going the way of boxing (sharp and permanent decline), they may take action. Or they may think they can just ride it out. Or they may consider that they should just go down with the ship. They are all, after all, billionaires.
Goodell is afraid of social media backlash. Kaepernick opted out of his contract and now can't find an owner that will touch him. When enough fans show up for games disguised as empty seats, and enough money must be given back to advertisers, the owners will set Goodell on their chosen path or set him on a different career path. Viewership tanked for the Patriots game.
#11. To: nolu chan (#10)
(Edited)
That surprised me a little but it wasn't a home game, I think. And the Patriots and their fans are pretty hated by everyone. Which they seem to thoroughly enjoy. Hell, checking again, I see it was a home game for the Patriots.
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#7. To: nolu chan (#6)
#10. To: Tooconservative (#7)
The owners are afraid of social media backlash, I think.
Replies to Comment # 10. Viewership tanked for the Patriots game.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 10.
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