Bob Ryan
November 5, 2016
In the not-too-distant past there were three certainties in American life: 1. Death; 2. Taxes; 3. The unquestioned supremacy of the National Football League as America’s sport of choice.
Nothing much has changed with 1 and 2. But No. 3 is a bit under siege. NFL football is still No. 1, no question. But if TV ratings are any indication, there has been a bit of a change in the air. Clearly, something is going on.
There are many theories to explain the significant decline in NFL TV ratings, but it’s clearly stating the obvious that there is no one thing but rather the accumulation of many things that have accounted for this startling phenomenon. And it is startling. I don’t recall anyone, anywhere, predicting anything like this before the 2016 NFL season began.
The way I see it, there are 10 factors. You may disagree.
1. The Kaepernick effect
We must take people at their word. Untold numbers of people say they have stopped watching because they are offended by Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the national anthem, as well as any accompanying protests.
2. RedZone factor
I simply go by what people tell me. I do not have the RedZone channel. The only time I have ever seen it is when I am at a public eating and drinking place and I happen to see it on some big screen. I am not interested in the RedZone channel. But from what I gather many of my fellow Americans most certainly do have the RedZone channel and they are practically addicted to it. They no longer watch a game in its entirety. Therefore, they do not aid a game’s rating. I make no value judgment. If that’s what you like to do, who am I to tell you to stop? Go for it.
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