Politics, Streaming, and Health Concerns Are Causing NFL Ratings to Drop

Why professional football isn’t getting the viewership it used to.

By Michael MarksNovember 4, 2016 12:58 pm,

When it comes to television ratings, NFL programming has reigned supreme atop viewership charts for years. But this season has alarmed advertisers counting on high ratings for their premium ad buys. The reasons for a ratings drop range from the impact of the presidential debates to the political stance of 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick – and even the game itself.

Leigh Steinberg, sports agent and writer for Forbes explains the state of the game. 

“What’s happening with all the replays and commercials and everything else is – the game is quick while play is going on, but the game is glacially slow in those endless time-outs,” Steinberg says. “And I don’t think it helps the product.”

What you’ll hear in this segment:

–The price politics is paying on viewership

–The increasing role women are playing on demographics

–Possible problems in the script of the game itself on viewership