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Here�s the fun thing about the NFL�s suddenly wobbly television
ratings: they can say whatever you want them to.

Believe the NFL�s newfound activism has turned the country against it?
Sure, that might be true.

Wondering whether anyone can focus on football with (waving hands
wildly) all this going on? Hey, that�s valid too.

Think that maybe people want to get outside these past few weekends of
warm weather? That�s entirely a possibility.

Disenchanted with matchups of winless teams? You are most definitely
not alone.

Here�s what is indisputable: ratings for the NFL are down, in some
cases to an ugly degree.

Why? Well, that�s a trickier question, one we can�t answer with
certainty until we�re past this election and the COVID-19 pandemic. For
now, here�s your Week 4 update. Television executives may wish to avert
your eyes:

Thursday Night Football (NFL Network) was down an astounding 70 percent
from last year, but that comes with a huge caveat: last year�s game
aired on NFL Network and Fox. Broadcast TV always jacks up ratings, and
it�ll do the same thing when TNF returns to Fox later this season.

Still: only 5.41 million watched the Denver Broncos and the New York
Jets play last Thursday. (If you�re not a fan of either of those teams,
or if you don�t have money riding on the outcome ... why would you?)

Sunday Night Football (NBC) took a steep dive, falling 37 percent in
viewership from last year. The matchup was substandard � a winless
Philadelphia versus an injury-ravaged San Francisco � even if the game
ended up being fairly decent. If there�s a worrying sign for the NFL,
it�s Sunday night.

The CBS doubleheader also saw sharp declines due in large part to the
shifting of Patriots-Chiefs to Monday night. A primo matchup vanished
from the slate, and that sent the early game (primarily Chargers-Bucs)
tumbling 32 percent to 9.95 million viewers, and the late game
(Buffalo-Las Vegas) down 6 percent to 18.61 million viewers.

Fox�s singleheader, which comprised Cleveland-Dallas or Giants-Rams for
the majority of the country, was the lone bright spot of the week,
ticking up 2 percent to 16.85 million viewers.

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NFL ratings, Week 4: The slide continues

Jay BusbeeYahoo SportsOct 6, 2020, 4:38 PM

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Here�s the fun thing about the NFL�s suddenly wobbly television
ratings: they can say whatever you want them to.

Believe the NFL�s newfound activism has turned the country against it?
Sure, that might be true.

Wondering whether anyone can focus on football with (waving hands
wildly) all this going on? Hey, that�s valid too.

Think that maybe people want to get outside these past few weekends of
warm weather? That�s entirely a possibility.

Disenchanted with matchups of winless teams? You are most definitely
not alone.

Here�s what is indisputable: ratings for the NFL are down, in some
cases to an ugly degree.

Patrick Mahomes remains a draw even in a ratings-challenged season.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Patrick Mahomes remains a draw even in a ratings-challenged season.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
More
Why? Well, that�s a trickier question, one we can�t answer with
certainty until we�re past this election and the COVID-19 pandemic. For
now, here�s your Week 4 update. Television executives may wish to avert
your eyes:

Thursday Night Football (NFL Network) was down an astounding 70 percent
from last year, but that comes with a huge caveat: last year�s game
aired on NFL Network and Fox. Broadcast TV always jacks up ratings, and
it�ll do the same thing when TNF returns to Fox later this season.

Still: only 5.41 million watched the Denver Broncos and the New York
Jets play last Thursday. (If you�re not a fan of either of those teams,
or if you don�t have money riding on the outcome ... why would you?)

Sunday Night Football (NBC) took a steep dive, falling 37 percent in
viewership from last year. The matchup was substandard � a winless
Philadelphia versus an injury-ravaged San Francisco � even if the game
ended up being fairly decent. If there�s a worrying sign for the NFL,
it�s Sunday night.

The CBS doubleheader also saw sharp declines due in large part to the
shifting of Patriots-Chiefs to Monday night. A primo matchup vanished
from the slate, and that sent the early game (primarily Chargers-Bucs)
tumbling 32 percent to 9.95 million viewers, and the late game
(Buffalo-Las Vegas) down 6 percent to 18.61 million viewers.

Fox�s singleheader, which comprised Cleveland-Dallas or Giants-Rams for
the majority of the country, was the lone bright spot of the week,
ticking up 2 percent to 16.85 million viewers.


Monday night had the distinction of having two separate games running
somewhat concurrently. Chiefs-Patriots drew 14.60 million viewers, more
than the 14.02 million who�d watched last Monday�s Chiefs-Ravens game.
(Again, a caveat: broadcast vs. cable.) On the other hand, the partially-cannibalized, partially-terrible Falcons-Packers game drew
8.65 million viewers, down 17 percent from last year.

It�s worth noting that the NFL continues to win days in which it airs.
The league still has the largest slice of a smaller pie. But it�s also
clear that many of the people who once watched the league are, for
whatever reason, finding something else to do with their Sundays.

--
Democrats and the liberal media hate President Trump more than they
love this country.

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