Football N.F.L. Considers Reducing Ads and Length of Games - Page 2

Stinger · 11-10-2016, 08:58 PM

As Ratings Plummet, N.F.L. Considers Reducing Ads and Length of Games

By KEN BELSONNOV. 10, 2016

N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Thursday that the league was looking at a variety of ways to shorten game broadcasts, including trimming some advertising, to keep the action moving.

The league has seen its television ratings plunge this season, something that Goodell has said is related to a number of factors, including the intense interest in the presidential election, as well as shifts in the way fans have been watching games.

Though television ratings are down by double digits so far this season, Goodell said that N.F.L. ratings had risen 27 percent in the past decade even as ratings for prime-time television had fallen 36 percent. Speaking on Thursday at the annual DealBook conference hosted by The New York Times, he called this year’s decline “cyclical.”

Goodell noted, though, that the pace of games could also be a factor in the ratings decline. Fans have complained for years that games are too long, and they frequently express annoyance at the number of commercial breaks and video reviews. Last season, the average length of regular-season games, from kickoff to final whistle, was 3 hours 8 minutes, six minutes longer than in 2008.

Get the big sports news, highlights and analysis from Times journalists, with distinctive takes on games and some behind-the-scenes surprises, delivered to your inbox every week.

Goodell said the league was considering a number of potential solutions to improve the pace of games, including running fewer advertisements and changing when they run. The league is also looking at ways to speed up video reviews by its officials as well as the time it takes referees to announce penalties on the field.

“We want to take as much what we call dead time, non-action out of the game, so that we can make the game more exciting,” Goodell said.

The league has expanded the number of games it plays on Thursday nights and overseas, leading some to speculate that the N.F.L. may be reducing interest in the game. Goodell said he was mindful of that possibility.

“Every game counts, so that makes our inventory incredibly valuable,” he said, adding that the league has to be careful not to saturate the market.

Goodell said he was aware of a surge of complaints that officials were botching calls on the field. He said the league was looking at how best to use technology to improve officiating without slowing down the game. “I was at Giants Stadium in the parking lot last weekend, and I got a lot of feedback from fans,” he said.

Goodell was uncertain how the election of Donald J. Trump — who brought a lawsuit against the league three decades ago — would affect the N.F.L. He noted that Trump favored less regulation, but he said that the primary concern for the league was its ability to reach fans through the media and technology. It was unclear what changes, if any, a Trump administration might make that would affect those industries.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/sp...mmercials.html

NJChiefsFan · 11-10-2016, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

I have no idea why the head ref has to make the call anyway. Just have someone in the booth (or even a head office) make the call and let the ref know. It'd be way faster and hopefully make calls more consistent.

It really makes no sense.

listopencil · 11-10-2016, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

I know people hate the idea of in-game advertising (on jerseys, walls, digital stuff on the field, etc.), but I really wish they'd do more of that and less traditional ads.

Hell, call it the State Farm opening kickoff and the Budweiser 2-minute warning. Just let us watch more of what's going on in the game and less bullshit.

Project ad logos on the field like they do with the digital lines.

**alpha_omega** · 11-10-2016, 10:49 PM

Shorten the game, change start times, squeeze 4 national games in on Sunday.

**Bugeater** · 11-10-2016, 10:49 PM

They are reviewing way too much anymore. I was satisfied with the original system where you had two and you got a 3rd if you won the first two. That way if there's an egregiously bad call or two they can be overturned. There's still potential for ****ed up shit to happen but it's not like they're getting everything right with the ridiculous system they have now either.

**Bugeater** · 11-10-2016, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpha_omega

Shorten the game, change start times, squeeze 4 national games in on Sunday.

I wish they would go to double doubleheaders each week and get rid of the useless Thursday games.

Psyko Tek · 11-10-2016, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

I have no idea why the head ref has to make the call anyway. Just have someone in the booth (or even a head office) make the call and let the ref know. It'd be way faster and hopefully make calls more consistent.

that's good
I like that

Pasta Little Brioni · 11-10-2016, 11:30 PM

Cool 24 Papa Peyton commercial every game instead of 25!

**TinyEvel** · 11-10-2016, 11:49 PM

Maybe because young people don't watch TV?

thabear04 · 11-10-2016, 11:58 PM

So no more Draft Kings and Fan Duel oh no.

DaNewGuy · 11-11-2016, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Cool 24 Papa Peyton commercial every game instead of 25!

Dont forget a few Peyton nationwide Commercials

KCUnited · 11-11-2016, 05:25 AM

The end of the first half last night was like the end of an NBA game. All TOs under a certain amount of time left on the clock should default to 30 seconds with no cutaway.

rabblerouser · 11-11-2016, 06:59 AM

It's a big reason why I don't watch nearly as much NFL.

I used to watch every single game. I once sat through a Cardinals-Rams on TNT that was so terrible, I laughed. This is when they were the "Pheonix Cardinals".

Today, I have to force myself to watch the Chiefs. That's a chore, because of all the stupid ads for shit that, not only am I not going to buy, but now I resent the company for the stupid commercials I have to sit through.

The last 3 weeks have been spent with Mitch and Lenny, for various reasons, and I'm totally cool with listening to the Chiefs game and then maybe catching highlights on FNIA before falling asleep during the NBC game.

It's too much to sit through 9, 10, hell sometimes 12 or 13 hours of football in one day. Especially when, you know, we're men and have man shit to do. Our one day a week and now were inundated with commercials about ED, beer, and life insurance. ****. You.

However, I have no faith in Goodell, the NFL, or the networks to do the right thing by the fans...

AndChiefs · 11-11-2016, 07:07 AM

The worst is when someone scores. Long commercial break. Come back for kickoff, which is a touchback due to new rules. Long commercial break.

NJChiefsFan · 11-11-2016, 07:20 AM

You can also dvr the games, start 45 minutes after they actually start, and fast forward through commercials. I don't do it with chief games, but do with devils and Yankee games. So instead of me investing 2.5 hours on a devils game, it's only about 60 minutes of game play plus an extra ten or so.

KINGPIN CHIEFS FAN · 11-11-2016, 07:42 AM

[QUOTE=KC Tattoo;12546326]Quit Thursday night football except for Thanksgiving. That's all they have to do. Well and get rid of Gooodell would also help.[/

Eliminating the games in London and forgetting about putting a permanent team there will also make the fans happy. Nobody wants to lose a home game because it's being played across an ocean. The elites are losing touch with the average fan, just like in politics. All they care about is making more money for themselves.

11-10-2016, 08:58 PM
Stinger Bazinga Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $4254507	N.F.L. Considers Reducing Ads and Length of Games As Ratings Plummet, N.F.L. Considers Reducing Ads and Length of Games By KEN BELSONNOV. 10, 2016 N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Thursday that the league was looking at a variety of ways to shorten game broadcasts, including trimming some advertising, to keep the action moving. The league has seen its television ratings plunge this season, something that Goodell has said is related to a number of factors, including the intense interest in the presidential election, as well as shifts in the way fans have been watching games. Though television ratings are down by double digits so far this season, Goodell said that N.F.L. ratings had risen 27 percent in the past decade even as ratings for prime-time television had fallen 36 percent. Speaking on Thursday at the annual DealBook conference hosted by The New York Times, he called this year’s decline “cyclical.” Goodell noted, though, that the pace of games could also be a factor in the ratings decline. Fans have complained for years that games are too long, and they frequently express annoyance at the number of commercial breaks and video reviews. Last season, the average length of regular-season games, from kickoff to final whistle, was 3 hours 8 minutes, six minutes longer than in 2008. Get the big sports news, highlights and analysis from Times journalists, with distinctive takes on games and some behind-the-scenes surprises, delivered to your inbox every week. Goodell said the league was considering a number of potential solutions to improve the pace of games, including running fewer advertisements and changing when they run. The league is also looking at ways to speed up video reviews by its officials as well as the time it takes referees to announce penalties on the field. “We want to take as much what we call dead time, non-action out of the game, so that we can make the game more exciting,” Goodell said. The league has expanded the number of games it plays on Thursday nights and overseas, leading some to speculate that the N.F.L. may be reducing interest in the game. Goodell said he was mindful of that possibility. “Every game counts, so that makes our inventory incredibly valuable,” he said, adding that the league has to be careful not to saturate the market. Goodell said he was aware of a surge of complaints that officials were botching calls on the field. He said the league was looking at how best to use technology to improve officiating without slowing down the game. “I was at Giants Stadium in the parking lot last weekend, and I got a lot of feedback from fans,” he said. Goodell was uncertain how the election of Donald J. Trump — who brought a lawsuit against the league three decades ago — would affect the N.F.L. He noted that Trump favored less regulation, but he said that the primary concern for the league was its ability to reach fans through the media and technology. It was unclear what changes, if any, a Trump administration might make that would affect those industries. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/sp...mmercials.html
Posts: 10,180

11-10-2016, 10:49 PM	#18
alpha_omega Supporter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liberty Casino cash: $1601251	Shorten the game, change start times, squeeze 4 national games in on Sunday.
Posts: 16,741

11-10-2016, 10:49 PM	#19
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6252680	They are reviewing way too much anymore. I was satisfied with the original system where you had two and you got a 3rd if you won the first two. That way if there's an egregiously bad call or two they can be overturned. There's still potential for ****ed up shit to happen but it's not like they're getting everything right with the ridiculous system they have now either.
Posts: 70,443

11-10-2016, 11:30 PM	#22
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3938880	Cool 24 Papa Peyton commercial every game instead of 25! __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 68,604

11-10-2016, 11:49 PM	#23
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $5387131	Maybe because young people don't watch TV?
Posts: 11,811

11-10-2016, 11:58 PM	#24
thabear04 MTFU Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The Valley Heat Casino cash: $5670450	So no more Draft Kings and Fan Duel oh no.
Posts: 7,230

11-11-2016, 05:25 AM	#26
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $2248244	The end of the first half last night was like the end of an NBA game. All TOs under a certain amount of time left on the clock should default to 30 seconds with no cutaway.
Posts: 33,943

11-11-2016, 06:59 AM	#27
rabblerouser left blank intentionally Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Belize Nuts Casino cash: $4664897	It's a big reason why I don't watch nearly as much NFL. I used to watch every single game. I once sat through a Cardinals-Rams on TNT that was so terrible, I laughed. This is when they were the "Pheonix Cardinals". Today, I have to force myself to watch the Chiefs. That's a chore, because of all the stupid ads for shit that, not only am I not going to buy, but now I resent the company for the stupid commercials I have to sit through. The last 3 weeks have been spent with Mitch and Lenny, for various reasons, and I'm totally cool with listening to the Chiefs game and then maybe catching highlights on FNIA before falling asleep during the NBC game. It's too much to sit through 9, 10, hell sometimes 12 or 13 hours of football in one day. Especially when, you know, we're men and have man shit to do. Our one day a week and now were inundated with commercials about ED, beer, and life insurance. **. You. However, I have no faith in Goodell, the NFL, or the networks to do the right thing by the fans... __________________ MY ADOPT-A-CHIEF : Jody Fortson Jr.**
Posts: 32,166

11-11-2016, 07:07 AM	#28
AndChiefs Bazinga! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Casino cash: $1621820	The worst is when someone scores. Long commercial break. Come back for kickoff, which is a touchback due to new rules. Long commercial break. __________________
Posts: 5,476

11-11-2016, 07:20 AM	#29
NJChiefsFan I've Made a Huge Mistake Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: NJ Casino cash: $5760423	You can also dvr the games, start 45 minutes after they actually start, and fast forward through commercials. I don't do it with chief games, but do with devils and Yankee games. So instead of me investing 2.5 hours on a devils game, it's only about 60 minutes of game play plus an extra ten or so.
Posts: 12,235

11-11-2016, 07:42 AM	#30
KINGPIN CHIEFS FAN Starter Join Date: Jan 2009 Casino cash: $9905574	[QUOTE=KC Tattoo;12546326]Quit Thursday night football except for Thanksgiving. That's all they have to do. Well and get rid of Gooodell would also help.[/ Eliminating the games in London and forgetting about putting a permanent team there will also make the fans happy. Nobody wants to lose a home game because it's being played across an ocean. The elites are losing touch with the average fan, just like in politics. All they care about is making more money for themselves.
Posts: 862