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.

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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

Trimming advertising? The hell you say.

LMAO


Exactly


The NFL will trim ads when Cleveland wins a Superbowl.

Quit Thursday night football except for Thanksgiving. That's all they have to do. Well and get rid of Gooodell would also help.

NFL needs to have a talk with Mark Cubin maybe make him the new comish even though he is NBA.

At least the NFL is paying attention to the issue now.

enough to pretend to address it :)

Go hire David Stern, he's freaking brutal.

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.

Gross

Its about time. A game should not last 3.5 hours.

This is NEVER going to happen.

Networks are paying $500 million to $2 billion for broadcast rights.

European football does it. I'm sure their fans enjoy only seeing commercials at halftime.

Not having commercials after the kickoff, which had commercials before it, would be nice. One realistic way to fix things is to speed up replay. The way it is now, it's like the broadcast has the real replay system and the refs are using 1980's computers. It should take 30 seconds at most.

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.

NFL would just do both

They are never, never EVER going to look at ways to cut back on advertising.

The NFL would rather eliminate a quarter of football altogether as opposed to getting rid of advertising space.

It really makes no sense.

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

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

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.

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

that's good
I like that

Cool 24 Papa Peyton commercial every game instead of 25!

Maybe because young people don't watch TV?

So no more Draft Kings and Fan Duel oh no.

https://media.giphy.com/media/l0K41M...w7HW/giphy.gif

Dont forget a few Peyton nationwide Commercials

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.

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...

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

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.

[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.

I think it is a really strong sign that the owners have determined that the ratings drop is not an aberration.

Hopefully they actually take steps to make the game better.

MNF is the worst of all. Every time there is a FG, punt and time out there's a commercial.

Ding ding ding!

I've been saying, put the games on the internet for free and they'll make more money than they could possibly imagine.

NFL looking at ways to make less money? Nope.

They could start by not going to a commercial after the Kick off.

Game starts. Kickoff into the end zone with no run back like 90% of the time. Takes about 5 seconds then go to 5 minutes of commercials. F***ing stupid.

He is a complete buffoon! He has no idea that he has diluted the product with too many games on too many days, including the silly shit from London at 6am West Coast time 9am East Coast time.

That's what they do in MLB and it seems to work quickly and fairly accurately.

get rid of the two minute warning for starters.
nearly as meaningless as XP FGs were up until this year.


my absolute favorite is when they return from commercials, cut away to a blimp shot or some other series of nice shots of the city they're in etc, but you can't see any of the shot because there is a huge graphic that takes up the entire screen as they cycle through the sponsors that 'brought you the game'...the same sponsors you just endured full commercials for prior to them returning to the broadcast.

it's like 'wow....neat City...too bad you can't see any of it because of the advertising logos'
lol

cut away from all the dumb shit the players do after making an absolutely routine play. tackle after a gain of 5 yards on 1st down....get up and strut around like you're in a WWE ring....and be sure to keep that camera on them the entire time.

NFL needs to quit monkeying with things. On demand and online are where it is now. Look forward NFL . Quick.

"Consider" *loud fart* sniff

Ok gents let's add MOAR commercials!!

Kickoffs and extra points are practically dead time that slow the flow of the game a ton.

I wish something could be done about kickoffs. it seems, not sure what the actual percentage is, that nearly every kick off is a touchback. I especially don't like the kicks that land out outside of the endzone. I mean, I get it - if you can kick it out of the field of place, not even bouncing /landing in the field of play...you do it. but damn. makes for a boring game. maybe something like if you kick it and it lands out of the back of the endzone, the team starts at the 25 or something. at least make a returner decide if he should come out of the end zone by letting him catch it.


I know..I'm sure it's a dumb idea. but, I don't even watch kickoffs anymore. Use that time to get beer, go to the bathroom etc. 95% of the time it's a boring, meaningless play.

Maybe they should consider returning to tackle football and a definition of a catch that at least two people can agree upon

Get rid of

-ad break after kickoffs
-two minute warning
-TV timeout.


Those three will go a long way.

Run a in picture ad during a replay.

They're already on the internet for free...have been for years.

i would love an option to watch a broadcast w/out the commentary but still hear the crowd and field noise.

the announcers are a large part of what ruins the experience for me. Constantly getting idiots like Wilcotts, Lynch, Cross, Fouts etc. makes me not even want to watch the game at all. and a big reason why I don't, other than Chiefs games.

in fact, I would probably pay like a $50 fee every year to have this option LMAO

Yup. I watch it like that every Sunday because the Chiefs are never on here.

The NFL's problems go way deeper than the kickoff or commercials or length of game. The officiating is so horrible that it calls into question the legitimacy of the competitions. When fans, hardcore or otherwise, think the games are tilted a certain way, they're going to stop watching.

I watch the KC games, but rarely watch anything else anymore. And I've given up watching KC 'primetime' games be it Monday/Thursday or Sunday night because they ALLWAYS crap the bed. I used to watch every game I could and I guess I'm not alone if it's becoming noticeable in the ratings.

It is funny. The time of the game is not what turned me away. Though they could shed some commercials out.

If anyone else is similar the cost of going to the game started it. Ince that happened I became less inclined to watch on tv.

Then add in European games? Neutering defenses, babying star qbs. Constant bad calls by refs. Fining for celebrations. Goodell decisions from the owners.

Shit. Even in Missouri there are better things to do with my day.

The horribly slanted officiating has turned many away. When an officiating crew blows FIFTEEN calls like they did in favor of GB over the Jags, you have a serious problem with people taking results of games seriously. Throw in the Super Farce and fans are jumping ship fast.

what's the number of legit Super Bowl contenders each year...3? 4? Maybe 5?

The rest is just a waste of time. like the preacher in Blazzing Saddles offering up a prayer when building a fake Rock Ridge, and asking god a rhetorical question

"O Lord, do we have the strength to carry off this mighty task in one night? Or are we just jerking off?"

are we going to have a legit shot at a Super Bowl?...or are we all just......ya know.

Well there must have been none last year

It's the bringing in politics into a entertainment that is pissing people off. Otherwise we watch the news.

That too...I'm tired of the preaching and I stopped watching ESPN entirely because of it.

This is what they should do if they want people to watch (IMO):

1. Stop changing the rules all the time. Players can't celebrate and a finger wag gets a penalty. They've taken the fun out of the game.

2. They are oversaturated. Too many days. They don't need Thursday night games - they usually suck anyway. They don't need Sunday night games. 9+ hours of football on Sunday is too much. Two games on Sunday plus Monday night is all they needed for decades, and it is all they need now.

3. Force Tom Brady to retire. Ok, this one is just kidding. Maybe.

Addendum to #2 : all games must be on broadcast TV. No more NflNet/ESPN exclusive bullshit.

Exactly!! **** all you ASSHOLES kneeling on the sidelines. You make millions to play a ****ing game. Suck it up, be grateful for what you have, stand up FOR YOUR COUNTRY, and act like you have a ****ing backbone.

The Thursday night games are just bad...if the NFL truly cared about player safety, they wouldnt play on Thursdays after only 3 days rest. That's absurd. Frankly, they need a second bye week and extend the season one more week, thus having the Superbowl on Presidents Day, Sunday, thus giving most of us a holiday the following day.

What political stuff other than kaepernick?

I watch every game with the sound on Mute

That will never happen, as the league is driven by money and profit.

Do you really think that the NFL would turn down $2 billion a year for MNF from ESPN?

Agreed.

A friend of mine has a 60 inch TV (I forget the brand) with a 'sports' mode - it amplifies the crowd noise and brings down the announcers. They are still there, but the crowd noise is higher.

It's pretty much everything.

Too many TV timeouts.

Too many replays.

Too many boring/bad teams.

Get rid of Thursday night and London.

Get better officiating.

I would even consider shortening the play clock. Do they really need 40 seconds? Even making it 35 seconds would speed things up.

I'd be for getting rid of Thursday night. The only time I watch is when the Chiefs are on. Someone mentioned earlier that there is some player safety concern on those.
Get rid of the break after kickoffs.

Have you seen Andy try to call a play? 40 seconds is pushing it sometimes.

They don't need to speed up the clock, they just need to eliminate other garbage.

The NFL is so far behind the times.

They should triple the number of cameras. One in every pylon and even on on 1st down marker that the guy holds. Then upgrade the replay booth with more monitors,frame-by-frame etc. Instant contact with main office in new york and head of officials.

Stop coddling the refs on the field. The replay booth checks every play during the game and has until the next play starts to decide if something needs reviewed. The called down and stop play and have 120 seconds to make a decision and ask head official if there is any question. Then they call down and tell the ref what to change, if anything.

Almost all of it happens behind the scenes and doesn't slow down game. Similar to college only with the super high tech version because the NFL can afford it.

The NFL should hire a technology crew and programmers to develop software just for the NFL's replay review making it faster and more accurate.

I still the the league should chip the footballs. They can just movement and location software to know exactly where football is and if it hit the ground,broke the endzone plane and a ton of other stuff. Break the infrared technology which would allow the replay booth exam plays that occur with the dogpiles and they can see if chip changes possession etc.

So much could be improved and sped up.

All replays should be handles and completed during a commercial timeout. The should ADD a timeout, it should used a normal timeout.

They should also try a PIP during commercials to let the boring plays happen during a commercial so they don't have to stop play. I don't know if that would work but they could try it and see.

Europeans are used to non-stop soccer and if the NFL ever wants to have a change to expand there they will have to make major change to reduce stoppage of play.

NFL is run like shit, so sloppy.

A bunch of old dudes collecting money instead of pushing forward to improve game.

Let the players celebrate: New rules, nothing rude ... no props other than football ... no longer than 5 seconds.

Make deal with NFLPA next CBA ... NFL fires Goodell and agrees to let NFLPA handle all players disciplinary matters in exchange to NFLPA also handling all player retirement stuff(including medical and insurance stuff)

That makes players handling player and NFL handling business ... the way it should be.

so much other stuff that should be done but i'm all typed out.

Just reduce the flags

Let the players celebrate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get rid of commercials after kickoffs. You have a slew of them after a score then you have a kickoff and then another bunch of ads (actually after any change of possession). I also like the idea of 15 minutes of commercials during halftime, I never watch the halftime crap anyway so it just as well be ads. There are way too many ads in televsion period.

They should have cameras on player's helmets so that we can watch from their viewpoints.

The 2 minute warning is part of the offensive (and defensive) strategy. They even have a 2 minute drill, maybe you've hear of it? ;)

If they want the games to be shorter and more exciting, they should consider playing hockey.

NFL games are only bearable on a DVR.

The hatred of Thursday and London games is completely irrational. Don't want to watch...don't ****ing watch.
I just solved your problem. You're welcome.

-- too many penalties
-- stupid nerdy rules on what is a catch or isn't a catch
-- too many reviews
-- they took away one of the most exciting plays in the game with kickoff returns
-- they are changing the rules too much from year-to-year. It's hard to keep up.
-- Owners are starting to turn it into business that is all about profits instead of treating football as a sport
-- the fines these guys are getting are ridiculous and they aren't consistent. One week a guy might get fined $10k the next a guy might get fined $20k or not at all for basically the exact same thing. Same with penalties
-- hard hits get penalized too much.. Let the guys play...

That's my list.

Um... What?
People hate London games because in a short 16 game season where every game matters, you force two teams to give up homefield advantage, you dick over a city that relies on tourism and entertainment dollars by taking away 17% of home games, and you force two teams to travel and adjust to a 6 hour time zone.

People hate Thursday night football because at a time of player injuries, we're nonsensically playing players on three days of rest. Teams don't have time to gameplan for each other and it often results in shitty football.

I ****ing hate the two ideas. They put ratings over the integrity of the game. Stop ****ing with the game.

NFL is trying to reduce length. I know that feeling.

If you have surround sound, simply set the center channel to it's lowest level.


On my Marantz 7009 it's perfect, I can not hear the announcers at all, but it's funny to hear some of the things that come from the crowd. LMAO