Why are NFL TV Ratings Plummeting?

nothing lasts forever . but I think people got better things to do especially if they not betting I prolly wouldn't pay as nearly attention as im now

Sick of watching these classless felons run their mouth and beat their chest after every play. Like watching Dez Bryant run his mouth all day, drop 3 passes, and then run around like he's superman when he manages to catch one for a first down. Big freaking deal you no talent punk. Ray Berry dropped one pass in about 15 years. Not to mention having to watch sideline bimbos trying to interview these animals that can't even speak.

People love to ask questions they don't want the real answers to. 

Anyone that thinks race has nothing to do with the the ratings dropping should just go shoot themselves in the head because your skull is void of a brain, sorry to be harsh but it's true.Seventy five percent of NFL viewership are blue collar working class white males and any of them with enough energy just got off their fools to vote for Trump the ones that didn't bother voting are happy he won. Do you really think they want to tune in and see a bunch of black millionaires raising a black power fist in the air during your national anthem? If so then you need a lobotomy. Now don't hate on me, I could give a fuk about any of it, i'm up here in my country and love watching the game and my Raiders but you're country is completely split and overflowing with hatred and the NFL audience is included in that..

You losers that hate Trump are funny. He wants illegals curtailed = racist. He wants a stronger economy = narcissist. He admits, in private, that women are easy to get if you are a star = misogynist. He actually angers Republicans by criticizing NC's SB2 and you call him "anti-happy."

"anti happy" means "anti G A Y"

I guess my opinion is a bit different but I believe the change in physical play has resulted in fans not being as engaged in the games.  Football is supposed to be a gladiator sport and Goodell has cheapened the game by making it softer.  I do understand the concern for players to get concussions and to avoid it, but on the other hand you're altering how the game is played if you try to prevent a lot of the contact.  The players know what they're signing up for in the first place. 

several factors, some attribute lower ratings to the election, public interest, competing h2h vs. debates, etc.  Dont' really buy that excuse since CFB ratings are actually up.

Crapernick and the rest of those disrespecting a holes have a lot to do with it.....they just don't get...Americans are f...ing get up with all this crap....why in the hell do u think Trump  won..that's how bad people want a change ....

Definitely a contributing factor, we have been raised on the expectations of the sport being played in a different manner than they are now allowing it to be played. This is not only the NFL though, viewership for all sports in North America is down and this is for sure part of the reason. Baseball we have the second base rule now and no more collisions at home plate, hockey they could now skate around with eggs in their pockets and not break them most nights and fighting is pretty much gone from the sport. Basketball you can now be super soft and go under the rim, where back in the day only the men of the sport went, what goes for a foul in basketball now is a joke.same as in front of a hockey net, now anyone floats in there without fear of punishment. The sports have been completely pussified.

I think it's watered down. Sunday, SNF, MNF, TNF, Saturday games in December, half a dozen Sunday games at 9am in London.......

I'm the most hardcore football guy on the planet, but even I haven't bothered watching these awful TNF games. Background noise at best.

Otherwise, I think this half season swoon is just an anomaly and things will rebound soon. The election is a lot of it. Im not even sure why, but that's my gut instinct.

I don't think anything with the actual games is a deterrent. Yes, commercials are BRUTAL, but that isn't stopping the 50 million dudes every Sunday from flipping to another game. Especially since so many have the package or borrow the app password from someone who has the package, or watch at a bar, or watch the RZ channel(lol at the cheapskates that won't pay for package that say "bro I don't need the package, this RZ channel is better.")

And yes, refs are bad. But the minute the NFL makes it a thing and tells them to back off, these teams will be mauling each other and it will be chaos on the field. Just need some more consistency. Some ref crews let them play, some throw flags every 5 plays on nonsense. Let the game be determined on the players. If a guy is halfway down the sideline on a 60 yard run, don't throw a flag on a ticky tack kinda hold on the other side of the field. If it's 3rd and 24 and the team with the ball is conceding a punt with a 3 yard psss that has ZERO chance of succeeding, don't call a defensive 5 hold penalty to give a team a first down. Common sense.

Personally, I can't stand this Goodell guy. He's a hypocrite and a douche but as bad as he is with his justice, I can't imagine any 30 year old guy out there is gonna stop betting because of his nonsense.

Also, anyone see what these kids are like today?? Take look at social media and what's going on with kids 14-25 or so. These kids today are a bunch of flakes(nicest word I could come up with to not get be banned). Maybe the younger generation isn't as big on football like prior gens?? My step-daughter is 20 and her guy friends IMO are a bunch of girls.

Despite some things I said, I think NFL will be fine going forward. Maybe down a tick to their new norm, but when u see viewers down 20% on SNF and u see one week was President stuff, another week Emmys, another week Grammys, another week Walking Dead premieres ETC ETC, plus some matchups not so hot.....not surprising there's a short term downtick

Too many commercial stoppages along with game altering flags. Let the guys play NFL is heading towards flag football soon enough if a defender breathes too heavily on the ball carrier or receiver a flag is thrown. Another big issue for me is that they took away celebrations, who didnt get pumped up watching jimmy grahm slam dunk the goal post or watching ocho cinco and T.O celebrate those great TD catches??

A couple of factors:

Dribbler I far one can't decide why I despise Kaperesuck. The reasons are so so  many. If you had ever been in the military, I think you  would have a little more respect for our national anthem, and the people who have  defended our country so pieces of garbage can express their shitty opinions... And I mean in  a combat unit. I wish he played for the Steelers so that ex Navy  Seal could beat the garbage out  of him.  And yes, I voted for TRUMP 

I might add I despise the black part of  Kapersuck AND the white part of his sorry behind.

Refs suck. 

whats the point. Brady and the Pats will win it all anyways.