[News] Steve Bisciotti On NFL's Ratings: Fix Commercials

[BR News]

The Ravens owner said a reduction in income for owners and players could be the result of improving the viewer's experience. He's a fan of referees, but feels they need more help from better replay angles.

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[esem]

Nice to know that the higher ups with deeper pockets can share in the same frustrations us every day football fans feel. Multi-billion dollar company and yet they are still squeezing out every ounce of advertising they can get. The fact that we have come this far technologically and we still don't have fixed cameras on the perimeters is so gross. But yet there's cameras flying all around every stadium so we can watch kickoffs from weird angles, huddles, and whatever else that doesn't actually enhance anyone's viewing experience.

[jravens1313]

You better believe all the rule changes and penalties are a major factor in losing viewership. Along with the cord cutters and people who simply don't want to spend 3.5 hours watching a Football Game. I'm cutting the cord this month and plan on purchasing the NFL game pass in 2017.

[ravens4life86]

This Im completely in board with Steve B. I have for a long time thought to myself why doesnt the NFL adopt a Nascar or Soccer style commercials, whereas you put a split screen on tv every now and again when its a commercial break and in the larger box you have in game action(Nascar,Soccer) and in a smaller corner box you run bud light, Chevy, etc commercials.

Now I know Nascar and Soccer are non stop sports compared to nfl, where you have quarter changes, 2minutes warnings and timeouts, but I saw a article that said its at the point fans are only getting 15 minutes of real action and the rest is flooding with commercial. So there is a major problem Steve B nailed it

[GENE2407]

I don't think have anything to do with it. I watch to see quality football. The matchups this year SUCKED. Look at the primetime games this year. How many times did we have to watch the Jets, Bears, Jaguars, Rams, Browns? Awful. Second is all the penalties and silly rule changes that have made the game harder to watch.

[drillem]

Steve may have missed the big reason fans are dissing NFL games. Quality play. Current formulation for developing and then keeping players doesn't promote quality teams. Many of the teams are just 'also ran's'. I'd watch more often if the play was worth watching. With a dvr I can record then watch commercial free if the play is decent. Otherwise I'm gone fishing instead.

[verified]

Looking at these playoff games really shows me how terrible ozzie and erric have been at drafting. All these teams have all these WR back up on backups and all we can do is try and draft guys and convert them to the position. Why are we wasting time with reynolds who was a college QB and were trying to convert him to WR and KR instead of just drafting one, why? I dont care about these players personL stories I want players that can play

[verified]

This organization is so stuck in the past it makes me sick

[Crusader]

I agree. I watch the Ravens first 2000 playoff game in Japan and Japanese don't show commercials. They showed the pre game show, fans, cheerleaders, and the half time show. It was great. I remember when they got rid of the pre game and half time shows. They said they wanted the fans to go to he game but it was for more money.

[Crusader]

One big reason people are not going to the game is the US economy has not really improved. Everyone taxes, fees, food and other costs keep going up but not their pay checks. Were not allowed to mention that.

[crazyboutravens]

This game is not easy on officials but it is not as hard as they are making it either.
Watching the GB-Dallas game and these guys just will not call holding on pass plays. They have already missed four in just a couple of minutes near the end of the second half. The officials have been terrible for most of the playoffs.

[TheConquerorWorm]

You better believe all the rule changes and penalties are a major factor in losing viewership. Along with the cord cutters and people who simply don't want to spend 3.5 hours watching a Football Game. I'm cutting the cord this month and plan on purchasing the NFL game pass in 2017.

The only problem is that if you're in the Baltimore area, you don't get the Ravens games with NFL Game Pass (same with the MLB package - no Os). Ridiculous. But I have a digital antennae and get the Ravens over the air. The NFL is way behind us cord cutters.

A good work around - if you have a Verizon phone - is a mini hdmi from your phone to TV and use the NFL Mobile app.

[phil3197]

I would love to know why the crackdown on TD celebrations. I don't know a single person who doesn't enjoy seeing them. Stuff like TO dancing with the pom pom's is classic and so entertaining. What is wrong with that? Can't dunk over the goalpost any more?! Seriously, who sees that and gets appalled or offended?

[Saxxin]

They blame the election? Are you kidding me?

[sami]

I would love to know why the crackdown on TD celebrations. I don't know a single person who doesn't enjoy seeing them. Stuff like TO dancing with the pom pom's is classic and so entertaining. What is wrong with that? Can't dunk over the goalpost any more?! Seriously, who sees that and gets appalled or offended?

I agree but the PC people thought it was too close to taunting and once someone bent the goal posts when they dunked on it.

[#Nevermore]

  5 hours ago, phil3197 said:

I would love to know why the crackdown on TD celebrations. I don't know a single person who doesn't enjoy seeing them. Stuff like TO dancing with the pom pom's is classic and so entertaining. What is wrong with that? Can't dunk over the goalpost any more?! Seriously, who sees that and gets appalled or offended?

I agree but the PC people thought it was too close to taunting and once someone bent the goal posts when they dunked on it.

SMH. Those celebrations were great!

[Crusader]

I would love to know why the crackdown on TD celebrations. I don't know a single person who doesn't enjoy seeing them. Stuff like TO dancing with the pom pom's is classic and so entertaining. What is wrong with that? Can't dunk over the goalpost any more?! Seriously, who sees that and gets appalled or offended?

I would rather see team celebrating than see one person being an individual in a team sport.

[good_n_purple]

This game is not easy on officials but it is not as hard as they are making it either.
Watching the GB-Dallas game and these guys just will not call holding on pass plays. They have already missed four in just a couple of minutes near the end of the second half. The officials have been terrible for most of the playoffs.

Wow. I was thinking the same thing. Seems like holding not being called is a conscious effort. I see a lot O-linemen with their hands on the outside of defensive player pads, but no calls. Reminds me of how they used to conveniently not see the Colts O-line do it constantly when Peyton was the "It Boy", but now it is everywhere.

[good_n_purple]

Steve has highlighted some issues the league needs to address regarding commercials. I only know what I see though, and despite trying to cultivate youth interest I think there is a gap in the demographics. My son is 24 and zero interest in the NFL, and none of his friends do either. I can't say if this is an aberration, but you would think at least a percentage would follow the sport.

[BigUgly]

34 minutes ago, good_n_purple said:

Wow. I was thinking the same thing. Seems like holding not being called is a conscious effort. I see a lot O-linemen with their hands on the outside of defensive player pads, but no calls. Reminds me of how they used to conveniently not see the Colts O-line do it constantly when Peyton was the "It Boy", but now it is everywhere.

Well, you had two "it" boys in that game.  In the nightcap, a crucial 2-point conversion by "non-it" boy Alex Lewis was (correctly) called back for holding.  There is holding on every play.  Really depends on the Ref's judgment.  If it were a challenge-able offense, the game would last 5 hours.

[phil3197]

  12 hours ago, phil3197 said:

I would love to know why the crackdown on TD celebrations. I don't know a single person who doesn't enjoy seeing them. Stuff like TO dancing with the pom pom's is classic and so entertaining. What is wrong with that? Can't dunk over the goalpost any more?! Seriously, who sees that and gets appalled or offended?

I would rather see team celebrating than see one person being an individual in a team sport.

You realize the rule doesn't allow team celebrations, only individual, right?

[phil3197]

  12 hours ago, phil3197 said:

I would love to know why the crackdown on TD celebrations. I don't know a single person who doesn't enjoy seeing them. Stuff like TO dancing with the pom pom's is classic and so entertaining. What is wrong with that? Can't dunk over the goalpost any more?! Seriously, who sees that and gets appalled or offended?

I agree but the PC people thought it was too close to taunting and once someone bent the goal posts when they dunked on it.

What's wrong with a little taunting even? And agreed about the goal posts being bent, but why not make the rule if you hold onto it it's a penalty, otherwise you're good, like basketball?

[btfan2]

  18 hours ago, jravens1313 said:

You better believe all the rule changes and penalties are a major factor in losing viewership. Along with the cord cutters and people who simply don't want to spend 3.5 hours watching a Football Game. I'm cutting the cord this month and plan on purchasing the NFL game pass in 2017.

The only problem is that if you're in the Baltimore area, you don't get the Ravens games with NFL Game Pass (same with the MLB package - no Os). Ridiculous. But I have a digital antennae and get the Ravens over the air. The NFL is way behind us cord cutters.

A good work around - if you have a Verizon phone - is a mini hdmi from your phone to TV and use the NFL Mobile app.

I live in Florida now and tried NFL Sunday Ticket very expensive and though they assured me I would be able to see ALL the Ravens games, that is a big lie. What a bunch of scammers. I saw all of 6 games on Sunday Ticket didn't have access to 3 games especially the Ravens v. Steeler games and watched the others on local TV.

So I watched less then 6 games on Sunday Ticket but have to pay for them all and still watch 2 hours of commercials. Plus listen to these horrible commentators.

There's another fun part of football. Trying to watch Green Bay - Dallas with that clown Akin. I'd rather go to the dentist. The man spews nonsense, will not shut up for 5 seconds. All these guys are awful I end up turning off the sound every time for most of the game and all the commercials.

I won' t be bothering with any of it next year. The refs are awful, the commentators are awful the endless commercials are mind numbing and with all the changes the games are boring. Yep I want to spend my time and money being annoyed. It's supposed to be entertainment it isn't!!

[The Mom Gene]

43 minutes ago, btfan2 said:

13 hours ago, TheConquerorWorm said:

  19 hours ago, jravens1313 said:

You better believe all the rule changes and penalties are a major factor in losing viewership. Along with the cord cutters and people who simply don't want to spend 3.5 hours watching a Football Game. I'm cutting the cord this month and plan on purchasing the NFL game pass in 2017.

The only problem is that if you're in the Baltimore area, you don't get the Ravens games with NFL Game Pass (same with the MLB package - no Os). Ridiculous. But I have a digital antennae and get the Ravens over the air. The NFL is way behind us cord cutters.

A good work around - if you have a Verizon phone - is a mini hdmi from your phone to TV and use the NFL Mobile app.

I live in Florida now and tried NFL Sunday Ticket very expensive and though they assured me I would be able to see ALL the Ravens games, that is a big lie. What a bunch of scammers. I saw all of 6 games on Sunday Ticket didn't have access to 3 games especially the Ravens v. Steeler games and watched the others on local TV.

So I watched less then 6 games on Sunday Ticket but have to pay for them all and still watch 2 hours of commercials. Plus listen to these horrible commentators.

There's another fun part of football. Trying to watch Green Bay - Dallas with that clown Akin. I'd rather go to the dentist. The man spews nonsense, will not shut up for 5 seconds. All these guys are awful I end up turning off the sound every time for most of the game and all the commercials.

I won' t be bothering with any of it next year. The refs are awful, the commentators are awful the endless commercials are mind numbing and with all the changes the games are boring. Yep I want to spend my time and money being annoyed. It's supposed to be entertainment it isn't!!

I don't know where you are in FL... but I'm in Melbourne, and I have NFL Sunday Ticket. The only games NOT on ticket were the ones on NFL Network. I watch EVERY SINGLE GAME. And those you can see with Directv. I find that Directv is much cheaper than going to the sportsbar and watching... Going there you'll spend about $40 - $50 a week on food and drink for 2. Having Sunday ticket at home actually allows me to hear the commentary too.  I think you mean AIKMAN.

[ByTheBay]

The networks overplayed their hands a little too. Over the past few years I've noticed an increase in commercials beings shown to their entirety only to come back to a game that has already restarted. Usually you don't miss much but a few times I can remember a big play being missed and having to see it on replay. They have gotten too full of themselves and have forgotten why we are all watching. They used to cut the commercial short all of the time when that situation arose. Not anymore. 

[Rav'n Maniac]

I am a big proponent of getting the sideline and goaline cameras involved. Have to have all the angles covered.

I also believe they should have another ref in the booth to assist with calls on the field, not just for review. There are way to many missed calls that are blatant penalties where a ref in the booth should relay the call to the field.

[ByTheBay]

You can see Steve and the other owners trying to grasp the concept of reduced viewership and are looking for that one answer. Unfortunately I think its a culmination of many factors that have brought us to this point.

1. Out of area cord cutters cant watch games over the air or online in real time. Especially the Thursday and Monday night games. You gladly pay $99 for game pass but watching at night or next day is not the same experience. 

2. Celebrations have always been a fun part of the game. The choreographed multiperson dances were the best. I agree if you dont like it keep the other team from scoring. A couple of overly sensitive fans complained the loadest and now we have flags being thrown for showing emotion? This is where the term snowflake has come from. Get over yourselves. 

3. The refs have had a hard time keeping the game evenly called. It's probably not their fault. Players are faster and technology is exposing the bad calls like never before. They are trying to keep the games integrity by not placing cameras everywhere but that is the eventual outcome so lets just do it. Embrace technology. Eventually there will be a chip in the ball so spotting it will be automatic. Signing all refs to an exclusive full time contract where they spend a minimum of 40 a week either training or calling a game would be a good start. How is this not already being done?

4. I've already commented on the commercials. They need to prioritize the game. Less commercial time leads to a reduction in supply which would allow the price per commercial to go up. The people in the corner offices need to stop trying to eack out every penny. They are killing the host. 

5. The younger generation is not as interested in Football or baseball. Most of the under 30 people that I know only like basketball. I think other sports may be too slow to keep their attention. 

6. The playing favorites has got to stop. It is turning fans off in a big way. Protect Cam Newton the way you do Tom Brady for crying out loud. That man gets abused for no reason and it's things like that that have to stop immediately. 

7. Some blame redzone. I don't think true football fans are giving up on watching a complete game just to see the highlights. Those are your "new" fantasy football fans who will leave the sport as soon as they grow bored with fantasy football. I'm not saying they aren't fans, I just don't think they are as personally invested as your typical face painting, throw parties, tailgate, cant wait til Sunday afternoon fans. 

8. This whole Roger Goodel idea of parity is creating boring games. I feel for some of the historically bad teams like the browns but for the most part the top dogs in the NFL transition from team to team over time. When I was growing up the patriots, seahalks, colts, bucs, chiefs, vikings, ect were all terrible. There is an ebb and flow to the league and it gave hope that one day your team might create their own dynasty. Now with more parity it makes it harder to pull away from the pack. 

9. The announcers have gotten noticeably worse. Maybe I am more of a madden/michaels type of guy but to hear simms disrespect SSS while he is playing the last game of a historical career and not publicly apologize the next day shows me they can say whatever they want as long as its not about the chosen few. They are representatives of the NFL and it really turned me off in a big way

10. I have to stop making this list and get back to work!

Edited January 16 by ByTheBay
Hi

[Tank 92]

 

Just to repeat what some have said.......

The commercials don't help, but that wouldn't deter me at all if the quality of play was what it should be. I mean look at the PO games.......just terrible football. Even the best one so far, GB Dallas was sub par, like college ball.  ONE FREAKING PUNT?  It would seem that all of the restrictions in place per the CBA have really taken their toll on developing skills and team play.

It's also gotten to the point where the refs are just terrible. Even the ones that are supposed to be the "best" just plain suck. Gotta be fixed, and not just by more cameras, they need better qualified people, whatever that may look like. 

And the bias towards a few teams has to end.  It's ruined the game and constantly brings the integrity of a level, fair playing field into question. The NFL is definitely on a downward spiral and I'm not sure there is any sort of quick fix, or any fix a tall. They, both owners and players, have put profit above fair play, quality of play and it's ruined the game.

[good_n_purple]

  4 hours ago, good_n_purple said:

Wow. I was thinking the same thing. Seems like holding not being called is a conscious effort. I see a lot O-linemen with their hands on the outside of defensive player pads, but no calls. Reminds me of how they used to conveniently not see the Colts O-line do it constantly when Peyton was the "It Boy", but now it is everywhere.

Well, you had two "it" boys in that game.  In the nightcap, a crucial 2-point conversion by "non-it" boy Alex Lewis was (correctly) called back for holding.  There is holding on every play.  Really depends on the Ref's judgment.  If it were a challenge-able offense, the game would last 5 hours.

No doubt. Totally depends on the ref, but it seems like there is a behind-the-scenes agenda from the league to look the other way.

[Smitty012]

Fully support more cameras on the sidelines and goal lines. Commercials: ridiculous, repetitive and time wasting around every score. C'mon NFL/Networks...3 commercial breaks for every score?? If I don't walk away from the TV during these times, I turn the volume to OFF so I don't have to hear that banter repeated, which hardly changes week in, week out.

Refereeing: the playoffs , especially evident in the Greenbay-Dallas game. Marginal at best. They hardly called any of the holding going on when the replays clearly showed, in some cases receivers getting the jersey ripped over their shoulder pads!!! With two refs right in the gunsight of the replay!! They even had to get one mis-call overturned, maybe the MOST important call of the game, on the last sideline catch by GB, when the head official called the pass incomplete/out-of-bounds and was overruled by another official. It makes one wonder who the head official wanted to win that game.

Player celebrations are already, in this day of the Me-generation, over-the-top. It takes 10 other guys to help that one guy score. No one is above the team. Exploding with exhilaration after a score is great; but team choreographed ( or any choreographed) celebrations in the face of a just- defeated opponent is not what sport is about. That stuff smells of "look at me". Let it be natural celebration. ( This fan's opinion)

Some one already spoke about younger generation losing fan support. I think he hit it on the head with shorter attention spans, but may also be related to playing soccer and not football, or no sport participation at all because they don't know what a tree feels like.