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Roger Goodell Comments on Ratings, Raiders’ Potential Move to Las Vegas, More
- Updated: October 19, 2016
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the media following Wednesday’s owners meetings in Houston, and he touched on topics ranging from the league’s ratings decline on television to the Oakland Raiders’ potential move to Las Vegas.
Goodell also answered questions regarding the league’s intense focus on celebration penalties and how the NFL will continue to approach gambling.
Here’s an overview of what the commissioner had to say as the midway point of the 2016 regular season approaches.
Goodell Discusses Ratings Decline
NFL ratings have dropped double-digit percentage points in every prime-time window, according to Fox Sports’ Michael Mulvihill, and Goodell attempted to elaborate on why not as many fans are tuning in as they once did.
NFL Year-Year Viewership Trend By Network Thru Week 6:RegionalizedFOX: -1%CBS: -7%Non-RegionalizedTNF: -16%SNF: -18%MNF: -18%
— Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) October 19, 2016
“We don’t think we’ve lost viewers,” he said, according to the Washington Post’s Mark Maske. “It’s viewers, but it’s also how long they’re engaging for.”
Goodell noted fans’ consumption habits have a tendency to change over time, and that much has been evident of late. According to NFL.com’s Conor Orr, Goodell pointed to the NFL’s partnerships with Snapchat, YouTube and Yahoo as one reason why viewers have shifted away from TV.
“We don’t make excuses,” he added, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “We look at what’s changing.”
Goodell later emphasized he doesn’t believe national anthem protests have anything to do with ratings dips.
“We don’t think …
