National anthem protests main reason NFL ratings tanked, survey finds

Kent Strobl, DCNF

National anthem protests were the main reason why NFL games lost viewers last season, according to a survey released Wednesday.

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER, 24: Eli Harold #58, Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel on the sideline, during the anthem, prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. The 49ers defeated the Rams 22-21. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) — Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

The survey included 9,200 respondents and asked questions regarding whether they tuned into less games last season and, if so, why. Twenty-six percent of viewers said they watched fewer games because of the national anthem protests made popular by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Off-the-field concerns, like domestic violence and game delays, came in second at 24 percent.

Much of the blame for the steady decline in viewership was originally directed toward the presidential election. The Atlantic even ran a story in which it completely disregarded the protests as a reason for poor ratings. However, ratings had a slight increase immediately following the election, making this assertion unviable.

The presidential election came in fourth, 16 percent, in reasons why people didn’t tune in to watch the NFL, according to the survey.

Other reasons for why viewers wouldn’t tune in were excessive commercials, 20 percent, and a lack of cable, 5 percent.

Follow Kent Strobl on Twitter

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!