National NFL TV ratings continue decline

Through seven weeks of the 2016 season, the NFL’s TV ratings continue to suffer.

Through seven weeks of the 2016 season, the NFL’s TV ratings continue to suffer.

Michael Mulvihill, executive vice president of research, league operations and strategy for Fox Sports, tweeted new numbers out Tuesday that included, most notably, steep drops for primetime games.

Monday Night Football is down 24% from this time a year ago, Sunday Night Football is down 19% and Thursday night is down 18%. 

Update on year to year NFL viewership through Week 7

Regionalized
FOX: -1%
CBS: -9%

Non-Regionalized
TNF: -18%
SNF: -19%
MNF: -24%

— Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) October 25, 2016

Wow. Look at those double digit losses for primetime NFL games. Monday Night Football has lost basically 1/4 of its audience from 2015. https://t.co/1UILCp6Og4

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) October 25, 2016

To a lesser extent, regionally broadcasted games are down — 9% for CBS and 1% for Fox, according to Mulvihill. He noted that cable news ratings are up on NFL Sundays, suggesting that the presidential race has made an impact on viewership.