Fight, spin, stick your head in the sand. Do whatever you want. But here’s the Week 1 ratings. https://twitter.com/cnbcnow/status/1305938729635385346">https://twitter.com/cnbcnow/s...
Is it (another popular explanation) cable cord cutting?

Well, that would depress every cable network’s ratings, right?

Nope, cable news is setting all time records.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-cable-news-has-record-setting-second-quarter-1301220">https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed...
Is it there are too many sporting options on tv and ratings are being cannibalized? Maybe.

I have my doubts. This is football we’re talking about. This is the NFL. This is king. And there are more people at home with less to do increasing potential audience.

But, it’s possible.
I think five months of no sports “broke the habit” of watching sports for many people as their leisure activity.

Never underestimate the power of habit and COVID has destroyed habits.

I think that is contributing.
Still...with all that...some sports are not just up but setting records. Like the PGA.

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2020/08/25/cbs-sports-delivers-its-best-viewership-average-and-highest-rated-pga-tour-season-in-five-years-734412/20200825cbs02/">https://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2...
So...what does that leave? Oh yeah, that when you inject protest and politics into sports you turn off a big chunk of your audience. A pretty simple biz maxim that no one wants to admit.

(I don’t think this is the only reason but it is the major reason.) https://news.gallup.com/poll/319256/farming-rises-sports-tumbles-industry-ratings.aspx">https://news.gallup.com/poll/3192...
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