Tirico: Low NFL television ratings due to ‘stew’ of factors

The king of television, the NFL, has lost a bit of its luster in 2016.

As recently as Week 6, television ratings for the league across its networks dipped 11 percent, according to the latest stats from USA Today.

And a quick Google search nets a bevy of potential reasons as to why, from Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem demonstrations turning off views to the death of traditional TV viewing.

NBC Sports Mike Tirico — who’s own network’s Sunday Night Football saw a five-year low in ratings, according to Deadline Hollywood, during Sunday’s Texans-Colts overtime thriller — lent his perspective to Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan’s Sandy Clough on topic.

“I would say this is a complex issue, and I think all of those factors are part of the stew here,” said Tirico, who admitted to watching more news coverage on the weekends this year due to the national election.

Tirico pointed to people also ingesting the NFL in different ways on different platforms, which could be a source of the TV ratings dip.

“I think people are consuming sports in a lot of different methods, different modes. They take it with them. They watch on their phone,” Tirico said.

Earlier this month the NFL introduced a social media policy banning teams from posting highlights, GIFs or live video from within the stadium during the game, with fines ranging from $25,000 for a first instance to $100,000 a pop for three or more, ESPN.com reported.

But, in the end Tirico said, it comes down to the on-field product has been lacking of late, something he believes will pick up in the coming weeks.

“Now that you know who the good teams are, when they meet, you want to see them play,” Tirico said. “… As these teams identify themselves as the better teams, that are going to give you good football games, I think people will watch.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.