According to a new poll by You/Gov and Yahoo Sports, 34.5 percent of Americans are watching sports less today than a year ago because of politics. Fully half of Americans have changed their viewing habits for sports as some viewers — 11 percent — claim they watched more sports because of the political advocacy.
But three times more people said they were turning off sports broadcasts because of the messaging. The poll showed 56 percent don’t watch anymore or watch less because of the political message.
Men were more likely to turn away from sports as a result of social messages; 37.6 percent of males said they had tuned in less, as opposed to 28 percent of females. Meanwhile, 13 percent of men said they watched more sports in the wake of social justice movements, as opposed to only 7 percent of women.
The breakdown by political party runs as might be expected given the tenor of the national conversation around sports. About 13.7 percent of Democrats say they watched more sports in the wake of social justice movements, while 19 percent watched less. On the other hand, only about 8.6 percent of Republicans watched more sports, while 53 percent watched less once social justice messaging became prominent.
The decline in viewership is precipitous, not catastrophic. Teams and leagues will still get their cut of TV money, which is the only thing that kept the leagues in business during the pandemic. But certainly, the networks are not happy. The NBA’s contract with networks expires in 2024, and Major League Baseball’s contract expires in 2028. But the NFL’s deals with FOX, CBS, and NBC expire after 2022, while the ESPN contract ends at the end of this year. NHL rights — a far smaller package — end after this year.
The pandemic has had an unknown impact on sports viewership. With no fans in the stands, that extra spark of excitement has been missing. Not only that, but TV habits overall have radically changed because of the lockdowns.
I have completely stopped watching any sporting event that tries to inject a political viewpoint, no matter whether I agree with it or not. Sport is for escape from personal problems, not making people more aware of their problems.
Like – NONE!
They are all dying of Colin Cancer!
Those who refuse to respect the American flag and our National Anthem need to go to Arlington National Cemetery and explain to those heroes buried there why they won’t acknowledge the sacrifices they made for them.
We watch sports as an escape from the reality of life not to have life or political views intruded upon us on our TV’s. I quit watching soon after they took a knee!
Haven’t been back since!
Well as it pertains to the NFL – a new contract thru 2033 has been approved with the networks/cable AND amazon. NFL was either getting 2 or 4 Billion a year for tv contracts. Now its……wait for it.. gonna be $10 BIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLION a year thru 2033.
I “git” folks are turning away, yet the TV partners bent over and pretty much doubled what they paid previously so I suppose charge more for commercials….or messaging. Amazon will have the Thurs nite package starting in 2023 or 2024.
Money is still being made, eventhough less maybe watching.
Got into the wrong business I suppose!
Damn right, I DON’T watch ANY group of militant blacks who have NO RESPECT for this Country and the comfort it provides by dumbass, half assed, political ingrates who because they can bounce a damn ball think all of the men who caused it to be brought to fruition owes them something.
Damn a one knee reverence to the national anthem and ALL who practice it. Damn a man who is supposed to be some kind of hero on a football field who doesn’t have the balls to serve in the military. Damn a big mouthed woman who thinks she can delay the signature of the Governor of Georgia on legislation passed by the ELECTED body of their State.
And finally, damn the followers of Ali-ism, a chicken shit hero who wanted fame and fortune and got it, and then refused service to this Country after the USA provided it.
I proudly was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. I hacked it without liking it but I mustered the stones to do it and didn’t let my motherland down. I was NOT ONLY A TAKER. I figured I OWED my Country for an education, freedom, and sovereignty. In a small way I helped secure that for those who couldn’t take the fight to the aggressors who challenged the USA in ALL the great campaigns abroad who identified the USA as the place to be.
I vehemently identify ALL the detractors of this great Country as ‘yellow assholes’ unquote.
Bob…Thank you for your dedicated service to our country.
Athletes, musicians, etc. are entertainers. They should only be paid to entertain us not push there political beliefs on us.
I enjoyed watching sports for a time in my life, but long before the social justice warriors showed up I saw a change to the “Me” mentality, and I quietly stopped watching. That was about a decade ago – I couldn’t name one sports “Star”, and there is no bearing on me about what they do (or don’t do). I wonder how many of the self absorbed set see this…oh wait, they can’t. They are self absorbed.
I quit watching a long time ago when every team turned into a National Geographic African show.
MLB. Goona be added to my list too..bending over to the marxist luciferian agenda is my main reason..also the satanic symbology during the a high black masses at NFL half times dont help either. Go to u tube and they will show you the masonic satanic symbogy on display during these events!!
We all know what the “N” stands for in NBA and NFL and it ain’t national! Shame that teams are 80 to 90% black.
The disrespect from players, many coaches, some owners and the paid lackeys with microphones is disgraceful; they enormously enjoy the fruits of the country they disrespect. It’s actually been pretty easy to avoid watching by not even tuning in and filling my time with active, enjoyable pursuits I’d shelved or with new ones.
Give yourself a continuing raise: kill cable.
The pompous black racist athlete has gotten the last of my money … sports are for racists