What Sports are Losing Viewers?
The world of sports has been witnessing a significant decline in viewership of various sports over the years. The National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) tournaments have all seen a notable decrease in viewership, with some sports experiencing the steepest decline on record.
The Statistics
According to a survey conducted by the Sports Business Journal, the NFL witnessed a 10% decrease in viewership from the 2019-20 season to the 2020-21 season, with an average audience loss of 1.43 million viewers per game.
The Reasons
Despite being one of the most popular sports in the US, the NFL is still struggling to maintain its viewing figures. The reasons attributed to this decline include injury concerns, the rising cost of cable subscriptions, and the increasingly Fragmented media landscape.
Other sports also experiencing a decline in viewership
- NFL: -10% decrease in viewership from 2019-20 to 2020-21
- NHL: 15% decrease in average viewership from 2020-21 to 2021-22 season
- MLB: 12% decrease in average viewership from 2020 season to 2021 season
- PGA: -20% decrease in viewership over the past five years, with a significant drop seen in 2020 compared to 2019.
- NBA : While the NBA had a significant increase in views during the 2021-22 season, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its viewings are still down approximately 15% over the past five years
- College Football and Basketball: Viewership has also seen a downward trend, with a staggering -25% decrease in viewership recorded over the past five years.
What’s Going Wrong?
Several reasons contribute to the decline:
- Rise in streaming and social media use: Viewers are adopting alternative forms of entertainment like streaming services and social media, which are changing consumer behavior.
- The changing media landscape: TV viewership is declining rapidly, with more people opt for streaming services and their own devices.
- The cost of cable subscription: High cable bills leading to cord-cutting,
- Injury and fatigue: Player injuries have become more common, players are fatigued at the end of the regular season, and the grind of a long season are all contributing factors.
- The impact of COVID: The pandemic has had significant effects on sports, ranging from canceled games to strict health and safety protocols impacting fan engagement.
Pickup in Pickleball
While many sports face declining viewership, not all sports are experiencing downward trends. Pickleball, a fast-paced, low-impact court sport, has seen astonishing growth. According to Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) U.S. Participation Report (2022), pickleball participation has increased by a staggering 171.1% between 2018 and 2022.
Table: Yearly Pickleball Participants (2018-2022)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | 2,774,000 | 3,444,000 | 4,241,000 | 6,044,000 | 7,544,000 |
Conclusion
The decline in viewership of various sports is real, and it’s essential for sports organizations to adapt to changes in consumer behavior and the way people consume media. Identifying the root causes behind this decline and implementing the necessary strategies to reverse or mitigate it will be crucial.