NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell isn't worried that the league's heavy social justice emphasis for the upcoming season will hurt television ratings, despite evidence that some fans have been turned off by the NBA's demonstrations and protests, Goodell told CNBC.
The NFL has long dominated professional sports television ratings in the United States, but there was some belief in past years, particularly in 2017, that national anthem kneeling protests and the controversy surrounding them hurt the league's ratings. Now that the NFL is embracing, instead of opposing, overt social justice displays, Goodell isn't concerned.
"Our ratings have really been the envy of every entertainment and sports property," Goodell told CNBC. "We have the broadest audience, we have the best partners in all of television and media. We feel that ratings always go up and down for a variety of reasons."
When asked about the issue of national anthem protests, which upset many football fans who believe those demonstrations are disrespectful to the country, Goodell deflected.
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11.25.2024