25 out of 32 NFL teams have experienced decline in local TV ratings this year

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The National Football League might be enjoying another season of strong ratings, especially in an election year, but those aren’t translating to local markets for whatever reason. They tell a different story this season, with some of the league’s biggest markets seeing declines in viewership.

At the forefront of the 25 of 32 teams experiencing a decline in ratings are two of the league’s primetime darlings, who share a stadium—the New York Jets and Giants. While the Jets are coming off a 21-13 win over the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football, their fans aren’t going out of their way to watch Gang Green, losers of five straight entering Thursday when they aren’t on primetime.

In fact, according to Puck’s John Ourand, the Jets represent the biggest drop in local ratings in the AFC, down 32 percent from a season above. It appears that another losing season has caused one of the more passionate fanbases in the NFL to grow apathetic. And after Week 9, the Jets are only on primetime one more time—Week 11, Sunday Night Football vs. the Indianapolis Colts—so unless they turn their 3-6 season around, those numbers seem likely to continue to be unimpressive.

The same goes for the New York Football Giants, who have seen their local ratings down 33 percent.

On the opposite coast, the story in Los Angeles is a curious one.

The Chargers, riding a winning record (4-3) under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, have seen local TV ratings fall by 25 percent. Meanwhile, the Rams, sitting at 3-4, have faced a more modest seven percent decline, though their fan base still seems less than enthused.

Elsewhere, traditionally strong markets are showing signs of wear.

In Boston, the Patriots’ struggling season has driven local viewership down by 25 percent. Despite hopes pinned on the Browns, Cleveland fans are tuning out, with ratings off by 20 percent.

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