Over a year ago in August 2016, NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers, began protesting during National Anthems to show support for people of colour who are being oppressed by the Police. The ramifications of these silent protests have now manifested into the current stock of NFL broadcasters, such as: Comcast, Walt Disney, Fox and CBS.
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Last year I read a lot on this controversy but only from the side of a spectator or player; observing from a business standpoint however is completely different. Kaepernick sparked something in his fellow teammates and rivals all across the country. Resulting in his fellow colleagues also refusing to take part in the anthem. Kaepernick described this act of rebellion as, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour”.
Over a year later NFL Broadcasters are suffering from slumping stocks that have decreased their margins by 1% to 8%. This issue has divided the nation from players to spectators to investors. Some argue that Kaepernicks stand is offensive and dramatic, while other choose to debate the fact that the only way to reprimand the actions of Police are with public condemnation. The result of this debate is that now %30 of viewers who have stopped watching say that it’s because they refuse to watch the NFL due to being offended by the players. The networks are already shelling out $5 Billion to televise the NFL and are facing poor margins on their advertising fronts.
The issue that the Broadcasters are facing, actually has to do with a topic we have yet to cover in COMM 101. This branch of Business is know as Value Propositions. Where businesses work to create an innovation, service or feature intended to make a company or product attractive to customers. Currently the NFL is struggling because an outside and unpredicted variable is effecting their stock. The networks need to discover a way to provide a new service or innovation that makes them once again appealing to some of these viewers. Whether that innovation be an interactive viewing experience that brings the game to you or a promotion which rewards committed seasonal fans with big prizes.
I found this article especially interesting because it’s such a impactful part of business. A company can plan and predict and prepare, but the actions of a single person or a small factor of life can swiftly deter those plans. Companies today need to look closer into mending bridges of their cliental, rather then pretending those issues don’t exist or shying away from the problem.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nfl-tv-ratings-slide-worries-wall-street-1041187
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