Three changes to make NFL preseason broadcasts better
By Jacob Milham
NFL preseason games should be a hotbed for experimental broadcast changes. What are three changes that could interest fans?
Sports media is usually a breeding ground for cutting-edge broadcast presentations or technology. From being the first major sports league to use the SkyCam to innovative presentations each year, the National Football League continues to keep fans entertained. But, there can always be more ways to engage casual fans. If the NFL and their partner channels want fans’ feedback on broadcast changes, the preseason is the best time to do it.
Preseason games can be bittersweet for fans. Usually, most of a team’s first-team units play one or two drives, such as the Kansas City Chiefs did last Saturday against the Chicago Bears, then it goes downhill from there. Sure, one or two exciting depth players get to shine, but that is an exception. Most of the time, the game devolves as less talented or newer players take the field. So, giving preseason football fans the first look at new broadcast changes during the preseason would incentivize fans to watch these games.
Now, these experimental changes would do best in the preseason because of the smaller audience. For example, the 2022 Hall of Fame Game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders averaged 5.48 million viewers. That’s a pretty strong turnout, but nothing compared to 2021’s regular season average viewership of 17.1 million. That is the highest regular season average since 2015 and a 10% increase from the 2020 season.
So, the NFL has roughly a third of its viewership tuning into preseason football. Get their feedback, see what can translate over to the regular season, and also see what works for preseason specifically. The NFL does not have to mess with the on-field product, but these three tweaks would interest NFL fans.