The Economics behind Retaining the Obsolete Kickoff

[borg]

The NFL is very clear on three points…

1) The kickoff is the most dangerous single play in football exposing players to the highest risk of injury.
2) By continuing to modify rules for kickoffs, the NFL's goal is to exponentially reduce kickoff return opportunities in the name of safety.
3) Despite acknowledgement of the high risk element during kickoffs, this most dangerous play will remain as a desired vehicle for possession exchange.

So why is the NFL so adamant about retaining a play they want to render all but obsolete?
Like everything in the NFL……..this is all about $$money$$ and commercial placement.

I will summarize now but check out the facts provided below.

To summarize….the NFL is intent on subjecting fans to this kickoff charade which is in essence a ceremonial exchange of possession in order to preserve commercial space opportunities of 20 minutes (40 commercials or more) on average. Then factor in the additional down time (another 10-15 minutes) of setting up and running these ceremonial kickoffs…..this is an extraordinary waste of the fans' time that offers minimal contested action and serves little purpose except to line the owners pockets.

Some facts……

Average # of kickoffs / game……………………………..10
# of prescribed commercial breaks each half………11 (mandatory break after opening kick off plus 10 additional breaks necessary to oblige corporate partners)
Length of each prescribed commercial break……...2 minutes (potential of 4 commercials …if not more)

From Wikipedia:
National Football League on television - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"During each half of a network-televised game, there are ten prescribed commercial breaks following the official kickoff. Two are firmly scheduled, and eight others are worked in during breaks in the play.[37]
Pre-scheduled commercial breaks:
The end of the first (or third) quarter
The two-minute warning of the second (or fourth) quarter
Other instances used for commercial breaks (eight total required per half):

• A timeout called by either team
• Instant replay stoppage
• Game stoppage after a score
• Game stoppage after a kickoff or punt (excluding the opening kickoff of each half)
• Game stoppage after a turnover
• Injury timeout"

It gets easier for me every day to hope the NFL implodes and suits like Goodell end up in jail.

 

[XLIX]

There are a set number of commercials in every NFL broadcast. If they got rid of kickoffs, it would not impact the number of commercials in the slightest.

The biggest impediment to getting rid of the kickoff is that if you get rid of kickoffs, you get rid of onside kicks, which help maintain interest in games late where a team trails by 2 scores.

 

[ViperGTS]

There are a set number of commercials in every NFL broadcast. If they got rid of kickoffs, it would not impact the number of commercials in the slightest.

The biggest impediment to getting rid of the kickoff is that if you get rid of kickoffs, you get rid of onside kicks, which help maintain interest in games late where a team trails by 2 scores.

Not quite. Even if they got rid of the kickoffs, you could still attempt an onsides kick. Granted it wouldn't be a "surprise" as a very few are, but you could still attempt one.

 

[Gronk]

I think they should just turn kickoffs into punts

 

[Galeb]

There are a set number of commercials in every NFL broadcast.

Not exactly. There is a set number of commercial breaks, not a set number of commercials. 10 commercial breaks/half.

 

[XLIX]

Not exactly. There is a set number of commercial breaks, not a set number of commercials. 10 commercial breaks/half.

There are a set number of commercials and a set number of commercial breaks.

Every single broadcast on a specific network sees the exact same commercials in the exact same order. In other words, the people watching Pats-Jets on CBS at 1:00 see the exact same commercials in the exact same order as the people watching Jaguars-Titans on CBS at 1:00 (with the exception of the local commercials shown mostly during the break between periods). It isn't something they determine on the fly.

The bottom line is that they aren't keeping the kickoffs for the reason that if they got rid of kickoffs, they would lose commercial breaks. Those commercial breaks are going to be here no matter what, so if they got rid of kickoffs they would just find another way to squeeze those commercials in.

 

[Galeb]

There are a set number of commercials and a set number of commercial breaks.

Could you provide a link? Every search I've done on the topic references only the number of breaks and duration of the breaks. Nothing I have read even even mentions a limit to the number of commercials.
Television timeout - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[BTTA]

Not quite. Even if they got rid of the kickoffs, you could still attempt an onsides kick. Granted it wouldn't be a "surprise" as a very few are, but you could still attempt one.

How and when?

 

[XLIX]

Could you provide a link? Every search I've done on the topic references only the number of breaks and duration of the breaks. Nothing I have read even even mentions a limit to the number of commercials.
Television timeout - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I can't provide any link that's better than my personal experience of watching two games simultaneously on the same network. You literally get the exact same commercials in the exact same order (except the local commercials during the quarter breaks). It is not an arbitrary process. The actual timing of the brakes can vary depending on what is going on in the game, but the number of breaks and number of commercials with each break are the same.

 

[signbabybrady]

There are a set number of commercials in every NFL broadcast. If they got rid of kickoffs, it would not impact the number of commercials in the slightest.

The biggest impediment to getting rid of the kickoff is that if you get rid of kickoffs, you get rid of onside kicks, which help maintain interest in games late where a team trails by 2 scores.

The question would be could they fit the same number of commercials in without the kickoffs?
Obviously they could, but at what cost? Do they start slipping in commercials during a series if they haven't reached their numbers for that quarter yet? Might be equally as annoying as the score commercial KO commercial. But if it's best for health then it should be considered.

 

[Galeb]

I can't provide any link that's better than my personal experience of watching two games simultaneously on the same network. You literally get the exact same commercials in the exact same order (except the local commercials during the quarter breaks). It is not an arbitrary process. The actual timing of the brakes can vary depending on what is going on in the game, but the number of breaks and number of commercials with each break are the same.

That's good information, but it's not necessarily evidence of a limit on the number of commercials. It's likely a matter of fulfilling commercial contract obligations in order by priority.

If anyone has details about the number of commercials, or if there is a limit to the number of 2 minutes commercials vs. 1 minute, it would be much appreciated.

 

[Tony2046]

Getting the commercials in would happen anyways. Instead of during the kick off it would be during the "possession change". Team scores - commerical(s) - extra point - commercial(s) - kick off/ possession change - commercial(s) - and so on.

They'll get their commercials in one way or another.

IMO, the real reason they are making these changes is so that they can demonstrate during a future CTE lawsuit (or whatever) that they have been "sincerely" concerned about the health and welfare of the players.