The NFL’s ad revenue – after increasing in September and October – was down 17% year-over-year in November, according to ADWEEK.
The decline is partially attributed to there being four fewer NFL games this November from a year ago. But the main reason for the revenue drop is an increase in audience deficiency units, or makegoods, that are given to advertisers who didn’t receive guaranteed impressions earlier in the season. NFL ratings were down 14% for the first nine weeks of the season, a decline that many network and league executives attributed to the presidential election.