Tuesday December 5, 2023

How the NFL and TV Partners are Treating the Presidential Election

  • League and TV networks have been pushing get-out-the-vote efforts.
  • But networks are leery of extensively covering the candidates.
rams
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

Get out and V-O-T-E.

That was the message coming from the NFL and its media partners over the past few weeks as the country raced toward Election Day.

Over recent weeks, a growing number of sports voices have made it clear who they’re voting for. Both President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden aired campaign commercials on Sunday NFL pregame shows, including “Fox NFL Sunday” and CBS Sports’ “The NFL Today.”

Sports giants from NFL to ESPN have been criticized for becoming overly political in recent months. 

Sports TV networks, in particular, have been walking on eggshells leading up to the U.S. presidential election. Despite Trump’s frequent criticism of the NFL, the league and its networks have limited themselves to get-out-the-vote efforts rather than pushing specific candidates or causes.

During the last election, an estimated 40% of eligible voters did not turn in a ballot. Here’s a rundown on how the NFL and its TV networks treated Election Day:

— NFL: Under the league’s “NFL Votes” initiative, 15 teams will open their stadiums as polling locations on Nov. 3. More than 90% of NFL players are registered to vote, according to the NFL Players Association. 

All NFL, NFLPA, and team facilities will be closed Tuesday “to ensure that every member of the NFL family has an opportunity to exercise the right to vote and may safely support voting,” the league said.

During Sunday’s NFL game coverage, viewers saw the word “Vote” prominently stenciled in the end zones of the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field and the Baltimore Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium. 

Trump Looks Again to Non-Traditional Sports Outlets as Election Nears

Jason Whitlock of Outkick talked return of Big Ten football with President…
October 21, 2020

— ESPN: The Worldwide Leader in Sports has been airing a public service announcement to promote voting among its viewers. 

The spot aims to drive viewers to iamavoter.com, where they can get info on registration and voting. “This election is your chance to be heard and decide who represents YOU,” says the spot.

Previously, ESPN.com published a series of stories on how team owners donate to U.S. political campaigns. 

Since 2015, sports owners have donated nearly $47 million to federal elections campaigns. That includes $10 million to Republican causes vs. $1.9 million for Democratic causes during the 2020 election cycle.

Another article warned some owners are hiding their donations to Republican candidates to avoid a backlash from their own players, staffers, and fans.

ESPN’s tiptoeing around Trump vs. Biden is partly policy. The network’s social media guidelines state commentators “should refrain from overt partisanship or endorsement of particular candidates, politicians or political parties.”

NFL TV Tracker: A Weekly Look at NFL Viewership

The NFL suffered its first TV drop in three years, as average…
January 7, 2021

— Fox Sports: The “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show aired a feature narrated by actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr. 

The piece chronicled the 100-year struggle for voting rights led by the slain Martin Luther King Jr. and others in the Black community. 

“When you fill out your ballot, remember how many heroes sacrificed their lives so that we could head to the polls this week,” Odom said.

Fox’s Howie Long credited pro athletes across all sports for helping drive the surge of early voting across the country. 

“It’s been fascinating to watch America really get engaged in this election year,” added host Curt Menefee.

Fox also had some fun with mock attack ads by Jay Glazer and Michael Strahan on who would induct Jimmy Johnson into the Pro Football Hall of Fame — “You know that gap in Strahan’s teeth. It’s fake. Weird right,” asked one fake Glazer spot.

— CBS Sports: Nate Burleson of “The NFL Today” interviewed Matthew A. Cherry, the former NFL player turned Oscar-winning co-director of “Hair Love.” 

The African-American filmmaker urged all CBS Sports viewers to vote. 

“Sometimes it’s bigger than just you. You have to think about the generations of people that are going to come after you that this election is going to impact,” Cherry said.

— NBC Sports: Mike Tirico, of “Football Night in America,” reported that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and team owners from the Hunt family have joined together to raise money for 40 voting machines at Arrowhead Stadium.

NBC also aired an “NFL Votes” PSA.  “Vote today,” says Commissioner Roger Goodell in the spot.

Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

ESPN Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith to ESPN: 'I Want To Be Highest-Paid Talent'

With a number one show, Stephen A. Smith wants to become number one in compensation.
Florida Disney by The Enquirer/Leigh Taylor, Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat, Jonah Hinebaugh-USA TODAY, Andrea Melendez/The News-Press/USA Today.

Seminoles’ CFP Snub Opens New Front in Disney vs. Florida War

Florida lawmakers are already considering legislation to protest the College Football Playoff's exclusion of Florida State.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws a pass during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium.

Amazon Bounces Back With Record Viewership

The Dallas Cowboys’ win over the Seattle Seahawks averaged 15.26 million viewers.
Peyton Manning on the ManningCast
exclusive

ESPN’s ManningCast Goes Double: Two MNF Games, Two Brothers, One Epic Show

Peyton and Eli Manning will call two “Monday Night Football” games at the same time on Dec. 11 as ManningCast expands across ESPN.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Premier League Sets New Bar with Media Deals

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

The College Football Playoff is considering rotating TV networks for the national championship game.

CFP Considers Super Bowl-Like Rotation For National Championship Game

Multiple networks could share rights to the championship game, sources told FOS.
Brett Favre
November 27, 2023

Favre Welfare Case Hold-Up? "AG’s Office Has Not Expressed Interest In Pursuing"

The DOJ interviewed Brett Favre in early 2020.
The future of the Pac-12 rests on a court decision.
November 24, 2023

The Pac-12 Plays Its Final Regular-Season Game. Then A Court Decides Its Fate.

The conference's future rests with a court decision.
Lane Kiffin
November 9, 2023

Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin Lawyers Argue for Dismissal of Player Lawsuit

FOS obtained audio of Lane Kiffin's interaction with the player behind lawsuit.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Wasserman
Multiple - USA Careers
Live Nation
Multiple - USA Careers
Saco Bay PT
Multiple - USA Careers
The Australia men's cricket team celebrating winning the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

Amazon Secures ICC Cricket Broadcast Media Rights in Australia

Prime Video will be Australia's exclusive home for ICC events through 2027.
December 1, 2023

Formula 1's Growth Hits A Speed Bump With U.S. Viewers

Races on ESPN were down 8% from 2022.
English Premier League teams Leeds United and Brighton Hove & Albion in action during a match.
December 4, 2023

Premier League Reasserts Dominance With $8.5B Domestic Rights Deals

Deals achieve small rights fee increase for top European league.
Sponsored

NHL’s Chris Foster on Amplifying Content Distribution With Automation

Learn how the NHL is using WSC Sports to increase fan engagement.
LeBron-James
December 1, 2023

Would Disney's ESPN Walk Away From The NBA?

Will financial pressures impact the company's decision with a longtime partner?
Detailed view of the new In-Season Tournament court before the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Dallas Mavericks at the Smoothie King Center.
November 30, 2023

New Orleans Pelicans Reportedly Headed For Local Television

The Pelicans could air games on over-the-air channel Fox 8.
Professional-Fighters-League
November 30, 2023

PFL, ESPN Agree on New Multiyear Broadcast Rights Deal

ESPN+ PPV will be the home of the PFL’s new Super Fight Division.
November 29, 2023

NASCAR Secures $7.7B Media Rights Deals

Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery come on as new partners.