Of course it was the least viewed WC game because of the path to watch, but it was only the most-streamed live event in US history.
The age of “free” TV was over decades ago. That died with the onset of cable. Welcome to 2024. Not exactly sure how this will unfold, but I’ll gladly shell out a few bucks to watch the NFL.
I don't think anyone on this board is saying they will never pay to watch the NFL. What the complaint is that we don't want to have to subscribe to a provider like Comcast or Verizon to see the NFL network games and ESPN game, then pay for Amazon Prime for the Thursday night games, then pay for YouTube TV for the overseas games, then pay for Peacock... oh and I forgot about ESPN +. The Sunday Ticket, which I was happy to purchase years ago, is increasingly less of a value with the more games moved to different days of the week as well. No sir, you paid for the Sunday ticket, this is a Saturday playoff game. And the complaint most brought up in this thread which is valid is that the production of many of these services is sub par. Not just the feed, but the camera and production work, the broadcast teams, the whole package.
I'll pay to watch the NFL but I think many of the decisions the NFL has made recently have been clear money grabs which are not going to be good long term plays. They are trying to squeeze the last few dimes out of their revenue streams without realizing that they are drastically compromising their product in the process. That will lead to long term decline.