The second night of the draft in Detroit attracted an additional 275,000 fans, making up 5.5 percent of the total TV audience. This marks the smallest audience since 2012. According to Sports Business Journal, a total of 5.1 million viewers watched the three-network simulcast of Friday night’s draft coverage.
The hype surrounding the draft seemed to diminish after the first round as no quarterbacks were drafted in rounds two and three. This disconnect between live attendance and TV audience is quite noticeable. However, following the draft on a phone is simple and convenient, diminishing the appeal of watching the picks being made after the first round.
