Figures Show the Impact of Hurricanes Irma & Harvey on the NFL's Opening Weekend

The NFL's opening weekend saw fewer viewers than last year's season, with executives citing the two recent Hurricanes, Harvey and Irma, for the decline.

Nielson ratings showed fans turned away from the NFL & turned on cable news and weather channels. Thursday Night Football viewers were down 13% compared with the previous year. However, Sunday saw viewers return to the NFL with a 5% increase in viewers compared with 2016.

The fall in viewership caused concern among NFL executives who rely on the large audiences to bring in substantial revenue through advertising, with the previous season drawing $4.2 billion in ad sales, according to Kantar Media and SMI Media Inc.

Watch More with TheStreet:

• How to Make Your Portfolio Rise This Fall: September Trading Strategies
• Jim Cramer Reveals What to Watch in Oracle's Earnings
• 'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli Jailed Over Facebook Post about Hillary Clinton
• Kiss King Gene Simmons Unleashes His Next Major Stock Market Prediction