I'm not suggesting that's why everyone buys them, just that there are exceptions to your generalisation.

More people watch Leeds United in the third tier of English football than watch the Leeds Rhinos at the pinnacle of English RL.

If you find football boring then don't watch it. Football is popular enough as it is, without morons who watch it while not liking it, or because they are too dim to think of other things to make small talk about.

I found myself watching Netball on Sky Sports recently.

Didn't have a clue what was happening, and soon became bored stupid trying to fathom it out.
Did I turn the channel over? Nope...... I sat back and enjoyed every minute of it, and no idea who won, and didn't care