NBA Ratings Down

[Voight]

Some are speculating it has to do with either the league bending over for China or how politics have become more mainstream in the league.

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[Centrum Hockey]

Some are speculating it has to do with either the league bending over for China or how politics have become more mainstream in the league.

The lack of star power on the east coast could be a factor It isn’t good for ratings when all the best teams start at 10pm or later in the area with the most population.

 

[Voight]

The lack of star power on the east coast could be a factor It isn’t good for ratings when all the best teams start at 10pm or later in the area with the most population.

Not a bad point but the only star that left the east last year was Kawhi (unless I'm forgetting someone), and he played for the Raptors who don't factor into the ratings for TNT and ESPN.

 

[ForumNamePending]

Some are speculating it has to do with either the league bending over for China or how politics have become more mainstream in the league.

I have no doubt some people are trying to spin that narrative, but to me this seems pretty simple. For all the talk about how popular the NBA is, its national appeal seems pretty shallow. In recent years, the NBA's national TV partners were able to ride LeBron James in the east and the Warriors out west... Last year they lost LeBron for the early time slot, and this year they've lost the Warriors as a relevant team.

 

[HisIceness]

I'd add that most of these star players are unlikable. LeBron in particular has become a nuisance.

The NBA media is also a problem, they are more concerned about off-court drama than on-court.

 

[S E P H]

A true way to see if the ratings are realistically down in the NBA is seeing if there is a difference (rise or fall) between the Pacific games for the past couple of seasons. It would make sense since 60% (could be higher) of the entire population in NA live in the Eastern time zone.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

A true way to see if the ratings are realistically down in the NBA is seeing if there is a difference (rise or fall) between the Pacific games for the past couple of seasons. It would make sense since 60% (could be higher) of the entire population in NA live in the Eastern time zone.

It's actually a bit under 50%. But 75% lives in Eastern and Central combined.

 

[Ted Hoffman]

Some are speculating it has to do with either the league bending over for China or how politics have become more mainstream in the league.

It's far more simple than that. What's your story lines for the season?

* Will James Harden average 40 a game for the season?
* What kind of record will Lebron and Davis rack up taking the Lakers to a 1-seed in the West?
* Can the small-market Bucks redeem themselves for last season and go to the Finals and maybe win it all?

That's pretty much it. There's nothing compelling. There's no bevy of stars that people can rattle off that makes them say, "wow, I'd take 2 1/2 hours out on a Saturday or Sunday to watch a couple of them pair off." An individual can run a team; a couple of individuals can dominate a conference - and star players are by and large concentrated on a few teams, which weakens the overall quality of the league. There's no team play, there's no 5 guys getting together and putting on a show offensively and defensively. Hell, the long-since ignored rule book is practically discarded at this point. (See: Lebron's leisurely 4-step walk while carrying the basketball, palm under ball.) No one wants to watch that shit, and the few decent stories there aren't nearly enough to make up for the vast amount of mediocrity in the league.

China? Politics? That's not even a ripple.

 

[HisIceness]

Luka Doncic is becoming must-see TV but other than him, there are not a lot of compelling young stars right now. Zion has yet to play a game and his health long-term is a huge mystery. A lot of these guys who get hyped up as the next Jordan or next Curry or whatever end up being just okay.

 

[sawchuk1971]

adam silver says cable TV model is 'broken' amid ratings decline.

NBA's Adam Silver says cable TV model is 'broken' amid ratings decline

The NBA’s lucrative television deals, long considered the crown jewel of its business, are contributing to a noticeable drop in ratings this season, according to Commissioner Adam Silver.

Speaking at Sports Business Journal’s Dealmakers conference in New York City, Silver noted that the cable television model is “broken to a certain extent” amid the cord-cutting trend. Younger viewers, which compose a significant portion of the NBA’s audience, are abandoning cable in droves in favor of streaming services – a troubling development for a league that has long-term deals with Disney’s ESPN and WarnerMedia’s TNT. Silver noted that the overall audiences for cable networks have dropped roughly 20 percent over the last four years.

“You’re really pushing a rock up a hill if you’ve lost 20 percent of your [cable] audience over the last four years, especially when…that young audience that we attract is disproportionately represented by that 20 percent,” Silver said, according to SBJ.

 

[Voight]

Zero sports competition yesterday plus essentially everyone was at home or a loved ones place yet ratings went down.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Alot of people went to the Cinema yesterday

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Raptors winning the championship killed the NBA.

 

[MikeCubs]

The NBA is an uncompetitive league where only a handful of teams can keep/sign star players past their second/rookie extension contracts meaning super stars hit free agency after 8 to 9 years at 27 to 28 years old. Both LA teams, Dallas, Houston, Brooklyn, Miami, Philly, Boston are the only acceptable destinations for major stars past contract 2. Chicago/Knicks will join the list post Reinsdorf/Dolan.

The only star players to make it to 30 years old with their original team in this super team era are Russell Westbrook who was then traded since Paul George asked out and the Thunder were going into a rebuild and Damien Lillard will make it to at least 30 with Portland. The defending champs couldn't even keep the leagues best player and run it back.

You want ratings to rise fix the competitive balance problem. Football has a salary cap and franchise tag, you don't see many star QB's switch teams, baseball you can keep players 6 to 7 years til free agency plus time in the minors doesn't count towards service time so most guys hit free agency around 30 which is bad with steroid testing, the NHL has a hard cap. These sports promote competitiveness the NBA doesn't.

Superstars control the game and if 8 to 10 teams can sign them past year 8 to 9 and 20 to 22 can't this is what you get. GARBAGE!!!!!!

 

[HisIceness]

An-all LA Battle is just not that intriguing to most of the country, despite what ESPN says.

 

[golfortennis]

The NBA is an uncompetitive league where only a handful of teams can keep/sign star players past their second/rookie extension contracts meaning super stars hit free agency after 8 to 9 years at 27 to 28 years old. Both LA teams, Dallas, Houston, Brooklyn, Miami, Philly, Boston are the only acceptable destinations for major stars past contract 2. Chicago/Knicks will join the list post Reinsdorf/Dolan.

The only star players to make it to 30 years old with their original team in this super team era are Russell Westbrook who was then traded since Paul George asked out and the Thunder were going into a rebuild and Damien Lillard will make it to at least 30 with Portland. The defending champs couldn't even keep the leagues best player and run it back.

You want ratings to rise fix the competitive balance problem. Football has a salary cap and franchise tag, you don't see many star QB's switch teams, baseball you can keep players 6 to 7 years til free agency plus time in the minors doesn't count towards service time so most guys hit free agency around 30 which is bad with steroid testing, the NHL has a hard cap. These sports promote competitiveness the NBA doesn't.

Superstars control the game and if 8 to 10 teams can sign them past year 8 to 9 and 20 to 22 can't this is what you get. GARBAGE!!!!!!

Football has a huge gambling culture that no one wants to acknowledge is the driving force behind the popularity. People don't watch because "guys stay with their teams". The NFL cuts more star players who are still quite productive due to salary cap reasons, yet this is never brought up. It's the gambling.

Basketball is the sport where one player can really make the big difference(hence the "did he win a championship?" question in other sports really misses the point trying to be found. Hoops, on the other hand, can be dictated by one guy a lot more. But the ratings being down does not mean more people are watching the NHL.

 

[joelef]

still crushes NHL ratings

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Football has a huge gambling culture that no one wants to acknowledge is the driving force behind the popularity. People don't watch because "guys stay with their teams". The NFL cuts more star players who are still quite productive due to salary cap reasons, yet this is never brought up. It's the gambling.

It plays a part, but a much bigger reason is the small number of games. Every game feels important, which isn't the case in the NBA (or NHL & MLB for that matter).

Gamblers aren't pulling Sunday Night Football to be the highest rated show on TV. The league has mainstream appeal well beyond that.

 

[golfortennis]

It plays a part, but a much bigger reason is the small number of games. Every game feels important, which isn't the case in the NBA (or NHL & MLB for that matter).

Gamblers aren't pulling Sunday Night Football to be the highest rated show on TV. The league has mainstream appeal well beyond that.

Oh sure. It's a lot easier to devote 3 hours a week than 3-4 games a week. Absolutely.

But it isn't just the guys playing the O/U who are gamblers. Fantasy players are very much gamblers as well. At my former employer, I would overhear conversations about the NFL every Monday during the season. Not once did those conversations not involve someone's team. The gambling permeates so many areas of it.

 

[PentagonHockey]

NBA ratings are down because the NBA sucks. The league and sport is crumbling product due to everyones ignorance ignoring that 1 and done players coming out of college is hurting the game.

People who think Lebron is better than MJ have no clue about the sport. MJ went up against legends of the game. Lebron is going up against college players and overrated players. The product is a joke.

 

[PentagonHockey]

still crushes NHL ratings

Actually NHL beats NBA for many intercity teams. NBA in many cities is 4th after NHL, MLB, NFL.

 

[PCSPounder]

NBA ratings have gone down so far this year by about the same amount they went UP last year.

It's not going anywhere... except where James Dolan keeps trying to dig the Knicks out of their hole. And dude can't dig sideways.

 

[MikeCubs]

Football has a huge gambling culture that no one wants to acknowledge is the driving force behind the popularity. People don't watch because "guys stay with their teams". The NFL cuts more star players who are still quite productive due to salary cap reasons, yet this is never brought up. It's the gambling.

Basketball is the sport where one player can really make the big difference(hence the "did he win a championship?" question in other sports really misses the point trying to be found. Hoops, on the other hand, can be dictated by one guy a lot more. But the ratings being down does not mean more people are watching the NHL.

I don't disagree with you about the gambling culture in football(don't forget fantasy either) but guys staying with their teams is a big part of it too. Pete Rozelle knew partity was the key to maximizing football popularity. That's why you have things like a hard cap, franchise tag etc.. If you had Aaron Rodgers leaving the Packers in his prime for a huge megamarket or Payton Manning the Colts etc... some fans in those markets would lose interest driving ratings down. People still like the home team and want them to have a fair chance if run properly. They don't want the feeling of matter no how good the management is we have very little chance baring a fluke.

The cutting of star players is really the cutting of aging former stars with too big of a cap number who don't match their pay check. It's not the end of the world though disappointing if its a long time fading star. It's nothing comparable to losing a Durant, Leonard, LeBron, Anthony Davis in their prime. In football anyone can win it all with the right management and if you are lucky enough to be in the right spot to draft a franchise QB. Every market has hope in football. 22 teams don't have hope in the NBA barring a short term fluke of a star staying in a small/foreign market or getting lucky with a rental(Kawahi).

I didn't say more people are watching the NHL due to ratings being down. What I'm saying is the NHL far more maximizes their potential compare to basketball. Yes basketball will still get much higher ratings than NHL with a bad uncompetitive system because basketball is still way more popular vs. hockey by far.

In fairness the NBA did try to stop this with the designated player exception but it hasn't worked. Silver mentioned last fall about perhaps making the second contract/rookie extension longer so the original team gets a few more years. They know the have a problem but it's not easily fixable when guys are willing to take $70M paycuts to play in big markets.

In 2016 Silver also talked about changing the system to give everyone a chance

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver considering rule changes to avoid superteams taking over the league

Charles Barkley has predicted superteams will lead to a lockout

https://nypost.com/2019/02/15/charles-barkley-predicts-nba-meltdown-over-superteams/

 

[golfortennis]

I don't disagree with you about the gambling culture in football(don't forget fantasy either) but guys staying with their teams is a big part of it too. Pete Rozelle knew partity was the key to maximizing football popularity. That's why you have things like a hard cap, franchise tag etc.. If you had Aaron Rodgers leaving the Packers in his prime for a huge megamarket or Payton Manning the Colts etc... some fans in those markets would lose interest driving ratings down. People still like the home team and want them to have a fair chance if run properly. They don't want the feeling of matter no how good the management is we have very little chance baring a fluke.

The cutting of star players is really the cutting of aging former stars with too big of a cap number who don't match their pay check. It's not the end of the world though disappointing if its a long time fading star. It's nothing comparable to losing a Durant, Leonard, LeBron, Anthony Davis in their prime. In football anyone can win it all with the right management and if you are lucky enough to be in the right spot to draft a franchise QB. Every market has hope in football. 22 teams don't have hope in the NBA barring a short term fluke of a star staying in a small/foreign market or getting lucky with a rental(Kawahi).

I didn't say more people are watching the NHL due to ratings being down. What I'm saying is the NHL far more maximizes their potential compare to basketball. Yes basketball will still get much higher ratings than NHL with a bad uncompetitive system because basketball is still way more popular vs. hockey by far.

In fairness the NBA did try to stop this with the designated player exception but it hasn't worked. Silver mentioned last fall about perhaps making the second contract/rookie extension longer so the original team gets a few more years. They know the have a problem but it's not easily fixable when guys are willing to take $70M paycuts to play in big markets.

In 2016 Silver also talked about changing the system to give everyone a chance

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver considering rule changes to avoid superteams taking over the league

Charles Barkley has predicted superteams will lead to a lockout

https://nypost.com/2019/02/15/charles-barkley-predicts-nba-meltdown-over-superteams/

We'll have to agree to disagree on how much of an impact players have on the popularity. How many players have the Patriots cycled through over the years of their success? Manning was chopped with plenty of game left.

I think you are missing the factor though for the NFL. It's not the salary cap, it's the revenue sharing. Which is easy to do when all TV is national. The NHL has had a salary cap, and went 8 years with 3 teams winning the cup. The NHL isn't any better at "parity." Add in the fact that it's a combination of guys getting hurt or not(the best team doesn't win, the one with the healthiest stars does), plus favorable officiating(Aaron Rodgers is very good, but when you have "game winning drives" with phantom personal fouls....some teams are playing two opponents out there, make no mistake), it's half a lottery as anything else. But that's what makes a market as they say. I can change the channel if I don't like it.

I agree the super team thing in the NBA is going to be a real problem if it isn't already. Which is a conflict for me, because when in doubt I lean towards players' freedom of movement. But when it seems they recruit each other in FA, or have their agents force trades.... As you say, if a guy is willing to play for a lot less to be in a particular spot, what do you do?

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Parity is not teams winning championships, it's teams having a chance to.

In the NHL, the 1st 2 rounds are the most exciting time of the season. In the NBA, they're a waste of everyone's time.

In the 2010s, 23 of 31 (74%) of NHL teams made a Conference Final. That includes 1 that's only been around for 3 years!

In the NBA, while 17 did (56%), most of those series were over before they started. You had Lebron in 8 straight finals and Golden State in the last 5.