NBA viewership down

[Scoundreldays]

I also got rid of cable. For the most part Sling doesn't give many Laker or Clipper games so I have to illegally Stream. It's really stupid how they black out local teams

[Bolivar]

This might be a little hard for older people to understand, but TV ratings are not a relevant barometer of success anymore.

I get the notion of "get with the times, grandpa", but sometimes I do wonder where all that money actually comes from. Apparently the league generates so much money that they can just pay 60 million a year to a bunch of players who are borderline starting roster material (and/or always injured). Obviously there's all the money generated from live games in stadiums with some (probably) overpriced tickets that people still pay for. And there's people like me who pay for League Pass and that's about it but it's something. However, I'm not going to pretend that there is actual monetary value being created from people watching some Youtube highlights or Instagrams/Tiktoks of players, regardless of ads. Sure they might sometimes spend some actual money on tickets or merch but there's a line how many times you can count some indirect revenue. It kind of looks to me like there's some kind of financial bubble that will burst sooner or later.

[dhsilv2]

It's an American audience though and none of those guys are American.

No it’s American ratings being used and the point would be better to use WW ratings. Also let’s face it a lot of white MAGA refuse to watch the NBA now because of the George Floyd protests. I know a number of these people personally.

I’m not saying this is a solution but I thought it was weird the NBA shut down because of George Floyd but was silent when it came to Roger Fortson.

I've never heard of Roger Fortson, but people had a lot more free time in 2020. Nothing weird about that...

[djsunyc]

Read on Twitter

[Nate505]

Read on Twitter

Seems right. One is actually an entertaining product.

[Dan33185]

Read on Twitter

"NBA cup thing" is the best way to describe it.

[Chuck Everett]

.

[azcatz11]

The amount of entertainment available today compared to the 90s is overwhelming.

Now we have Social media, Netflix, gaming, YouTube, and even OnlyFans, lol.

In the 90s, it was mostly just the NBA and newspapers—there wasn’t much else to keep you occupied.

the 90s wasn't the stone ages. The other leagues (NHL, MLB, Nascar) were much bigger. We had blockbuster, keggers at the power lines, movies, TV, concerts, beach, etc. People have to stop making excuses for the NBA's failing product.

True but the younger kids don't watch sports like how we used to while growing up. Most of us watched NBA, NFL, and MLB religiously, then we tried to emulate them on the playground and on the court. These kids are watching streamers play video games and Youtube, Tik Tok, and want to be influencers. No NBA excuses, but its a much different era now. It was simpler back in the late 80's and 90's.

Yep. We would watch And1 Mixtape and try to replicate those moves.

[FarBeyondDriven]

The amount of entertainment available today compared to the 90s is overwhelming.

Now we have Social media, Netflix, gaming, YouTube, and even OnlyFans, lol.

In the 90s, it was mostly just the NBA and newspapers—there wasn’t much else to keep you occupied.

the 90s wasn't the stone ages. The other leagues (NHL, MLB, Nascar) were much bigger. We had blockbuster, keggers at the power lines, movies, TV, concerts, beach, etc. People have to stop making excuses for the NBA's failing product.

True but the younger kids don't watch sports like how we used to while growing up. Most of us watched NBA, NFL, and MLB religiously, then we tried to emulate them on the playground and on the court. These kids are watching streamers play video games and Youtube, Tik Tok, and want to be influencers. No NBA excuses, but its a much different era now. It was simpler back in the late 80's and 90's.

but they would if the product was better. How do you explain NFL ratings then? Kids will watch what is fun and happening. When I was a kid growing up the NBA was fun because there were titans from the 70s still around (Kareem, Dr. J, Moses, etc) and new faces (Bird, Magic, Isiah, MJ) and the product was at its zenith. Kids would watch if the product was better. The NBA should be garnering attention especially with how much more popular it is overseas but the product stinks and kids aren't interested. Combined with old heads turned off for a variety of valid reasons and that's why ratings are down.

[KyRo23]

What are the storylines in the league surrounding great players?

Previously we storylines surrounding Bird/Magic/Jordan/Barkley/Kobe/Shaq/Lebron/KD

Now what is the story or reason to watch regular season games?

- who cares what Tatum does on this stacked team
- who cares what SGA does on this stacked team
- Jokic is stuck on a mediocre team with his only competition hurt (Embiid)
- Lamelo (one of the most popular players) is stuck in a wasteland

Wemby is basically one of the only reasons to watch NBA games.

It’s just a boring product right now. This isn’t even going into how players are actually playing on the court.

I can’t think of one game I’m looking forward to this year on the schedule. I can’t think of a time where that has been the case.

I will say I would like to watch the Knicks but I have league pass + YouTube tv + prime and many more. Too bad they are blocked out!

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

This. It sucks to say, but the best players in the league are boring. For the general population, no one cares. That mixed with the product decline as a whole is a big problem.

Die hard fans have been wishing for an NBA basically like this where the best teams are not exactly superstar lead and the smaller markets are getting some love. No one cares about Cleveland as is. No one cares about OKC. The Celtics best players are not household names. This is the result

[NZB2323]

The amount of entertainment available today compared to the 90s is overwhelming.

Now we have Social media, Netflix, gaming, YouTube, and even OnlyFans, lol.

In the 90s, it was mostly just the NBA and newspapers—there wasn’t much else to keep you occupied.

the 90s wasn't the stone ages. The other leagues (NHL, MLB, Nascar) were much bigger. We had blockbuster, keggers at the power lines, movies, TV, concerts, beach, etc. People have to stop making excuses for the NBA's failing product.

“The other leagues were much bigger”

Sounds like you just found your answer. All of the leagues have declined in ratings since the ‘90s except the NFL (and even the NFL is declining locally).

NHL ratings are down 24% this year, yet for some reason doesn’t get the same publicity as the NBA.

This might be a little hard for older people to understand, but TV ratings are not a relevant barometer of success anymore.

WNBA ratings are up.
Women’s college basketball ratings are up.
Olympic ratings were up.
NFL ratings are up.
College football ratings are up.
WWE ratings are up.
UFC ratings are up.

[Chuck Everett]

Norm Powell with another quiet 29 point night. *all-star*

From 13.9 to 23.2 ppg in one season. Definitely in the running for MIP.

[SkyHook]

"There is a general mishandling of small markets in the NBA as is. With the current way they are handled and promoted, they will remain small markets. Until the league shows they care about these teams, the casual fans won't.

It's no shock the ratings are down. Fans are being force-fed mediocre teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors because of their aged superstars, rather than bringing in a new crop of market-able stars and teams."

https://athlonsports.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/nba-needs-to-figure-out-okc-thunder-decisions-nba-analyst-says-the-league-screwed-up

[Quentin]

Pop didn't exactly do the NBA any favors with his political rant against Trump. Pretty dumb thing to do.

[SkyHook]

Pop didn't exactly do the NBA any favors with his political rant against Trump. Pretty dumb thing to do.

What? You think that this is a significant reason for the decrease in viewership?

[JustBuzzin]

Let's be honest Jokic is the best player in the league right now. As great as he is he's not really entertaining off the court. Doesn't have a big personality. Not really controversial.


LeBron and Curry are still the headline names, but they are aging and their teams are no longer the best in the league.

For the average fan what's the reason to follow the NBA?

All the younger stars just hoop. Ant is probably the only young guy with personality, but he plays in Minnesota.

[JustBuzzin]

Pop didn't exactly do the NBA any favors with his political rant against Trump. Pretty dumb thing to do.

What? You think that this is a significant reason for the decrease in viewership?

The reason is the new stars don't have much personality. LeBron and Curry are still viewed as the face.

Jokic is the best player, but he's not big off the court. Ant is probably the young star with personality, but he plays in Minnesota. There isn't that young star who people have embraced sadly.

The NBA will continue without LeBron/Curry, but they must find that guy to carry that torch on and off the court.

Magic/Bird handed it to MJ then it took a while, but LeBron came along and took it from MJ and Curry entered shortly after LeBron.


Who's next?

[Mavrelous]

I may be totally off, but Mavs played the Warriors, both teams had 3 days rest, both teams had no games after that for 3 days, they played out of their minds.
I'm not sure how much game attendance makes out of the BRI pie, but reducing 10 games doesn't sound like a big deal, it may increase the quality of the product.
The NBA and Sports in general have much fiercer competetion than before, TV is no longer the primary entertainment venue and the TV itself is more of an in demand product rather than broadcast and consume.

[NZB2323]

Let's be honest Jokic is the best player in the league right now. As great as he is he's not really entertaining off the court. Doesn't have a big personality. Not really controversial.


LeBron and Curry are still the headline names, but they are aging and their teams are no longer the best in the league.

For the average fan what's the reason to follow the NBA?

All the younger stars just hoop. Ant is probably the only young guy with personality, but he plays in Minnesota.

There’s nothing wrong with playing in Minnesota. Caitlin Clark got ratings while playing for Iowa and Indiana. The best WR in the NFL plays for Minnesota. The last running back to win MVP played in Minnesota. Kevin Garnett got ratings playing in Minnesota. Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers were stars playing in Green Bay. Reggie Miller got ratings playing in Indiana. The Kansas City Chiefs are the most popular NFL team and they play in Missouri.

Part of the reason the league is in this mess is because it seems like ESPN only cares about the Lakers and LeBron and they fire Zach Lowe. There’s nothing stopping the league from doing more Ant/Minnesota coverage.

ESPN and the league were covering LeBron like crazy when he came into the league, and he was playing in Cleveland.

[JustBuzzin]

Let's be honest Jokic is the best player in the league right now. As great as he is he's not really entertaining off the court. Doesn't have a big personality. Not really controversial.


LeBron and Curry are still the headline names, but they are aging and their teams are no longer the best in the league.

For the average fan what's the reason to follow the NBA?

All the younger stars just hoop. Ant is probably the only young guy with personality, but he plays in Minnesota.

There’s nothing wrong with playing in Minnesota. Caitlin Clark got ratings while playing for Iowa and Indiana. The best WR in the NFL plays for Minnesota. The last running back to win MVP played in Minnesota. Kevin Garnett got ratings playing in Minnesota. Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers were stars playing in Green Bay. Reggie Miller got ratings playing in Indiana. The Kansas City Chiefs are the most popular NFL team and they play in Missouri.

Part of the reason the league is in this mess is because it seems like ESPN only cares about the Lakers and LeBron and they fire Zach Lowe. There’s nothing stopping the league from doing more Ant/Minnesota coverage.

Being the face of the league is different then being one of the many faces of the NBA.


If Ant were in LA or NY he would be a superstar on and off the court. It's kind of hard to market someone Nationally when the team he plays for nobody really cares to watch every night.

Look at Jokic in Denver. He's the best player in the league by far and he can't even get a Nat'l topic on these debate shows. Everything is still focused on LeBron and Curry.

Market matters when it comes to the NBA sadly.