NBA viewership down

[CallMeKahn]

I have seen that this has started to pickup a lot of traction. Seeing a lot of videos on YouTube of people talking about the big drop in ratings. And I’m not talking just random trolls, like long time big names like Dan Patrick and others like that.

And again you can’t just blame illegal streaming or young people don’t watch sports or stuff like that. The NFL is having no issues with ratings, I think I read this past MLB playoff was like a 5 year high or something like that.

There is no doubt a growing disconnect with the casual US fan and the NBA. It also doesn’t help you have former players with huge names like Chuck and Shaq, flat out saying they don’t like the current product either.

Again not saying no one likes the current NBA or anything like that. I know there are plenty on here who say they really like the current product. But there is no denying that there is a growing disconnect with the casual US sports fan.

Regional sports channels killed consumption.

[Billy Goat]

People aren’t watching because the players don’t care, never play and vocally resent the fans.

[bballfan1three3]

Who in their right mind would pay hard earned money to watch a bunch of tall millionaires high on weed JOG up a court, do a dance move, and either shoot a 3 or get fouled. And then say the N bomb on national tv. Oh and gamble all your money on strangers shooting a ball.
Its not good entertainment. Why do that when i can stay home and play video games for free. Or you know, actually go play basketball.

[Tor_Raps]

I wouldn't dare go to a game with all the load managing BS myself. I've said for several years I don't get how they're selling tickets at the prices they are due to this crappy experience.

The same also holds true for watching the games. Think about all those times where a great catchup was ruined with guys sitting out. The NBA spent a few years trying to market Zion/Ja on several national games... these things tend to catch up over time.

I always said I couldn't believe the TV deal the NBA signed simply because I felt it was a downward trending sport and the only way it was truly going to change was when it hit the players pocketbook.

[Optms]

1) With Lebron, Steph and KD fading away.... the NBA has no new, exciting young stars that fans can connect with, i.e., the Hollywood star model.

Are you serious right now? Fans can connect and relate better to LeBron and KD than they can with the stars of today like Luka and Jokic for example?

Crazy athletic freaks are more connectable for fans than guys who don’t have elite or even good athleticism (by NBA standards) yet became top players through pure skill and talent?

Yeah im sorry but im not buying that.

People connect to personalities just as much as playstyle. Even as a fellow Balkan, most Americans aren't going to connect the same to someone who grew up there vs an American that displays American values, interests, etc.

I've been saying this for years.

Giannis is a crazy athletic freak and still no connection there with the broader American media and casual fans. So there goes his argument as well. The next face of the NBA needs 3 things going for him - Personality, Superstar game, and American nationality. Jordan, Kobe, Lebron, Curry all had it. The NBA in good hands with the European players, but you are never going to make bank from a marketability standpoint with Joker, Luka, Giannis. Even Wemby won't cut it. If you are Silver, you cannot grow the game at home with foreign players whose only reason for being in the states is because NBA teams drafted them.

[Nate505]

Read on Twitter

NHL ratings are down more than the NBA. No pearl clutching and outrage?

That would require people to care about the NHL.

[CallMeKahn]

NBA continually pushing Lebron has backfired. Anyone who has played competitive basketball in their life knows he's just a stat padding player who has no hustle and plays no defense.

I'm pretty comfortable with saying you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about.

[John Murdoch]

Anybody catch that valuetainment piece on silver?

[ItsDanger]

Read on Twitter

NHL ratings are down more than the NBA. No pearl clutching and outrage?

That would require people to care about the NHL.

NHL is more ticket driven than from TV revenues. Ratings in Canada are still good which is a significant revenue base vs NBA. Might surprise people but the league wide revenues between NHL and NBA isn't as big as you'd assume.

[tribulations]

Anybody catch that valuetainment piece on silver?

Just watched it, thought it was brilliant.

[NDaATL]

I have seen that this has started to pickup a lot of traction. Seeing a lot of videos on YouTube of people talking about the big drop in ratings. And I’m not talking just random trolls, like long time big names like Dan Patrick and others like that.

And again you can’t just blame illegal streaming or young people don’t watch sports or stuff like that. The NFL is having no issues with ratings, I think I read this past MLB playoff was like a 5 year high or something like that.

There is no doubt a growing disconnect with the casual US fan and the NBA. It also doesn’t help you have former players with huge names like Chuck and Shaq, flat out saying they don’t like the current product either.

Again not saying no one likes the current NBA or anything like that. I know there are plenty on here who say they really like the current product. But there is no denying that there is a growing disconnect with the casual US sports fan.

Regional sports channels killed consumption.

This is a major factor. You can't watch any of these on YoutubeTV and many other streaming/cable platforms. So folks on those have already found alternate illegal streaming or borrowed someones username that owns DirecTV, etc.

If you want ratings, you need it available on people's tv network. Expecting folks to pay $20 a month for a crappy app that they have to login separately just isn't going to work.

[jokeboy86]

Read on Twitter

NHL ratings are down more than the NBA. No pearl clutching and outrage?

I wonder why. The right wing blows up any decline in NBA ratings for political purposes.

MLB ratings are also down, despite a big world series because it was Dodgers v Yankees.

All ratings on TV in general are down. Nobody under 35 has cable anymore. Less people want to spend 2 hours watching live sports when people are spending their time on social media and Youtube.

NBA is moving towards streaming which is smart. But expecting a ratings decline to stop is stupid. NBA is still selling broadcast rights for a ton of money for a reason.

Ding ding ding. It's no coincidence that they've now done an about face on Caitlin Clark because she dared mentioned the players who influenced her and who were the foundation of the WNBA. I'm sure if you asked them they would tell you that MMA is leaps and bounds more popular than the NBA in this country because now MMA is their favorite sport.

And to piggyback off what you said about ratings. The NFL and college football have basically been the only sports tailor made for maximum tv watching no matter what era because of literally having the least amount of games and being scheduled on the only days during the week where the majority of the US population is not working.

To me we'll know when the NBA or any sports league is truly suffering any financial problems when players salaries go down which hasn't happened yet.

I think what people also forget about society is that there simply weren't as many platforms for people to voice their opinions as there are now. There's always been complainers or people saying "things were better when I was younger" in every.. single... generation. It's just now there's not only TV media/print media and (seemingly) everybody's opinion matters. Trust me there were probably older people in the 80s and 90s who probably didn't like Bird, Magic, or Jordan's game and felt the NBA wasn't watchable for them anymore too. There were people complaining about the Kobe/Shaq/Duncan/AI era too and talking about the ratings.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Black Jack]

Anybody catch that valuetainment piece on silver?

I think Silver probably should be fired based on his lack of stewardship of the game but the valuetainment segment was so soft, saying that guys like Pop should be censored because they don't like his political opinions. "free speech" but they want all NBA people to be muzzled by the commissioner.

They sure don't dislike NFL guys like Bosa saying they are pro MAGA do they.

Same goes to the comments on that video on yt, so many soft whiners. Here's an idea, stop being so soft that a coach or player's political opinion makes you stop watching an entire sport.

[Black Jack]

I have seen that this has started to pickup a lot of traction. Seeing a lot of videos on YouTube of people talking about the big drop in ratings. And I’m not talking just random trolls, like long time big names like Dan Patrick and others like that.

And again you can’t just blame illegal streaming or young people don’t watch sports or stuff like that. The NFL is having no issues with ratings, I think I read this past MLB playoff was like a 5 year high or something like that.

There is no doubt a growing disconnect with the casual US fan and the NBA. It also doesn’t help you have former players with huge names like Chuck and Shaq, flat out saying they don’t like the current product either.

Again not saying no one likes the current NBA or anything like that. I know there are plenty on here who say they really like the current product. But there is no denying that there is a growing disconnect with the casual US sports fan.

Regional sports channels killed consumption.

This is a major factor. You can't watch any of these on YoutubeTV and many other streaming/cable platforms. So folks on those have already found alternate illegal streaming or borrowed someones username that owns DirecTV, etc.

If you want ratings, you need it available on people's tv network. Expecting folks to pay $20 a month for a crappy app that they have to login separately just isn't going to work.

I pay for nba on youtube tv. It sucks that local and national games are blocked but other than that it's fine.

Game access is an issue, I personally don't want to pay for the full sports package from Comcast/Xfinity. But also if you want to watch replays for free you can on youtbe.

[Jabroni Lames]

Game viewership is down, but fan engagement across social media is waaaay up. Especially for the TMZ friendly NBA, with their TikTok friendly highlights, screaming hot takes and mainstream culture connections. Advertisers can now promote their messaging cross-platform 24/7, the same way fans are now consuming content. The actual game itself is becoming just a means to an end… a content generating machine. And content is king.

[Dominator83]

I have seen that this has started to pickup a lot of traction. Seeing a lot of videos on YouTube of people talking about the big drop in ratings. And I’m not talking just random trolls, like long time big names like Dan Patrick and others like that.

And again you can’t just blame illegal streaming or young people don’t watch sports or stuff like that. The NFL is having no issues with ratings, I think I read this past MLB playoff was like a 5 year high or something like that.

There is no doubt a growing disconnect with the casual US fan and the NBA. It also doesn’t help you have former players with huge names like Chuck and Shaq, flat out saying they don’t like the current product either.

Again not saying no one likes the current NBA or anything like that. I know there are plenty on here who say they really like the current product. But there is no denying that there is a growing disconnect with the casual US sports fan.

Regional sports channels killed consumption.

This is a major factor. You can't watch any of these on YoutubeTV and many other streaming/cable platforms. So folks on those have already found alternate illegal streaming or borrowed someones username that owns DirecTV, etc.

If you want ratings, you need it available on people's tv network. Expecting folks to pay $20 a month for a crappy app that they have to login separately just isn't going to work.

Yep its Bullshite. I work evenings, so usually when im watching the Bulls its away from home via streaming (legally and legit thru comcast so my view should count tords ratings). But now? They started their own network, which Comcast doesn't carry. So therefore, if im not at home in front of my TV with the antenna on it, i can't watch the games anymore

Sure, i can get the app... which they charge $20 a month for. Yea...i'm not paying $20 a month to watch the current trash they put out on the floor. They're mediocre at best with no shot at a championship and no real blue chippers to get excited about either. Who pays to watch a product like that?? Get Cooper Flagg and i'll pay it! Other than that, no way Jose.

[zeebneeb]

Anybody catch that valuetainment piece on silver?

I think Silver probably should be fired based on his lack of stewardship of the game but the valuetainment segment was so soft, saying that guys like Pop should be censored because they don't like his political opinions. "free speech" but they want all NBA people to be muzzled by the commissioner.

They sure don't dislike NFL guys like Bosa saying they are pro MAGA do they.

Same goes to the comments on that video on yt, so many soft whiners. Here's an idea, stop being so soft that a coach or player's political opinion makes you stop watching an entire sport.

This is a thread about NBA viewership.

Any company, that upsets a huge potential group of customers, is stupid. **** stupid. All leagues should muzzle their players, and coaches to a certain degree. You cannot, alienate gigantic chunks of the country.

Whats affecting the NBA is a myriad of issues, from a crappy boring product, insane hoops customers(yes, they are customers not fans)have to jump through to access the product, and yes, a decidedly left leaning league.

There are a bunch of other issues (gambling being so brazenly combined with the product, has also turned off another chunk of the country)and it all adds up to a dive in viewership.

Saying;

"stop being so soft that a coach or player's political opinion makes you stop watching an entire sport."

Is exactly the reason the NBA has lost almost half their viewers since 2013. Arrogance always leads to downfall.

[Black Jack]

Anybody catch that valuetainment piece on silver?

I think Silver probably should be fired based on his lack of stewardship of the game but the valuetainment segment was so soft, saying that guys like Pop should be censored because they don't like his political opinions. "free speech" but they want all NBA people to be muzzled by the commissioner.

They sure don't dislike NFL guys like Bosa saying they are pro MAGA do they.

Same goes to the comments on that video on yt, so many soft whiners. Here's an idea, stop being so soft that a coach or player's political opinion makes you stop watching an entire sport.

This is a thread about NBA viewership.

Any company, that upsets a huge potential group of customers, is stupid. **** stupid. All leagues should muzzle their players, and coaches to a certain degree. You cannot, alienate gigantic chunks of the country.

Whats affecting the NBA is a myriad of issues, from a crappy boring product, insane hoops customers(yes, they are customers not fans)have to jump through to access the product, and yes, a decidedly left leaning league.

There are a bunch of other issues (gambling being so brazenly combined with the product, has also turned off another chunk of the country)and it all adds up to a dive in viewership.

Saying;

"stop being so soft that a coach or player's political opinion makes you stop watching an entire sport."

Is exactly the reason the NBA has lost almost half their viewers since 2013. Arrogance always leads to downfall.

So to be clear: your position is the commissioner should prohibit coaches and players from expressing political opinions?

If Pop hates MAGA that's his right to speak on it in my book. Free speech.

[xchange55]

NBA continually pushing Lebron has backfired. Anyone who has played competitive basketball in their life knows he's just a stat padding player who has no hustle and plays no defense. Any objective coach would bench him.

Thanks for the laugh

Let me guess, you don't hoop. You're a fantasy sports and 2K player.