Why are NBA TV ratings down so much?

[Frank121017]

LeBron and Kevin are both about to retire, but there are still no outstanding superstar players. Edwards may be the next leader, but it is not enough now.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Thump, thump, thump, squeak, squeak, squeak, thump, thump, squeak, squeak, squeak.

Say no more.

 

[broncosmitty]

Been watching since 1970...the game has changed...that's what happens in sports.

The NFL isn't like it was back then, neither is MLB. Games change and evolve.

My question is Why would someone who *checks notes* hasn't watched in "more than a decade" give a shit?

Clay Travis told him to care.

 

[trojanfan12]

The NFL has changed for the worse, too. No doubt about it.

I found the NBA to be a horrible product, so I stopped watching. The only part of the game you needed to watch was the last 2 minutes, but the last two minutes took 45 minutes to play and were completely unwatchable. I wondered if others felt the same. That’s why I inquired about the terrible ratings.

So, you haven't watched in over a decade, but you suddenly felt the need to unburden yourself?

 

[bksballer89]

So, you haven't watched in over a decade, but you suddenly felt the need to unburden yourself?

lol never makes sense to me

 

[Battlelyon]

I haven’t watched NBA in more than a decade but I thought it was more popular than ever. It turns out that the ratings have been horrible this season.

“The NBA has experienced a significant drop in audience to start the season, reports Puck News. ESPN viewership is down more than 27 percent and TNT is down 16 percent.”

ESPN ratings are apparently an all-time low for NBA on that network. Any idea why this is happening?

NBA commissioner Adam Silver fires back at Shaq over bad TV ratings

NBA commissioner Adam Silver does not believe Shaquille O'Neal's analysis of the NBA's poor TV ratings is accurate

clutchpoints.com

As the NBA television ratings continue to take a slight dip, commissioner Adam Silver gave his thoughts on why viewership might be declining. Contrary to former 15-time All-Star Shaquille O'Neal's belief, Silver does not think the modern style of play has anything to do with the ratings.

Silver's comment in the interview was a response to O'Neal saying on his podcast that he believes the dip in ratings is due to more teams attempting more three-pointers. O'Neal said that the success of recent three-point shooters such as Stephen Curry and James Harden has led to all teams basing their offense around a similar concept of getting as many shots up from beyond the arc as possible.

 

[chappee11]

So, you haven't watched in over a decade, but you suddenly felt the need to unburden yourself?

I actually stopped watching when the Celtics traded Pierce and Garnett to the Nets. That was enough for me. I’m sure that’s more than 10 years ago now. And, yes, it feels good to unburden myself.

 

[10HtownRebs]

I haven’t watched NBA in more than a decade but I thought it was more popular than ever. It turns out that the ratings have been horrible this season.

“The NBA has experienced a significant drop in audience to start the season, reports Puck News. ESPN viewership is down more than 27 percent and TNT is down 16 percent.”

ESPN ratings are apparently an all-time low for NBA on that network. Any idea why this is happening?

What is this NBA that you speak of?

 

[DrewScott]

Too many teams make the playoffs-rendering the regular season meaningless

Load management pisses fans off

200 mill contracts handed out to slighly above average players pisses fans off

Superstar treatment by the refs is completely out of control

Travelling never called

players constantlly complaining to the refs is draining

Kawhi Leonard in general

 

[chappee11]

lol never makes sense to me

You’ve been around a while, BKS. How does the quality of the league now compare with 10 & 20 years ago, and then how does it compare to the Jordan/Magic/Bird era? I know the players are faster and more athletic now, but how does the quality of the game compare?

 

[trojanfan12]

I actually stopped watching when the Celtics traded Pierce and Garnett to the Nets. That was enough for me. I’m sure that’s more than 10 years ago now. And, yes, it feels good to unburden myself.

That was actually a smart move though.

 

[YourFriendGannon]

You’ve been around a while, BKS. How does the quality of the league now compare with 10 & 20 years ago, and then how does it compare to the Jordan/Magic/Bird era? I know the players are faster and more athletic now, but how does the quality of the game compare?

There was a good balance and mixture of play style 10-15 years ago. 20-25 years ago was a notorious sluggish era for offenses that even those who prefer rules less favorable to offenses mostly don't look fondly upon. I always thought the 3-point shot was the most exciting part of basketball. The arc length was shortened for a few years in the nineties. Before that few players could competently score from that distance.

Now that shooting techniques have improved every single team's focused on attempting threes and shots within a few feet of the hoop. It's not unheard of for a team to attempt 1 three per minute over the course of a game now which makes it far less exciting. This is how all basketball is now played though, from high school to college to pros, boys and girls, men and women. Most players avoid mid-range to long twos. Players go out of their way more to contort themselves to move, screen to get off the attempts they want. If NBA ratings are suffering from the volume of 3-point shots other leagues should be affected too.

 

[chappee11]

That was actually a smart move though.

Yes, I know the Celtics received a bunch of #1 picks in that deal and basically drafted the core of their Championship team from that trade. But at the time it really pissed me off.

 

[Stlducks]

I’m surprised nobody has said because the league and players are too woke. That’s the reason I’m seeing on other boards.

I personally stopped watching around 2018. I tried getting back into it the last few years but only last a few weeks. The games are harder to watch unless you want to illegally stream or buy the package.

The product is bad basketball imo. The defense is lazy, too many 3s and you hardly see great passing anymore. Way too much iso ball and fouls.

I’m not saying going back to the 90s where players were killing each other but they need to find a middle ground. Players are way too soft.

 

[trojanfan12]

I’m surprised nobody has said because the league and players are too woke. That’s the reason I’m seeing on other boards.

I personally stopped watching around 2018. I tried getting back into it the last few years but only last a few weeks. The games are harder to watch unless you want to illegally stream or buy the package.

The product is bad basketball imo. The defense is lazy, too many 3s and you hardly see great passing anymore. Way too much iso ball and fouls.

I’m not saying going back to the 90s where players were killing each other but they need to find a middle ground. Players are way too soft.

I'd like to see a return to the way they played in the 80's. Imo, that era had the right mix of finesse and physicality.

 

[ducky]

Thump, thump, thump, squeak, squeak, squeak, thump, thump, squeak, squeak, squeak.

Say no more.

There are some games where they have the courts mic'ed and levels of the floor mic so high in the audio that I absolutely cant watch because of it.

 

[eaglesnut]

I haven’t watched NBA in more than a decade but I thought it was more popular than ever. It turns out that the ratings have been horrible this season.

“The NBA has experienced a significant drop in audience to start the season, reports Puck News. ESPN viewership is down more than 27 percent and TNT is down 16 percent.”

ESPN ratings are apparently an all-time low for NBA on that network. Any idea why this is happening?

Because the first 50 games don't matter and the next 30 are a setup for the playoffs.

They watered down the product and it tastes weak.

 

[redseat]

Get rid of those HORRIBLE court designs!!

 

[eaglesnut]

Anyone who can shoot a 3 can now become an NBA player

Some days I don't miss

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Make it full contact and I might care.