NBA Ratings continue to slide

[jmood88]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

I'm talking about the games in a particular series.

Which gaps are you talking about though? At most there might have been a 2 day gap but I don't recall any huge gaps until the Eastern and Western conference finals.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

Well, there have been a few large gaps. For example, Game 2 of the Suns/Spurs was played on a Tuesday, and Game 3 was played on that Saturday.

Ridiculous breaks.

[HMcCoy]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

Ummm...could someone tell me why rating are suddenly the end-all measuring tool to guage NBA interest?

-Aren't attendance numbers at all-time highs?

-If I'm not mistaken, aren't NBA-licensed apparrel and merchandise sales at all-time highs?

-Has the international appeal of basketball EVER been higher? Aren't several countries including China petitioning Stern for NBA-sponsered leagues?

-Do you know that according to Alexa Traffic Rankings, NBA.com has been a top-100 site since inception, and only MLB.com and FoxSports.net get more hits?

-Do the Nielson rating fairly, accurately, and thoroughly represent what EVERYONE in the country is watching?

Is there ANY measurement for "total games watched"..including the NBA package, and on-demand internet sites that broadcast games? Because I'd bet any amount of money that "total games watched" over ALL available sources, not just a group of hand-picked viewers, have never been higher.

Bottom line, unless someone can show me that:

No one is attending games...
No one is buying NBA stuff...
No one is checking the websites...
No one is buying On-demand, and NBA TV subs...

Then ONE STATIONS crappy rating are a piss poor way of judging the interest in the league, especially with so many ways for the wanna-be fan to catch the best parts of a game on re-broadcasts, on demand video sites, and sports news shows.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the NBA on NBC as much as the next guy, but if you can honestly say that your interest in the league is completely turned off by the music that's played going into commercial, or can only stand to watch one particular style of basketball...then be realistic, you were never more than a MJ/Magic/Larry-jocking casual fan in the first place, and you'll bandwagon the sport like the rest of the wives/girlfriends that are suddenly so into b-ball whenever the hometown club does well.

Nostalgia is one HELL of a drug.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

8pm:

Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader: 5.7
Pirate Master: 4.1
Fast Cars and Superstars: 3.9 NBA Pre-Game: 3.5
My Name Is Earl/ 30 Rock (Repeats): 3.3

9pm:

CSI (Repeat): 6.8
So You Think You Can Dance: 6.7
NBA Finals: 5.3

10pm:

Shark: 6.3
NBA Finals: 5.9
Studio 60: 3.1

Game 1 was about 15% down from last year's Game 1. Complete final ratings will come out later today but it looks like this might be the lowest rated Game 1 in NBA Finals history and 2nd lowest game in Finals history.

Spurs are rating killers. LeBron has the hype machine behind him but it clearly doesn't translate to big ratings. Perhaps he's simply not as popular as the media (.... ESPN/Nike) would like you to think he is.

[fsquid]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

You can't mess with Shark, that show is top notch baby.

[muggins]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

stuff

Except the Spurs haven't even sold out some home playoff games.

[muggins]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

Well, there have been a few large gaps. For example, Game 2 of the Suns/Spurs was played on a Tuesday, and Game 3 was played on that Saturday.

Ridiculous breaks.

Yup, stupidness. They should play a game in each series every night and have an off night for travel when the games go to the other city.

[bball_1523]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

why do ratings matter? Shouldn't we be just enjoying the sport of basketball for what it is?

Do american soccer fans care about ratings? America barely appreciates soccer , yet the fans keep watching.

[Pointguard]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

why do ratings matter? Shouldn't we be just enjoying the sport of basketball for what it is?

Do american soccer fans care about ratings? America barely appreciates soccer , yet the fans keep watching.

QFT

Too many people are worried about what the general population thinks. It shouldnt matter as long as you are a true NBA fan and are enjoying the game.

[Leahmic223]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

Ummm...could someone tell me why rating are suddenly the end-all measuring tool to guage NBA interest?

-Aren't attendance numbers at all-time highs?

-If I'm not mistaken, aren't NBA-licensed apparrel and merchandise sales at all-time highs?

-Has the international appeal of basketball EVER been higher? Aren't several countries including China petitioning Stern for NBA-sponsered leagues?

-Do you know that according to Alexa Traffic Rankings, NBA.com has been a top-100 site since inception, and only MLB.com and FoxSports.net get more hits?

-Do the Nielson rating fairly, accurately, and thoroughly represent what EVERYONE in the country is watching?

Is there ANY measurement for "total games watched"..including the NBA package, and on-demand internet sites that broadcast games? Because I'd bet any amount of money that "total games watched" over ALL available sources, not just a group of hand-picked viewers, have never been higher.

Bottom line, unless someone can show me that:

No one is attending games...
No one is buying NBA stuff...
No one is checking the websites...
No one is buying On-demand, and NBA TV subs...

Then ONE STATIONS crappy rating are a piss poor way of judging the interest in the league, especially with so many ways for the wanna-be fan to catch the best parts of a game on re-broadcasts, on demand video sites, and sports news shows.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the NBA on NBC as much as the next guy, but if you can honestly say that your interest in the league is completely turned off by the music that's played going into commercial, or can only stand to watch one particular style of basketball...then be realistic, you were never more than a MJ/Magic/Larry-jocking casual fan in the first place, and you'll bandwagon the sport like the rest of the wives/girlfriends that are suddenly so into b-ball whenever the hometown club does well.

Nostalgia is one HELL of a drug.

I agree.

Also like others say, the Neilson ratings don't acurately portray what everyone is watching.

I don't know what ratings GSW/DAL got, but I know, nearly everyone and their mama watched that series. I knew guys that NEVER talked about NBA EVER before, then all of a sudden asking me "So...what happens if he gets 2 techs?". It seems like everyone was aware of what was going on in that series.

[Hawaii_Stars]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playof...ory?id=2898196

Without the Lakers, ratings will always be low.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

I've just been turned off by how ugly the pro game is compared to college...

Pro is either like football on the hardwood or everyone clear out so I can go one on one with some guy...

I'm a fan of college because they run plays and it's more of a finesse game than pro ball.

[Air23]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

why do ratings matter? Shouldn't we be just enjoying the sport of basketball for what it is?

Do american soccer fans care about ratings? America barely appreciates soccer , yet the fans keep watching.

Why do ratings matter?

Low ratings = the NBA Finals back on tape delay.

Believe it or not, there was a time when even the Finals with Magic or Bird weren't shown live.

Wanna go back to those days?

Well, the League is headed that way.

[supremeslang]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

How the hell do they really know who is watching the game and who is not anyway?

[Jistic]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

NEW YORK (AP) -- Game 1 of the NBA finals drew the lowest rating ever for an opening-game in prime time, dropping 19 percent from last year.

Ratings