NBA Ratings continue to slide

[VanCitySportsGuy]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2007-05-03-hiestand-weekend_N.htm

"The exhilarating basketball in the NBA playoffs has been fun to watch.

But lots of viewers wouldn't know. Through Tuesday, the league's national TV carriers — ABC, ESPN and TNT — are averaging 1.8% of U.S. TV households. That's down 10% from this point in the postseason last year and down 38% from this point in 2000, when more games were carried on broadcast TV instead of cable.

But after ABC this year posted the fifth consecutive record-low ratings for NBA broadcast network regular-season coverage — ESPN and TNT finished even with last year — you have to wonder just how low the league's ratings could go in these playoffs. Or they could rebound: ESPN's total playoff rating last year ended up 38% from its first playoff coverage in 2003."

- What that article doesn't mention is that on March 25th, the NHL on NBC (Pens/Bruins) got a better rating than the NBA on ABC (Suns/Kings). To be fair, a NCAA game was on CBS at the same time.

- NBA on ESPN averaged a 1.2 rating this season. TNT got a 1.0 rating.

- The TV contract with ESPN and TNT expires after the 07-08 season.

I'm not sure how many would agree with me, but I enjoyed the NBA on NBC coverage more than NBA on ABC.

[ZB9]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

i imagine the ratings for the regular season will be lower next year also. being that the regular season really doesnt mean anything.

[bball_1523]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

forget ratings, just play basketball baby!

[Bird006]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

i imagine the ratings for the regular season will be lower next year also. being that the regular season really doesnt mean anything.

True. It's all about the playoofs baby!



*Looks at Raptors situation...*

[Sarah]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

If Stern will bring back the old school NBA rules, I'd watch basketball again. Make it a mandate that NBA potential players stay in school for 3 years so we won't have more of this Kwame Brown or Tyson Chandler type of players.

[mvb34]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

i imagine the ratings for the regular season will be lower next year also. being that the regular season really doesnt mean anything.

Maybe in Dallas not no where else...

[jmood88]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

If Stern will bring back the old school NBA rules, I'd watch basketball again. Make it a mandate that NBA potential players stay in school for 3 years so we won't have more of this Kwame Brown or Tyson Chandler type of players.

There are going to be busts and players who lack basketball knowledge regardless of how many years they're required to stay in school.

[SEGA_LOYAL_FAN]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

There are going to be busts and players who lack basketball knowledge regardless of how many years they're required to stay in school.

At that point owners won't look so silly giving big money to guys like Kwame after seing them in college though. I think the shape of basketball is changing for the worst imo. I'll still watch it but it's full of players that don't know how to use their body/height to their advantage like Shaq and past good to great 4's and 5's have displayed. It's also being displayed in the lack of calls big men are getting when being scratched up by small players in the paint that should be a reaching foul.

topic: Could it be that the rating also go up and down depending on the game. I know i usually change the channel when the spurs are playing...were playing the nuggets. Will be watching the spurs/suns series though.

I was looking around the net earlier to see if i could find the rating that the dallas/warriors game had. No real website to search for this and i had no time to go find someone at work that is part of the abc/disney company that deals with the nba.

[fsquid]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

this shows you why ESPN is trying to make as many college football bowl games as they can. Even the New Orleans Bowl gets a better rating than NBA basketball.

[fsquid]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

I was looking around the net earlier to see if i could find the rating that the dallas/warriors game had. No real website to search for this and i had no time to go find someone at work that is part of the abc/disney company that deals with the nba.

Game started at 10:30 on the East coast, you won't find a rating.

[Jimplication]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

i imagine the ratings for the regular season will be lower next year also. being that the regular season really doesnt mean anything.

In the grand scheme of things, the NBA as a whole (including playoffs) doesn't really "mean anything," but to those that enjoy the game, it might mean something.

To me, the regular season means something because it results in the Sixers not making the playoffs. Thus, if I want to see them play, I better tune in before April.

TV ratings don't really mean much to me. Those that enjoy watching basketball will watch. Those that don't, won't. I suppose they are valuable in regards to pricing advertising and such, but I would hope people don't determine whether they enjoy the NBA (or any sport) based solely on how its television ratings are doing.

[toneloc99]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

What the ratings really mean is that ABC has been a disaster for NBA coverage. Hopefully when the contract is up the NBA will go back to NBC which always had great coverage. Plus who wouldn't want to hear the NBC theme again.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

how do they get these ratings.

Everyone and their mother watched the GSW/MAVS game two days ago that i know of. none of them have that neilsen ratings box or whatever its called.

they need a new system other than saying "ratings are down" when all my life ive never known anyone with this box.

[jmood88]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

how do they get these ratings.

Everyone and their mother watched the GSW/MAVS game two days ago that i know of. none of them have that neilsen ratings box or whatever its called.

they need a new system other than saying "ratings are down" when all my life ive never known anyone with this box.

I've always wondered that. They have a small population of people with those boxes who may or may not like certain things. The neilsen ratings are way too powerful to just have random people with the boxes.

[grunt]

Re: NBA Ratings continue to slide

NBA has too many games on TV. The thrill is gone when you can watch 4 or 5 games a week. The season is long and then the first round is a best of seven, too long for most casual fans.