[valentine]

Firstly: The NBA isn’t necessarily less popular overall. This thread is specifically about TV ratings and the TV Deal. 

The NBA signed a $24b Television deal with ESPN & TNT a couple of years ago, which was triple the amount of the previous year.

However, ratings have been down since the lockout year in 2012…despite the fact that these networks can "Hand-pick" their own games…and therefore should be more attractive to watch. 

At the end of 2015, ESPN ratings were down 5.6% and TNT was down 8.2%. The previous season (2014/2015)…viewership was down a staggering 10% and its lowest levels since 2008!

Now…some of these viewership losses are probably offset by an increase in online viewership on NBA league pass. This data isn’t factored in because it’s not available..but around least 20% of viewers need to be watching League Pass whilst ESPN or TNT is simultaneously showing the most popular game just to be at pre-lockout levels. 

So what do you put the decline in viewership down to. For me, its a number of things:

• Piracy – It’s too easy to watch a free, illegal stream of an NBA match
• Price of Cable TV Services – Are extremely expensive in comparison to other entertainment options such as netflix. 
• Too much advertising – The games go for too long, have  way too many breaks in comparison to other entertainment forms. 
• Poor broadcasting – ESPN and TNT really need to lift their game. Their production values are high, but their broadcasts are monotonous, dated, and losing the interest of the younger generation (huge drop in 18-49 demongraphic who incidently appeal most to advertisers)
• Increase in NBA Leauge Pass subscriptions – Although expensive, it is naturally going to reduce the amount of people watching. Not sure if this is still the case…but previously the NBA didn’t stream the "TV Game" while being broadcast on cable….so impact is reduced.

 

So riddle me this….Did ESPN and TNT get fleeced by the NBA on the new TV Deal? 

What can they do to make people tune in again? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hype Machine]

 It is important to note that ESPN claims that viewership is up 7%…yet independent sources suggest otherwise.

Additionally, during the occasions where regional "Comcast" broadcasters simultaneously went head-to-head with ESPN or TNT national broadcasts, the local broadcast won the ratings 95% of the time.

Basically, people are tuning into their local broadcaster, and out of ESPN/TNT whenever possible. 

 

 

[Hype Machine]

 It is important to note that ESPN claims that viewership is up 7%…yet independent sources suggest otherwise.

Additionally, during the occasions where regional "Comcast" broadcasters simultaneously went head-to-head with ESPN or TNT national broadcasts, the local broadcast won the ratings 95% of the time.

Basically, people are tuning into their local broadcaster, and out of ESPN/TNT whenever possible. 

 

 

[TheGuyParticipant]

 What about nba league pass., how does that factor in? I got it for the first time this season and I used to always watch whatever nation broadcast game on ESPN or TNT but now I hardly watch those games unless it’s one that I want to watch, which about about 1 of the 6 games shown through Wednesday-Friday.  I’m watching less NBA through the big channels yet watching more NBA than I ever have.

 

 

[TheGuyParticipant]

 What about nba league pass., how does that factor in? I got it for the first time this season and I used to always watch whatever nation broadcast game on ESPN or TNT but now I hardly watch those games unless it’s one that I want to watch, which about about 1 of the 6 games shown through Wednesday-Friday.  I’m watching less NBA through the big channels yet watching more NBA than I ever have.

 

 

[Hype Machine]

 League Pass numbers would almost certainly be on the rise…but that doesn’t help ESPN and TNT. The League doesn’t supply data on League Pass subscriptions. 

On a global scale, I’d predict that more fans are watching NBA than ever. Just online or via regional sports broadcasters. 

Industry professionals have suggested that advertising is less interesting on national broadcasts because it isn’t tailored to the viewer and is more generic.

[Hype Machine]

 League Pass numbers would almost certainly be on the rise…but that doesn’t help ESPN and TNT. The League doesn’t supply data on League Pass subscriptions. 

On a global scale, I’d predict that more fans are watching NBA than ever. Just online or via regional sports broadcasters. 

Industry professionals have suggested that advertising is less interesting on national broadcasts because it isn’t tailored to the viewer and is more generic.

[McDunkin]

Things were all good when Slick Rick Kamla was hosting every program they had.

[McDunkin]

Things were all good when Slick Rick Kamla was hosting every program they had.

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 How many Lakers games are they showing this year, nobody wants to see them, as in the overall possible audience.

The broadcasters are terrible, always hyping two or three teams, which annoys fans of so many other teams.

The game isn’t as good and some people can’t be bothered watching, but I assume enough watch and that is why ESPN and TNT pay the money.

ESPN are really bad, their pregame and halftime and all their other NBA shows during the day.

 

 

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 How many Lakers games are they showing this year, nobody wants to see them, as in the overall possible audience.

The broadcasters are terrible, always hyping two or three teams, which annoys fans of so many other teams.

The game isn’t as good and some people can’t be bothered watching, but I assume enough watch and that is why ESPN and TNT pay the money.

ESPN are really bad, their pregame and halftime and all their other NBA shows during the day.

 

 

 

[phila9012Participant]

 One thing that probably doesn’t help. I stream the games online on watch tnt and espn 3 using my parents cable account, usually there are very few commercials or advertisements on those. Another thing, everyone has a phone now, whenever comercials come on, people just use their phones. I don’t understand why companies would keep paying high prices for ads on tv and companies would keep paying high prices for rights to the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, less people are watching and they are paying attention less as well. 

[phila9012Participant]

 One thing that probably doesn’t help. I stream the games online on watch tnt and espn 3 using my parents cable account, usually there are very few commercials or advertisements on those. Another thing, everyone has a phone now, whenever comercials come on, people just use their phones. I don’t understand why companies would keep paying high prices for ads on tv and companies would keep paying high prices for rights to the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, less people are watching and they are paying attention less as well. 

[IlladelphParticipant]

The question about ESPN losing viewers is probably in some part due to the "cord-cutting" phenomenon of people simply not subscribing to cable anymore.  Instead they are watching Hulu, Netflix, etc…  The drawdown in ESPN viewers is one of the main reasons why DIS (Disney) stock price went from 120 to 90 in a couple of months.  The problem is real.  The future will likely be erosion of viewers of all mainstream cable networks.

[IlladelphParticipant]

The question about ESPN losing viewers is probably in some part due to the "cord-cutting" phenomenon of people simply not subscribing to cable anymore.  Instead they are watching Hulu, Netflix, etc…  The drawdown in ESPN viewers is one of the main reasons why DIS (Disney) stock price went from 120 to 90 in a couple of months.  The problem is real.  The future will likely be erosion of viewers of all mainstream cable networks.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Too much hype and not enough actual basketball talk. We like XO’s and scouting knowledge less made for television BS. ESPN SUCKS and that is widely known. Things would look better with better teams and less 4 or five all star teams. 

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Too much hype and not enough actual basketball talk. We like XO’s and scouting knowledge less made for television BS. ESPN SUCKS and that is widely known. Things would look better with better teams and less 4 or five all star teams. 

[ph90702]

If the NBA wants more viewers, then make the regular season more meaningful.  There’s certain teams that you know are going to make the playoffs no matter what due to the fact that sixteen teams make it.  The regular season is basically a tune up for the playoffs.

[ph90702]

If the NBA wants more viewers, then make the regular season more meaningful.  There’s certain teams that you know are going to make the playoffs no matter what due to the fact that sixteen teams make it.  The regular season is basically a tune up for the playoffs.

[rtbtParticipant]

There are many good points expressed earlier about the apparent decline in viewers. My pet peeve are the camera angles which make watching the game more interesting and exciting. ESPN copies everyone else and televises the entire game live from the same boring, vanilla camera angle high above mid-court.

After the whistle, we get to exciting replays from a wide array of camera angles. Those cool camera shots bring the game to life and give the viewer a new dimension, making us feel as if we’re sitting courtside.

So what is my gripe? Why does ESPN reserve all of those ultra cool camera angles strictly for REPLAYS? Why doesn’t ESPN diversify camera angles during live coverage of the game? 

Note: This is also true for the NFL and Baseball because directors are afraid of being innovative. In the NFL almost all live coverage is from high above midfield when I’d love to see them use the camera angle behind the backfield so we can see exactly what the QB and Running back see as the play unfolds.

In baseball, they use that Center Field camera angle almost 100% of the time.

 

 

 

 

 

[rtbtParticipant]

There are many good points expressed earlier about the apparent decline in viewers. My pet peeve are the camera angles which make watching the game more interesting and exciting. ESPN copies everyone else and televises the entire game live from the same boring, vanilla camera angle high above mid-court.

After the whistle, we get to exciting replays from a wide array of camera angles. Those cool camera shots bring the game to life and give the viewer a new dimension, making us feel as if we’re sitting courtside.

So what is my gripe? Why does ESPN reserve all of those ultra cool camera angles strictly for REPLAYS? Why doesn’t ESPN diversify camera angles during live coverage of the game? 

Note: This is also true for the NFL and Baseball because directors are afraid of being innovative. In the NFL almost all live coverage is from high above midfield when I’d love to see them use the camera angle behind the backfield so we can see exactly what the QB and Running back see as the play unfolds.

In baseball, they use that Center Field camera angle almost 100% of the time.

 

 

 

 

 

[PlatParticipant]

 Sites like ballstreams, people buying league pass, and just general cord cutting probably has a lot to do with it….people are just watching ball through different ways now.

[PlatParticipant]

 Sites like ballstreams, people buying league pass, and just general cord cutting probably has a lot to do with it….people are just watching ball through different ways now.

[Author]

Posts