How can the NBA fix its ratings problem? Is it even a problem to begin with? @talkhoops.bsky.social analyzes: www.nytimes.com/athletic/599... - ThreadSky

theathletic.bsky.social • 71 days ago

How can the NBA fix its ratings problem?

Is it even a problem to begin with?

@talkhoops.bsky.social analyzes: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5999945/2024/12/19/nba-lebron-james-ratings-adam-silver-michael-jordan-nba/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twhq&source=twitterhq

Comments

mollypaysbills.bsky.social•70 days ago

It’s increasingly difficult to actually watch the games. They’re spread out across apps/cable/League Pass and even with password sharing it’s just impossible to watch some games I want to see. Interest wanes when it’s hard to participate

nwtrailhound.bsky.social•70 days ago

Reduce season to 75 games. Reduce again with expansion teams

supremetheking.bsky.social•71 days ago

Money is the problem in the NBA.. chasing the dollar instead of making sure all local fans can watch their local teams is why shit is weird

casbra.bsky.social•70 days ago

The ratings are a TV problem more than they are a NBA problem

jay-b-eazy.bsky.social•71 days ago

Because the game play is soft and three pointers are boring.

whoeveriam.bsky.social•71 days ago

If the @thenba.space wants to improve viewership they need to dump the local monopoly on broadcasts. No over the air options (ie free) in most markets. If you have an NBA League Pass subscription you're blocked from watching your home team. So you need a second subscription. So stupid.

ven999.bsky.social•71 days ago

Games aren't called fairly. Can't watch your local team or your favorite team.

markkasss.bsky.social•71 days ago

Maybe actually talk about the young talent? All we hear about is LeBron, Embiid, Curry.. start talking about Cade, Jalen Johnson, Scottie, etc.

brokensymmetry.art•70 days ago

Yeah everyone says "no young American super stars everyone knows" - well maybe show some of the great young guys we do have and see how the next few years play out?

markkasss.bsky.social•70 days ago

I couldn’t agree more.. there are a lot of young, exciting players. I guess Ja maybe tarnished it a bit. Haha.

brokensymmetry.art•70 days ago

Yeah maybe split that energy up between all the maybes until we see who rises to the top. That's fun and cool! As the current gen ages out there's room at the top, who will it be?

paullesage.bsky.social•71 days ago

Make positions matter and make bigs/post play matter by encouraging more physicality by allowing contact/hand-checks. Soft as soccer now

Encourage animosity between players and teams. It’s no fun to see them hugging the opponent. Should be enemies.

Also, stop the idiotic,in-season, tournament.

dn-ny-mtl.bsky.social•71 days ago

Change it so every team except the last place team doesn’t make the playoffs.
GREED has made the regular season way too long.
OCT to April is 7 months.
End it in FEB so people can watch the 162 regular season baseball games which also runs to long.
In College B-Ball the reg season counts.

steadyjim.bsky.social•71 days ago

Does the NBA need a new commissioner? The only positive thing I have seen Adam Silver do for the league is the TV/Streaming contracts.

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•71 days ago

I think the next commissioner needs to be less of a business man and more of a basketball savant. Not saying he is a terrible commissioner, but it becomes obvious why some of the "innovations" miss the mark

charissagrace15.bsky.social•71 days ago

I literally stopped watching.

The stars are always sitting, they throw up 3s like confetti, they travel, palm the ball and double dribble with impunity, the refs are arbitrary, and the game sux.

The WNBA is a much better basketball product.

I'll never go back to the men's game

megamansdeli.bsky.social•70 days ago

I totally agree with you. It has become a glorified YMCA pick up game. Stars get preferred treatment from refs and the fundamentals of the game are being whittled away.

I got into the WNBA this last season, not because of Clark or Reese, but because it was as close to pure ball as possible.

kennethflakes.bsky.social•70 days ago

I am curious about your thoughts about watching college basketball (men and women) compared to NBA and WNBA.

charissagrace15.bsky.social•70 days ago

Kenneth, for *me* the W is way more a team oriented sport that features stars as the end result of a team situation up and down the court. Great shooting, strong fundamentals, and just flat out great basketball up and down the court.

The dudes? I simply cannot relate to it as a team sport.

charissagrace15.bsky.social•70 days ago

Obviously, the individuals are incredible athletes...the speed and power.

Now, as I reflect, I *loved* the Olympic game as it uplifts a team orientation so much more.

Btw I am not arguing w/anyone or trying to persuade...this is just me saying what *I* enjoy

kennethflakes.bsky.social•70 days ago

I largely agree. The WNBA plays basketball the way Dr. Naismith probably intended for it to be. I do think that as the WNBA players become more athletic, they will suffer from the same issues as the NBA.

charissagrace15.bsky.social•70 days ago

Gaw, I'm glad you said that! Cus I been sorta goin back and forth on that very thing trying to decide what I think on that!

The only thing that might save them is their relative height compared to the basket height so the premium is still on team flow.

But likely you nailed it, Kenneth!

megamansdeli.bsky.social•70 days ago

I used to be a men's CBB junkie and I could not get enough of watching it. But the last few years, it seems the MCBB game is trickling closer & closer to the NBA game. I have not watched enough WCBB to make a proper, respectful comparison to the WNBA game.

concert-pics.net•71 days ago

Strongly agree. It's like watching Rec Leauge. No defense, just pass till you shoot a 3. It's all either a 3 pointer. A fast break, or what looks like a bunch of middle school kids in the half court

debo-66.bsky.social•71 days ago

Stop adding playoff teams make the regular season more important and increase the number of division conference games to reduce travel and increase local rivalry

brokensymmetry.art•70 days ago

They'll never reduce the season. Of course they should. But they won't.

Talk of ratings is irrelevant when they just signed a massive long term media rights deal. The ratings genuinely don't matter in the current context. Apparently the broadcast partners are happy. So what's the problem?

derekosgood.bsky.social•71 days ago

You can't be a fan of your local team unless you have (insert random sports betting owned streaming app). We used to have nice things, like a local channel that showed all of my precious Pacers games. They have no one to blame but themselves.

lazypyro.bsky.social•70 days ago

For real, or at least keep it reasonable. We paid $35 to watch the Fever last year and we got ALL WNBA games AND we could go back and watch ones we missed.

derekosgood.bsky.social•70 days ago

That’s not a bad deal at all.

jtyarchitect.bsky.social•67 days ago

Lifelong Pacers fan, but they lost me for stretches after Malice & PG’s departure. Always wanted to get back in, but could never find the games. After catching a couple games in-person, I’m now a STH. But they could’ve had my money years ago if they just kept me hooked in with a few broadcasts!!

timeburns.bsky.social•67 days ago

Not sure any NBA team broadcasts games for free (before this season).

Faulting the Pacers cuz you wouldn’t pay for basic cable or an app seems weird

derekosgood.bsky.social•67 days ago

Lived in Indianapolis all of my life. Pacers were on channel 4, every game, free over-the-air, for years until everyone got greedy. We have DirecTV Stream specifically because of the Pacers. The Bally's app, now FanDual, is $19.99 per month. Post is about NBA's loss of viewership, keep up.

timeburns.bsky.social•66 days ago

Wasn’t responding to you, Derek.

Thanks tho for the reply

derekosgood.bsky.social•66 days ago

Sorry about that.

olliejasper.bsky.social•71 days ago

And we’re supposed to be excited that we can gamble on every little thing. The fear of bankruptcy will make the 14 Jalen Green 3PAs feel more important.

hlv6302.bsky.social•71 days ago

I couldn’t even tell you where I could watch my hometown Rockets on TV. I assume it’s behind some cable provider. Used to love basketball and I probably would again. Let me just buy the whole season to watch thru an app ffs. It ain’t that hard to understand.

brokensymmetry.art•70 days ago

That's a big problem, the goofy way games are broken up across platforms

chetubetchanews.bsky.social•70 days ago

It's hard to watch their games, especially when they're scattered across platforms, and I don't feel like paying more money for NBA League Pass. It's honestly easier to watch NFL games nowadays than NBA games.

gridguru.bsky.social•70 days ago

Today's NBA is a joke. No defense is played, traveling is commonplace and even centers are jacking up 3's. Then you've got stars skipping games due to "load management," pissing off people who pay hundreds to see a game live. Thank goodness for football and baseball because pro hoops is unwatchable.

spottedcows.bsky.social•71 days ago

I will watch again when they play by the rules! It is not basketball anymore…

onitsh.bsky.social•71 days ago

How about if the players play DEFENSE. No one bothers anymore. Look at the game scores 149 points in a game. Where's the defense. No one rebounds. As soon as a shot is taken every players bugs out and heads to the other side of the court.

davidcl33.bsky.social•71 days ago

The whole NBA culture needs to change. But won't until it totally crashes. My 1st suggestion is removing the commissioner & forcing LeBron to retire

jab35.bsky.social•71 days ago

Maybe if they had a season instead of constant games.

brieldridge.bsky.social•70 days ago

Part of the issue with the NBA is how so many old school fans spend all their time treating Michael Jordan like a diety and shitting on every young(er) superstar.

You can't like Shai Gilgeous Alexander because "Jordan would have scored 50 ppg in this era."

Not worth a conversation.

realestatedev.bsky.social•71 days ago

If you've seen one high pick-and-roll, you've seen them all. But if you've seen 75,000 high pick-and-rolls, you've seen an NBA game.

marvandbasketball.bsky.social•70 days ago

It’s a lot to do with the players contracts and their ability to move, and the teams being able to trade them. Whatever happened to the era of building a squad 5-7 years deep and if that doesn’t work, then make some moves. Chemistry goes a long way and that’s why the Warriors did what they did.

xenoxi.bsky.social•70 days ago

Agreed, so many players are getting overpaid now. It’s gonna to be impossible in the next couple of years to build a solid squad, with non all-stars requesting $150M-$200M

ofilispeaks.bsky.social•71 days ago

I tried league pass and it was terrible as i couldn't watch any of the Rockets games in Houston, so I resorted to streaming* and this is what most NBA fans do, which unfortunately is not tracked. Ratings aren't plummetting we are just not being measured.

kennethflakes.bsky.social•70 days ago

IMO, home games in the home team's market should be free, especially if the game is a sellout.

I think ratings are down, but I also read somewhere that ratings are also down for men's and women's college basketball, too.

Young people don't watch live sports like us, Gen Xers, and Boomers.

patatoa.bsky.social•71 days ago

Oh and then even if you do pay, and even if you’re not blacked out, surprise! There’s still games you can’t watch!

patatoa.bsky.social•71 days ago

I can’t watch my local team for less than $100 a month. Willing to pay something reasonable.

kiki81.bsky.social•71 days ago

I'm not paying for NBA games

bigezzzy.bsky.social•70 days ago

League definitely needs to pivot away from yesterday's stars and focus on all the young stars in the league. I am Celtics fan and we have a team led by young superstars.

muykoh.bsky.social•70 days ago

And yet they didn't move the needle. Your point kind of invalidates itself. A new competition format is needed, and the NBA needs to go global and not rely on an American fan base that looks at the NFL as their #1 sport.

bigezzzy.bsky.social•70 days ago

https://www.forbes.com/sites/esfandiarbaraheni/2024/05/21/nbas-international-efforts-bearing-fruit-as-viewership-skyrockets/

NBA is a global game my guy! Top 3-5 players are all international players. Style of play is heavily influenced by European play.

muykoh.bsky.social•70 days ago

Yes. It's one of the rare USA sports that's global. They need to tap into that more. Creating a competitive structure like UEFA. Have pro teams play against each other around the world for a Champions League title. It's global enough and loved by Europeans. It would smash the NFL if they did this.

bigezzzy.bsky.social•70 days ago

I agree, let's open it! I would love to see a European division of the league.

muykoh.bsky.social•70 days ago

Instead of a few European NBA players, just imagine how much that would drive communities around the world to improve their teams, their players, etc

muykoh.bsky.social•70 days ago

Your example of global is minuscule in comparison to what it could be. It would rival soccer/football.

muykoh.bsky.social•70 days ago

These are just players only. Now if you get COMMUNITIES involved, this would massively increase the ratings in the USA and around the world, smashing the NFL.

justbnme222.bsky.social•71 days ago

Nope…

tennisyogi.bsky.social•71 days ago

Pundits like Cowherd want to make it a problem! If elections are now easily corrupted, why aren't T.V. ratings systems? The simple answer is they are, just like polls!

antmania.bsky.social•71 days ago

Watching Giannis or SGA shoot free throws for two and a half hours isn't exactly must-watch TV.

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•71 days ago

The refereeing is garbage. There is too much ref involvement and it feels more KGB than officiating

bigosaur.bsky.social•71 days ago

The problem is athletes are overpaid for how they play. Shorten the season, lower the number of games, lower the Max contracts and salary cap, give them more time to rest and practice their skill. This is the first season I'm watching more Euroleague games than NBA.

wyatt79.bsky.social•71 days ago

Go back to putting local teams on free local TV and the fan base will increase along with overall viewership

incognotta.bsky.social•71 days ago

I stopped caring when the Sonics went to OKC. If ratings are tanking, good.

bullcityhog.bsky.social•71 days ago

The average midseason NBA game is so boring. I have so many other better entertainment options. I can watch the 2 or 3 highlight plays from each game on social media and not feel like I missed anything.

jackofallbeers.bsky.social•70 days ago

Its unwatchable. No consistency. Terrible marketing. 3s have ruined the game. Hate the players. I refuse to watch anymore. MLB and NHL figured it out.

lazypyro.bsky.social•70 days ago

Make the game interesting again:
- no defensive 3 seconds, bring back the Big Man
- cut off the 3 point line so there's no corner 3's

For a start

swedishpagan78.bsky.social•70 days ago

More talent and way less egos.

nintarii.bsky.social•71 days ago

Three pointers and defences who can't breath on a player without a foul has killed the NBA

dr1023.bsky.social•71 days ago

Maybe if they stop focusing on the big market teams that fucking suck like the Lakers or the Clippers and actually push teams that are worthy of everyones attention. Maybe if mainstream sports media wasn’t atrocious and actually watched the sports they get paid to talk about ratings could be better

dr1023.bsky.social•71 days ago

As much as I love the Inside guys for their entertainment, only Ernie is actually in tune with what’s happening in the league. The other 3 guys just get on TV to mess around and have fun, which is definitely entertaining but it provides 0 insight or valuable opinions on the state of the league

dr1023.bsky.social•71 days ago

Just last week we had Chuck saying on National TV that he doesn’t care about the Rockets and that DeAndre Hunter could be an All-Star. That coming from the mouth of someone who gets paid millions of dollars to talk about Basketball on national TV is unacceptable.

dr1023.bsky.social•71 days ago

If you know about the game and know what teams to watch and what to watch then you’ll be fine, but for the casual viewer it’s hard to have real interest in the league.

ricodotcom.bsky.social•70 days ago

Gotta condense the season and make the games mean more. Also what might help is choosing specific days of the week when games are played like Wednesdays and Saturday’s for example. That way there is an opportunity to actually build up to the match up and make it an event vs just another game.

nwtrailhound.bsky.social•70 days ago

Reduce season and/or introduce relegation. Same for MLB.

chriscamo.bsky.social•70 days ago

50 game season. More restrictions on player movement from team to team. Playoffs shouldn't take 3 months either. Best of 3, then 5, then 7 for the finals. That would probably do it.

kennethflakes.bsky.social•70 days ago

I think these are great ideas, but the owners don't want to lose money from 16 home games (32 total games) and any playoff games.

Also, current NBA records would never be broken, such as all-time scoring, assists, etc, if the NBA we to a 50 game season

robertcoffman.bsky.social•70 days ago

Lose the hip hop music in the television productions. Do not use graphics with starting lineups of players making obnoxious gestures and faces. Do not have uniforms with ridiculous words and phrases like “The Land.” This is not hard.

cnep.bsky.social•71 days ago

Cut the season in half

nochetussin.bsky.social•70 days ago

Not to be an oldhead because the game has always evolved, but the current analytics driven optimum shots only style of play is not fun for me to watch.

nondescriptdes.bsky.social•71 days ago

alot of games are three point shooting contests, and many teams don't even have good shooters...

stcronin.bsky.social•70 days ago

I love all the replies from people who don't like basketball

edwin10pa.bsky.social•69 days ago

Remove the 3 seconds in the key and bring back hand checking

gcurvey11.bsky.social•70 days ago

Too many 3s being shot in the NBA! I am a hoops junky BUT the NBA has almost become unwatchable.

muykoh.bsky.social•70 days ago

By getting on board with FIBA and creating a global pro team completion like UEFA. That's how. Oh, and promotion/relegation system.

okoliver1970.bsky.social•70 days ago

Put Katelyn Clark on an NBA team and you will see the ratings go up.

jasonpaul.bsky.social•71 days ago

Too
Many
Pointless
Games

There. We've identified the problem. Fix that.

olliejasper.bsky.social•71 days ago

Doesn’t matter how many games you take away. Eventually we’ll get to the point where stars will only play in Finals Game 7.

orwellianneo.bsky.social•71 days ago

There is no fix basketball audience has always been the most youthful, they don't want games in the traditional sense. Reading started to decline in 2012 I wonder what outlet of consumption started around the same time to boom, this is not hard to figure out.

elfrap.bsky.social•70 days ago

It has become obvious to fans that the NBA has favorites and that finds its way to the officials on court calling games. Any semblance of true neutrality is gone and fans approach it with that knowledge. When a foul isn’t a foul because it was committed by X instead of Y, there is no trust.

abdallahnr2.bsky.social•70 days ago

Push the three point line back a couple of feet.

Eliminate the corner three.

chacespillman.bsky.social•71 days ago

I can watch Football for free with an antenna every Sunday. If I live in the market, I will be able to watch my team.

For the NBA, I have 2 pay extra 4 a streaming service (which doesn't play my local team) OR buy cable/satellite to have a CHANCE to watch local teams.

It's not that complicated IMO

certifiedblazed.bsky.social•71 days ago

Lower price of entry. It's way too expensive to be a fan to begin with. Going to games can still be pricey, but watching them should be affordable.

ijnormal.bsky.social•71 days ago

Every missed 3 point shot deducts point from the teams score. After 10 missed 3s, two points deducted. After 20 missed 3s, three points deducted.

Easy fix.

achad.bsky.social•70 days ago

I like this. Take it a step further. ALL missed shots are negative scores.

ijnormal.bsky.social•70 days ago

I thought about that but it may be a bit too harsh just starting out but I def agree.

positivelyrainy.bsky.social•70 days ago

It’s almost like if you make something too expensive to consume people stop consuming it.

lathoril.bsky.social•71 days ago

There is only one Steph.

bubbagmaz.bsky.social•71 days ago

End the three point shot.

jurq.bsky.social•70 days ago

Take away the 3 pt line,and replace it with 3 pt spots. 🤷‍♂️

notfakedhawes.bsky.social•71 days ago

NBA guy 1: “Looks like everyone wants to see what Minnesota, and Memphis, and Sacramento, and Milwaukee are up too.”
NBA guy 2: “That’s awesome. Anyways, roll the Lakers highlights.”

gjjjonesy.bsky.social•70 days ago

Factual☝🏽 He should be one of the yound faces of the league just like Ant. He's been brewing for some years now.

rhuls.bsky.social•71 days ago

The Suns new owner decided to air the games on a local channel here in Phoenix and I watch them every game.

mwebber.bsky.social•71 days ago

He also just created an affordable $2 food menu for the games. Suns Ownership is ahead of the game

jtyarchitect.bsky.social•67 days ago

My $0.02: if your local team plays in a taxpayer-funded stadium, the taxpayers should have free access to away games over the air.

emeraldtaint.bsky.social•71 days ago

Maybe a league dominated by the myth of Lebrons “dominance” needs more of James kids on active rosters. Maybe give them ALL mid season championship banners, maybe let them pick their own teams and teammates? More LeBron has to be the answer!!

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•71 days ago

Lmao when jordan was dominant there were two good teams. Give it a break dude

emeraldtaint.bsky.social•70 days ago

Right, fantasies prop us up when our “stars” are lacking. James is absolutely nothing but a longevity player and a what, 8 time loser?

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•70 days ago

Nothing but a longevity player? Lmao, you have a good one

emeraldtaint.bsky.social•70 days ago

Thought so. Hope to never hear your compensation arguments again.

leahbh.bsky.social•71 days ago

Make the games easy to watch.

mattwharry.bsky.social•71 days ago

Over the past 5 years I’ve transitioned from only watching college ball to now only watching the NBA. Bought the Pass for the first time. The NBA Cup was a great move to bring attention to Nov and Dec games. American sports could use more in-season Cup competitions.

vegancommunicator.bsky.social•71 days ago

The NBA is a BORE. Every game looks the same. Obvious violations are ignored while stars get phantom calls in their favor. Too many free throws (yawn), too many threes (lazy players). I’d much rather binge Portlandia and the Andy Griffith Show again. Meanwhile, the #NCAA is trying to ruin its game.

squidward5.bsky.social•70 days ago

Here’s some recommendations:
- put the games on major networks outside of the espn/tnt platforms.
- relocate certain teams because certain locations are too unorthodox
- start in December and end in June (removes competition from college football)

blueryguy.bsky.social•71 days ago

I've got zero interest until they give me my Supersonics back. ZERO

healermain88.bsky.social•71 days ago

It's the pay wall

jb80s.bsky.social•70 days ago

There is no way. Just honker down until the NFL season over. It’ll go up a little then.

harold-harry1955.bsky.social•70 days ago

Let’s go back to the old rules. No palming or carrying the ball, traveling, no hanging on the rim, call 3 seconds in the lane and play some defense. A Above all, get rid of the 3 point shot. Then I’ll watch.

graysnaps.bsky.social•70 days ago

You’re about dead. Not the audience they are targeting

dogeteam.bsky.social•71 days ago

Change the game and play defense again.

kayjay1955.bsky.social•71 days ago

I’d love for sports TV ratings to be the next thing to crash. The salaries are so crazy and are based on TV revenue. Kirk Cousins walked away from 35 million/yr. That’s 15-20 nurses for a 35 year career each….and I’m a sports guy-or I was

olliejasper.bsky.social•71 days ago

Get rid of the corner 3. Just extend the line to the sidelines. Make dunks count as 3.

olliejasper.bsky.social•71 days ago

If I can find a game that isn’t blacked out the 60$ million dollar stars are sitting out while the scrubs shoot nothing but threes and have the intensity of mayonnaise. MJ played every game like it was his last and delivered.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply