TV ratings a prime-time low

[Card Trader]

Coincidently, the NHL finals were the lowest in several years also. Unfortunately, with the amount of TV choices out there, people aren't watching sports as much as a few years ago . . . except the NFL continue to be a huge draw.

The NHL should be thrilled that ANYONE tuned in. I didn't even know it was time for the NHL Finals.

 

[asudevil83]

Game 2 of the 2007 NBA Finals drew a 6.9/12 overnight, the lowest overnight rating for an NBA Finals game since at least 1981. No game of the 2003 NBA Finals drew a lower overnight.

This is far from surprising; the game aired opposite the series finale of The Sopranos, was a blowout by halftime, featured two small-market teams, and most fans knew what the outcome was going to be by the time the game started. Only Michael Jordan could make a game as one sided as last night's Game 2 watchable; the Bulls' 96-54 Game 3 victory over Utah in 1998 drew a 16.2 rating.

The question is no longer 'what happened', but what now? Is the NBA in serious trouble?

Believe it or not, no. The NBA finds itself essentially in the same position it was in after the 2003 NBA Finals. This is simply one bad year. Everything went wrong for the league this season; the success of the small-market Spurs and Jazz, the lifeless play of the Cavaliers for much of their playoff run, the quick exits of last year's finalists Dallas and Miami, and now an NBA Finals that looks as uncompetitive as any in recent memory.

If this happens again next year, then the NBA can panic. However, this outcome more than anything appears to be a case of everything possible going wrong at the worst possible time.

It should be pointed out that the ratings for Games 1-3 of the Cleveland/Detroit series were down significantly from the previous year. By Game 6, when Cleveland was up 3-2, TNT was attracting large audiences for the games. Unfortunately for the NBA, it does not appear as if Cleveland will be able to pull that same trick against San Antonio. However, if one of the most incredible miracles of all-time (sports or otherwise) occurs and the Cavaliers can win two games in this series, the ratings would likely jump back to respectable levels.

To answer a question that will surely be asked: why is the NBA different from hockey? While both the NBA and NHL are declining at a proportional rate, the fact is that while the NBA on its worst night can average a 6.9 overnight rating, the NHL on its worst night nets a 1.5. The absolute worst for the NBA is far better than the absolute worst for the NHL. And unlike the NHL, the NBA historically does not follow up record-low years with another record low. After the 2003 NBA Finals averaged a 6.5 rating, the 2004 Finals averaged an 11.5; after the 2005 NBA Finals averaged an 8.2 rating, the 2006 Finals averaged an 8.5 (a gap that looks smaller because the 2005 Finals went to a seventh game, increasing the average rating from a six-game average of 7.6).

a 6.9? on a sunday night? on ABC? wow.....the nba is in trouble

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

a 6.9? on a sunday night? on ABC? wow.....the nba is in trouble

No, it's not. Thanks to the global expansion of the sport the NBA currently has more fans than at any point in it's history. And although the ratings in the NBA Finals have been poor (which should not come as no surprise to anyone considering two small markets are playing), it gets balanced with the fact that attendance records were set this year as in the three years prior. The NBA is fine.

 

[Covert Rain]

No, it's not. Thanks to the global expansion of the sport the NBA currently has more fans than at any point in it's history. And although the ratings in the NBA Finals have been poor (which should not come as no surprise to anyone considering two small markets are playing), it gets balanced with the fact that attendance records were set this year as in the three years prior. The NBA is fine.

I agree that the NBA is in no danger but let's not forget that low ratings have caused Stern to take action before. The league might not be in danger of going under but clearly Stern has taken action in the past to boost ratings.

Ironically, I blame a big chunk on the ratings and his decision making lately.

 

[asudevil83]

ah yes...the nba is going bankrupt.

these LOW nba ratings are not just due to the boringness of the series. sure the spurs ARE boring....but LeBron is in the mix. you'd at least expect SOME interest.

BUT....we havent, and we are seeing the most lackluster interest in the playoffs and NBA in general in quite a while.

SOMETHING needs to be done....and quick IMO.

i really dont think the average fan really trusts the nba anymore.

 

[pokerface]

Nothing will be done...the Suns must adjust.






















NEXT

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

And I'm guessing that something that needs to be done involves promoting up-tempo basketball therefore putting the Suns in a favorable position to win a championship. Look, I agree the NBA has some problems but it's not quite the doomsday scenario some have made it out to be. And I'd be much more willing to listen to those demanding change if their opinion on the matter wasn't so blatantly rooted in their own self-interest.

 

[azirish]

Is it really too much to ask that the rules be enforced (where have I heard that before?) and be called equally?

What I don't hear from the Spurs lovers is a claim that the rules are being enforced. It is always some stupid claim that the playoffs SHOULD be called differently and that the thugs not have fouls called. Better yet, the Suns should become thugs even though they are getting fouled out on ticky tacks now and it's all their fault, etc. etc.

 

[pokerface]

The refs didnt cost the Suns the whole series. Thats all anyone has to know!

 

[Errntknght]

I wonder what the audience ratings are worldwide and how much revenue the league gets from it. It could be that the league brass are not that concerned with the USA TV ratings if there is substantial income from around the rest of the world.

I have no idea what the leagues plan is for expansion outside the US but they must be considering it - and on the surface they seem to going about in a very high handed fashion. The new ball fiasco was an indication of that - FIBA was left totally out of the decision making. It wouldn't have been a big step toward a unification of the rules but it would have been a nice way to start. (Of course, Stern ignored the NBA players and the NCAA as well.)

I believe a change of commissioner is very long overdue and with any luck Stern's screw ups will end his reign soon. (I admit I haven't liked Stern since day 1 - he is a lawyer, for crying out loud!)

Anyway, I believe it is going to be a slow process to change the game in the direction of 'Suns style'. The team owners and the players union are not exactly itching to change the status quo.

I'm hoping the league does move that direction but I don't have any hope of being fast enough to do our current team any good. I tend to agree with Pokerface and MaoTosi that focussing on outside factors in losing to the Spurs is not the way to go for the team's brass - next years playoffs figure to be called very similar to this years.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

refs say American TV ratings are meaningless it's the world and the world gives the Spurs a chance while America won't, and chicks dig the Manu.

 

[phillycard]

If a troll watches the NBA finals by himself, does anyone notice?

 

[Yotesfan85044]

San Antonio 16 24 15 20 - 75
Cleveland 18 20 12 22 - 72

That had to be a painful game to watch!

 

[Phade]

exciting series

refs+spurs+stern = championship..

congrats on your tainted championship

 

[bob bob]

What a shock, a crying Suns fan, pathetic loser.

 

[O]

What a shock, a crying Suns fan, pathetic loser.

What a shock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Getting banned.

Who is the "pathetic loser"?

 

[Southpaw]

Kind of pathetic when all you can come up with is this. Who the **** cares. I could care less if 10 people watched the games as long as my team was winning. Nice try you pathetic losers

At least get the worn out cliche correct. It is "couldn't care less". How much less could you care?

 

[Southpaw]

Yeah the Suns style is popular but I'm starting to wonder how playoff effective it is.

As long as the refs allow the wholesale mugging by teams like the Spurs to be used as a replacement for defense, the Suns style will not be allowed to be effective. Call the fouls and the NBA becomes fun to watch.

Imagine a more entertaining final series than the Bulls - Suns. 250 point games.

 

[phillycard]

What a shock, a crying Suns fan, pathetic loser.

Ehh??? Do your homework clown. If you did anything other than troll, you'd take the time to find out if a dude with the handle PHILLYcard is actually a Suns fan. *smh at this lame with too much time on his hands*

 

[boisesuns]

What a shock, a crying Suns fan, pathetic loser.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

As long as the refs allow the wholesale mugging by teams like the Spurs to be used as a replacement for defense, the Suns style will not be allowed to be effective. Call the fouls and the NBA becomes fun to watch.

Revisionist history. Go watch a Lakers-Celtics or Pistons-Bulls game from the 80's that had much more physicality and dirty plays (which also went without suspensions) and got among the best ratings in NBA history. The ratings in the NBA suck because there's no Magic, Dr. J, Barkley, Jordan, Bird, Bad Boys, or Shaq/Kobe among the best teams in the NBA. The two best teams in the NBA have two "boring" superstars who are never in the spotlight or transcend to the casual fan. And guys like Kobe, LeBron, and Dirk have their own flaws as superstars or their teams in incapable of winning a title.

 

[Southpaw]

Revisionist history. Go watch a Lakers-Celtics or Pistons-Bulls game from the 80's that had much more physicality and dirty plays (which also went without suspensions) and got among the best ratings in NBA history. The ratings in the NBA suck because there's no Magic, Dr. J, Barkley, Jordan, Bird, Bad Boys, or Shaq/Kobe among the best teams in the NBA. The two best teams in the NBA have two "boring" superstars who are never in the spotlight or transcend to the casual fan. And guys like Kobe, LeBron, and Dirk have their own flaws as superstars or their teams in incapable of winning a title.

I am not talking about tough fouls. I am talking about non calls on clutch and grab defense. Looks like a freaking hockey game and no calls. That is how you beat running , shooting teams. BTW, that era and games didn't score in the 70 point range. That is what is so boring.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I am not talking about tough fouls. I am talking about non calls on clutch and grab defense. Looks like a freaking hockey game and no calls. That is how you beat running , shooting teams. BTW, that era and games didn't score in the 70 point range. That is what is so boring.

Again revisionist history. Joe Dumars used to ride Jordan's hip all the way around the court during the Jordan Rules days much in the same vein Bowen did to Nash this postseason. Riley's Knick teams grabbed and clutched all over the place. Michael Cooper and Scottie Pippen held opposing players using the hand-check better than any players in NBA history. The guys McHale and Parrish guarded were getting elbowed in the ribs pretty much throughout the entire game. None of those got foul calls back then.

Teams score in the seventies now because frankly they're just not as good as the the teams in the 80's and early 90's. Those teams could shoot, score, rebound, and play defense. Good luck finding a team in the NBA that can be proficient at all those in the NBA these days. Hell, you can just be good at one of those and manage to find a way into the playoffs.

 

[asudevil83]

Revisionist history. Go watch a Lakers-Celtics or Pistons-Bulls game from the 80's that had much more physicality and dirty plays (which also went without suspensions) and got among the best ratings in NBA history. The ratings in the NBA suck because there's no Magic, Dr. J, Barkley, Jordan, Bird, Bad Boys, or Shaq/Kobe among the best teams in the NBA. The two best teams in the NBA have two "boring" superstars who are never in the spotlight or transcend to the casual fan. And guys like Kobe, LeBron, and Dirk have their own flaws as superstars or their teams in incapable of winning a title.

i have no problem with physical/dirty play. but when the NBA is trying to get rid of it, and lets certain teams STILL get away with it and use it to their advantage, well then i've got a problem.

also, these 80's games you listed where RIVALRIES....not just "oh so and so are playing, this will be a good game" rivalries, these teams had PRIDE involved and would player their hearts out to win.

the spurs dont. the play the most boring basketball and win with dirty play.

think the movie "Rocky" and compare that to Mike Tyson.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I don't think the Spurs are boring (although I do find the last two Spurs' series boring because it's basically men vs. boys), they have one of the best basketball players who ever lived who every post player in America should be mimicking. The Spurs have also been a part of some terrific series over the last ten years. No matter the outcome, the Spurs-Suns series this year was very entertaining as was the Spurs defeat agains the Mavs last year and some of their bouts again the Shaq/Kobe Lakers. The Spurs aren't a boring team, they just use a set offense, put effort into defense, and have nobody on their roster that demands the spotlight.