Sandomir - NBA TV Ratings in Tank

[Boom_70]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/sports/basketball/14r

Boy the NBA has really sunk. More seasons like this and they will be on Versus in no time.

 

[rokski2]

Rhoden was on NPR like 3 weeks ago or so trying to defend the NBA's ratings, I think. There's audio but I didn't listen. No report on whether he repeated the "Everybody I know is watching (the playoffs)."

 

[BYH]

Oh CHUCK TAYLOR, where are you? Chuck?

1.) Why do you watch the NBA playoffs before the Finals

2.) No, really, why?

3.) Seriously. Why?

Yeah, let's all take a nice nap and watch some baseball.
Because baseball is peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerfect. Im gettin' sleepy just thinkin' about it. Yesterday, some dude wanted to sell me some sleeping pills, but I told him "****, did you forget? It's baseball season!"

OK then do me a favor: If it makes you so sleepy, don't chime in about Verlander or the Tigers or anything like that. Just take your nap, or watch a sport you like.

****, it was only one time. You make it seem as if I have a blog or something.

And in case you haven't noticed BYH, there are a lot of people who watch(and love) the NBA. It's a new generation BYH.

NBA Finals ratings, 2006: 8.5 rating
World Series ratings, 2006: 10.1 rating

Even the record low World Series ratings are higher than the NBA Finals.

And now that the Suns, Mavs and Warriors are all gone, your only hope for an improvement this year is the Cavs reaching the Finals.

That's all fine and dandy now.
Just wait and see my friend. Especially with all this steriod stuff.

P.S. I haven't checked the attendance records this year, but last season was the NBA's best EVER.

I waited. I saw. Your favorite sport's ratings are headed for NHL territory.

MLB owns the NBA. Learn it, live it, love it.

 

[MilanWall]

The only difference is hockey fans know their ratings are going to suck and they almost embrace it. It's almost like they -like- having a sport that doesn't appeal to the mainstream and has that "cult" feeling to it. NBA fans want to think that everyone worships the ground basketball players walk on, and when they discover it's not true then they pout about it. I know this is a bit of a generalization, but it's been what I've noticed.

 

[ondeadline]

I know I'm praying for a sweep along with ABC.

 

[Boom_70]

The only difference is hockey fans know their ratings are going to suck and they almost embrace it. It's almost like they -like- having a sport that doesn't appeal to the mainstream and has that "cult" feeling to it. NBA fans want to think that everyone worships the ground basketball players walk on, and when they discover it's not true then they pout about it. I know this is a bit of a generalization, but it's been what I've noticed.

For some watching hockey now has become a style statment like drinking Pabst or wearing a trucker hat.

 

[BYH]

The only difference is hockey fans know their ratings are going to suck and they almost embrace it. It's almost like they -like- having a sport that doesn't appeal to the mainstream and has that "cult" feeling to it. NBA fans want to think that everyone worships the ground basketball players walk on, and when they discover it's not true then they pout about it. I know this is a bit of a generalization, but it's been what I've noticed.

For some watching hockey now has become a style statment like drinking Pabst or wearing a trucker hat.

Ashton Kutcher likes hockey?

 

[steveu]

The NBA does have a loyal following and audience. It's just that ESPN needs to realize that not as many people care about the NBA as they think. ESPN is hammering these NBA Finals as if Jordan and Kareem are going up against each other and it's the good old days once again.

Lebron will be a huge star. He already is in Cleveland and in many other areas. But Jesus, NBA, don't be in such a hurry to appoint him the next Jordan without seeing how he does first in a final. Even Michael Jordan needed several years to hold that trophy for the first time.

 

[ondeadline]

I watch hockey because I love the sport. I couldn't care less that it gets low ratings or what anybody else things about it. I generally don't watch the NBA because it bores me. The only part of the game that excites me is the finish of close games. Even then, the flow is ruined by the constant time outs.

 

[21]

Interesting, I was trying to find the current viewer numbers, and found this instead....from 1999. What would the NBA give now for a 12 share...

By RICHARD SANDOMIR
Published: June 25, 1999
NBC's ratings for the National Basketball Association finals continued to falter during Game 4 of the Knicks-Spurs series, which produced a 12.0 Nielsen rating, down by 37 percent from the comparable game last year, when Chicago played Utah.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE0DC153AF936A15755C0A96F958260

 

[Boom_70]

Interesting, I was trying to find the current viewer numbers, and found this instead....from 1999. What would the NBA give now for a 12 share...

By RICHARD SANDOMIR
Published: June 25, 1999
NBC's ratings for the National Basketball Association finals continued to falter during Game 4 of the Knicks-Spurs series, which produced a 12.0 Nielsen rating, down by 37 percent from the comparable game last year, when Chicago played Utah.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE0DC153AF936A15755C0A96F958260

The NBA would be thrilld with a 12 now. Sandomir is the grim reaper of the NBA. Things are caving in.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Short term, the NBA really needed to have Phoenix in these finals.

Long term, they need to see some powers grow in the Eastern Conference. ANd at least one of those needs to be Boston, New York or Philly.

 

[heyabbott]

The NBA does have a loyal following and audience. It's just that ESPN needs to realize that not as many people care about the NBA as they think. ESPN is hammering these NBA Finals as if Jordan and Kareem are going up against each other and it's the good old days once again.

Lebron will be a huge star. He already is in Cleveland and in many other areas. But Jesus, NBA, don't be in such a hurry to appoint him the next Jordan without seeing how he does first in a final. Even Michael Jordan needed several years to hold that trophy for the first time.

The NBA Finals must be important, Stephen A Smith is yelling louder at every appearance.
I heard him at McDonalds yesterday across from the studio

GIMME A #1 WITH A diet coke and make damn sure those fries are hot

 

[alleyallen]

Quick question, and I mean this legitimately...

Should ratings continue to tank for the next couple of years, does this have any effect on player salaries in the future?

 

[hockeybeat]

I posted this on the "Will you be watching" thread, but it bears repeating:

Dave Meltzer of the WrestlingObserver newsletter and website reported yesterday that the NBA Finals T.V. ratings are in the toilet.

--If you think wrestling ratings are disappointing, or MMA ratings, the first two games of the NBA playoff finals did a 6.3 and 5.6 respectively on Thursday and Sunday. The all-time worst finals average is 6.5 in 2003 for the Spurs vs. New (Jersey) Nets. Bet NBA officials are hoping the Spurs don't make the finals next year. Game two was explained by The Sopranos.

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=19869

 

[Bubbler]

I think the NBA sucks these days, but lets take the ratings into context.

Ratings for all shows are falling. With over 100 channels to choose from, that's just the way of the world.

What I think would be more enlightening would be where the NBA Finals ranked against other programming in its time slot. If it was the No. 1 choice, then the lower ratings aren't as big a deal. But if its getting clubbed by Ghost Hunters, Racheal Ray's $40 A Day and Saul Of The Mole Men, then it's time to panic.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

The ratings for all playoff series suck because people want to be instantly gratified rather than watch several times over the course of a couple weeks to see who wins. It has nothing to do with who is in the series. If the series went to seven games, the ratings would rise over the course of the series.

The ratings system is also inherently flawed. I doubt they are accurately recording the numbers of people who watch in groups, whether at a friend's house or in a restaurant.

 

[Chuck~Taylor]

Oh CHUCK TAYLOR, where are you? Chuck?

1.) Why do you watch the NBA playoffs before the Finals

2.) No, really, why?

3.) Seriously. Why?

Yeah, let's all take a nice nap and watch some baseball.
Because baseball is peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerfect. Im gettin' sleepy just thinkin' about it. Yesterday, some dude wanted to sell me some sleeping pills, but I told him "****, did you forget? It's baseball season!"

OK then do me a favor: If it makes you so sleepy, don't chime in about Verlander or the Tigers or anything like that. Just take your nap, or watch a sport you like.

****, it was only one time. You make it seem as if I have a blog or something.

And in case you haven't noticed BYH, there are a lot of people who watch(and love) the NBA. It's a new generation BYH.

NBA Finals ratings, 2006: 8.5 rating
World Series ratings, 2006: 10.1 rating

Even the record low World Series ratings are higher than the NBA Finals.

And now that the Suns, Mavs and Warriors are all gone, your only hope for an improvement this year is the Cavs reaching the Finals.

That's all fine and dandy now.
Just wait and see my friend. Especially with all this steriod stuff.

P.S. I haven't checked the attendance records this year, but last season was the NBA's best EVER.

I waited. I saw. Your favorite sport's ratings are headed for NHL territory.

MLB owns the NBA. Learn it, live it, love it.

Calm down, It's one year. But like I've been saying all along, by the time I get to your age, the MLB will be in the ****ter. Keep saying all this "BUT THE KIDS STILL LOVE IT, BASEBALL IS PERFECT" and try to be in denial. But in time, you're gonna start seeing it.

P.S. Attendance numbers has nothing to do with what kids like these days.

 

[zeke12]

Chuck, you got crushed last time you tried this argument.

 

[Chuck~Taylor]

Chuck, you got crushed last time you tried this argument.

I didn't get "crushed"

The "BASEBALL is PEEEEEEEEEEEEERFECT CLUB" members came down and told me about the attendance numbers. What does attendance numbers have to do with kids playing the game?