Why is the NBA getting all this criticism about the game and the TV networks get off scot-free?

[tremonthustler1]

100% correct. MLB’s commissioner seems to care about the product, and how fans view it, and has made changes to the game that have ultimately been made successful. Attendance is up, and ratings for regular season games rose for the first time in years. It’s really hard to get changes approved in MLB, because the audience is significantly older than the NBA, and there are a lot of fans and journalists that are purists, and romanticize the game. Manfred has found the formula to implement successful changes to the game, while Silver has not found that formula yet.

Silver will eventually be forced to make changes to the game, if ratings continue to slide, and the product continues to be trashed by fans and the media. He needs to do something, because the fan and media perception of the league has never been lower. It seems like the NBA is in a strange place, where fans are frustrated with the league, and the NBA is playing defense on making changes, instead of being proactive.

Manfred hates baseball

 

[murksiderock]

What signs are those?

NBA is infinitely more popular than the MLB is, globally, so I’m not sure how you came to that conclusion.

Engagement is up with MLB, this is seen in viewership and while I don't have access to the data, I'd guess engagement is up in non-traditional media too, because MLB is more of a conversation today than it's been in the recent past...

The increased engagement is directly correlated to the rule changes and star power; the A-list stars in the MLB being bigger stars than the A-list stars in NBA right now. I'm not talking about the old heads like Bron and Steph, I'm talking athletes in both leagues that are right in the prime if their careers...

Vlad Jr, Mookie, Shohei, Judge, Machado, Skenes, Sale, Lindor, Duran, Soto, etc, the way you measure this star power to me, isn't an "Instagram-off", it's who is currently drawing more eyes and excitement to their sport right now...

The top guys in MLB are just a better watch, more exciting to watch right now than whatever list of A-list NBA guys we can list...

The '24 MLB playoffs was way more exciting than the '24 NBA playoffs, and really going back a few years the MLB playoffs are trending up, while NBA is trending down...

NBA will probably always have the global appeal, but it's been shown that it's losing steam domestically. MLB is within a half-decade of overtaking it here, on US soil, if current trends continue; that's my prediction. "If" current trends continue...

 

[NYC Rebel]

Did it possibly start before Jordan? Like with Magic and Bird, and then Jordan Propaganda just amplified it?

Look at the opening of CBS talking Lakers and Celtics. They barely mention the players. It’s all about the state and the direction the series has gone while sprinkling in a couple of names.

 

[RubioTheCruel]

I've had league pass for many years now. Why can't I watch the Knicks game on my iPad from the NBA app? These broadcast/blackout rules are retarded.

 

[NYC Rebel]

David Stern had a hand in everything broadcast related to the NBA even before he was promoted to commissioner.
Before the iconic NBC days, when games used to air on CBS, his idea of promoting the superstars of the league for marketing purposes was evident in the intro.

Had the 3 biggest stars Dr. J, Bird, and Magic in the intro. Will try to find it on YouTube.

Stern played a part in all the broadcasting decisions in his era, and his golden touch lead to all parties making tons of money.

This is false.

Stern DIDNT have a hand in it when the NBA was at CBS. When the NBA was on CBS, the league was under the “CBS Sports” umbrella which managed the marketing NOT the NBA. So he didn’t have a hand in it.

Part of the new deal they got with NBC was that the NBA finally controlled the marketing. NBC already had an “NBC Sports “ team where all their sports fell under that.

The NFL, MLB, and other sports all fell under the NBC Sports team who managed the marketing of their league. The NBA was the only league that was outside of it and handled their own marketing as a result of the new deal.

So you are outright incorrect.

 

[Diondon]

Every excuse in the world why most folks don't think this wack ass shyt is the BeStEST Era EVar!!!!

 

[O.T.I.S.]

The NBA sold its soul when it signed that espn deal years ago.

The games lost their luster somewhat, especially during the regular season. Presentation became non-existant and it's just a factory of crank em out games with very few feeling special. Of course you got your marquee matchups at times lile say during the Heatles era. But most of the good games were still on TNT....and the TNT presentation made up for anything else

But It's just been SLOW trickle into where it is now.

I actually watch the TNT broadcasts all the way through sometimes…


ESPN is straight up garbage and has been from the beginning. Anything Disney touches turns into soulless, unentertaining trash.

Just keep them for college games. Seems what they focus the most money on anyway. As long as no one has to pay the players they good.

 

[SchoolboyC]

Engagement is up with MLB, this is seen in viewership and while I don't have access to the data, I'd guess engagement is up in non-traditional media too, because MLB is more of a conversation today than it's been in the recent past...

The increased engagement is directly correlated to the rule changes and star power; the A-list stars in the MLB being bigger stars than the A-list stars in NBA right now. I'm not talking about the old heads like Bron and Steph, I'm talking athletes in both leagues that are right in the prime if their careers...

Vlad Jr, Mookie, Shohei, Judge, Machado, Skenes, Sale, Lindor, Duran, Soto, etc, the way you measure this star power to me, isn't an "Instagram-off", it's who is currently drawing more eyes and excitement to their sport right now...

The top guys in MLB are just a better watch, more exciting to watch right now than whatever list of A-list NBA guys we can list...

The '24 MLB playoffs was way more exciting than the '24 NBA playoffs, and really going back a few years the MLB playoffs are trending up, while NBA is trending down...

NBA will probably always have the global appeal, but it's been shown that it's losing steam domestically. MLB is within a half-decade of overtaking it here, on US soil, if current trends continue; that's my prediction. "If" current trends continue...

The 2023 World Series were literally the least watched ever

The MLB got an absolute a perfect setup in 2024 with the two MVPs playing for LA & NY and then those stacked rosters matching up in the WS.

If this offseason, Jokic went to the Lakers and Giannis went to the Knicks and those two teams met in the Finals, you think it wouldn’t put up monster numbers? That’s basically what happened with baseball

MLB is similar to the NBA in that casual fan interest is extremely matchup dependent, and they got dealt a great hand this season

 

[murksiderock]

The 2023 World Series were literally the least watched ever

The MLB got an absolute a perfect setup in 2024 with the two MVPs playing for LA & NY and then those stacked rosters matching up in the WS.

If this offseason, Jokic went to the Lakers and Giannis went to the Knicks and those two teams met in the Finals, you think it wouldn’t put up monster numbers? That’s basically what happened with baseball

MLB is similar to the NBA in that casual fan interest is extremely matchup dependent, and they got dealt a great hand this season

The entire playoffs was better, though...

 

[SchoolboyC]

The entire playoffs was better, though...

MLB playoffs are great more often than not, but if we’re talking fan interest that context can’t be ignored.

 

[HandyWithTheSteel]

100% correct. MLB’s commissioner seems to care about the product, and how fans view it, and has made changes to the game that have ultimately been made successful. Attendance is up, and ratings for regular season games rose for the first time in years. It’s really hard to get changes approved in MLB, because the audience is significantly older than the NBA, and there are a lot of fans and journalists that are purists, and romanticize the game. Manfred has found the formula to implement successful changes to the game, while Silver has not found that formula yet.

Silver will eventually be forced to make changes to the game, if ratings continue to slide, and the product continues to be trashed by fans and the media. He needs to do something, because the fan and media perception of the league has never been lower. It seems like the NBA is in a strange place, where fans are frustrated with the league, and the NBA is playing defense on making changes, instead of being proactive.

Baseball fans HATE Manfred and he has done nothing but kill the MLB in his tenure. WTF are you talking about?

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

NBA will probably always have the global appeal, but it's been shown that it's losing steam domestically. MLB is within a half-decade of overtaking it here, on US soil, if current trends continue; that's my prediction. "If" current trends continue...

You’re overemphasizing an outlier year where everything lined up perfectly for the MLB, and calling it a trend.

That’s not a trend.

The interest in the MLB had been trending down in the last half a decade prior.

The percentage of NBA fans in this country has increased since 2019. It’s not that it’s losing steam here, it’s that a fraction of fans have megaphone’d their criticism about the product, and given the nature of social media now, it’s become a greater talking point than it is a reflection of reality. All this drama has been conjured up because of what’s been happening during a period where the NBA might have technically started, but folks don’t start paying attention to the league until the Christmas Day games. That’s almost always been the case.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

Every excuse in the world why most folks don't think this wack ass shyt is the BeStEST Era EVar!!!!

Tell us you hate hoops without telling us you hate it.

 

[K-Apps]

The NBA will be MLB status while MLB is currently on the rise, it's poised to overtake the NBA in the next few years. All the signs are here...

Not really, in terms of franchise value for example, MLB’s floor is closer to the NHL than the NBA.

 

[FukkaPaidEmail]

Did it possibly start before Jordan? Like with Magic and Bird, and then Jordan Propaganda just amplified it?

Even with magic vs bird they still pushed Showtime as a collective,The Celtics as a collective,fo-fo-fo wasn’t marketed as just Moses but the Sixers , Bad Boy Pistons … Nike and the NBA made everything about Jordan . Magic /Bird era wasn’t the same .