An Idea for NBA's next TV deal

[oldvnewschool]

It's absoultely clear that ABC has failed as a broadcast partner for the NBA.

So it's time for a significant change. I would keep TNT and NBA TV with their

current deal. I would do the same for ESPN as well. But it's time for a revival of:

THE NBA ON CBS (Sunday Afternoons, All Star Game, Some Playoff Games, and

the NBA FINALS) I know people would watch the NBA if it was on the Tiffany

Network again like it was between 1973 and 1990. I know they may

have some conflict with College Basketball, but since more NBA games are

show on cable it proabaly won't be a signifcant matter. Or, for a even wilder

solution, have TNT and ESPN (THE CABLE CHANNEL VERSION) share the NBA

Finals. TNT has been a great broadcast partner for 20 years, the least they

can have is at least one game of the NBA finals. Marv Albert deserves one

last "YES!" for an NBA Finals Game.

 

[ShawnHill1]

Unfortunately, from what I heard and read, the NBA is planning on re-upping their current deals with Turner Sports (TNT) and Disney (ESPN/ABC). Next season is the final year of the deal, as may already know, and with the ratings they recently recieved with the God-afwul Cleveland-San Antonio series, I don't think the other big networks would want to deal with the NBA in its current state. I'm not one of those that thinks ABC does an awful job with the NBA, but certainly in comparision to NBC, and CBS before them, I would agree. My biggest complaint is just what Fox does with whoring their stars and their shows during the World Series (I can never forget the embarssing camera shot at Kurtwood Smith and Mila Kunis of That '70s Show just sitting there in the cold and looking bored), ABC does the same thing during the NBA Finals.

To me, the biggest problem with the NBA, and I love basketball, is not just the particular matchups (and we can all agree about how terrible the Cleveland-San Antonio matchup was), but the style of play. You have players who can't shoot worth a lick and egomanaical coaches not really giving their players free reign like they did back in the day. The players of yesterday (all the way through, let's say the mid-90s) were much more fundamentally sound and more greatful to be in the league, while today's players are more athletic, but that's it.

Basically said, once the NBA can fix the game on the court, then everything else should take of its self. However, it's not gonna anytime soon.

 

[TheRob]

Maybe ABC/ESPN/TNT can record the games and show them at 12:30 in the morning, like TV stations did 25 years ago. ;D

I grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, where college basketball is king. Speaking of the Kings, considering they left Kansas City in 1985, I haven't had much reason to follow the NBA. The style of play turns me off. The boredom the players exhibit turns me off. I don't think I could name ten current hockey players, but I found the NHL playoffs more entertaining than the NBA.

 

[Studio20]

The blame can be laid squarely at the feet of the San Antonio Spurs. How DARE they conduct themselves in the manner they do.

The unmitigated gall of them to engage in fair play, socially productive activities off the court, with few if any player problems on or off the court.

No, what the average NBA TV fan wants are playas who live the thug life, pack weapons n bling who assault women and spend more time in arraignment court than the basketball court.

 

[KeithE4]

The blame can be laid squarely at the feet of the San Antonio Spurs. How DARE they conduct themselves in the manner they do.

The unmitigated gall of them to engage in fair play, socially productive activities off the court, with few if any player problems on or off the court.

And mug Steve Nash repeatedly during their screwover series with the Suns (yeah, I'm still pi**ed, and don't get me started on Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry. ;D ). But the Spurs otherwise showed they're still the best team in the league. And it is teams that win championships, not stars - NBA marketroid desires notwithstanding.

No, what the average NBA TV fan wants are playas who live the thug life, pack weapons n bling who assault women and spend more time in arraignment court than the basketball court.

Unfortunately, you're right. That's what the NBA's core audience wants.

In addition, while David Stern is finally courting the smaller markets (and I wonder how much Disney is influencing him since NBC never pushed the smaller-market teams), the NBA core audience is still in the biggest markets, who's teams range from improving (Chicago) to barely mediocre (both LA teams) to stinking up the league (NY Knicks, Philly, & Boston, all of whom, along with the Lakers, are the true core of the league). I left out the NJ Nets & Golden State (actually, Oakland) Warriors on purpose, since neither has a huge following outside of their immediate areas and are not considered important teams despite their NYC and SF market locatons.

Right now the power in the league is in San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, Cleveland, & Detroit - not a Top-5-market team among them (Dallas is the largest at #7). I can't believe the NBA's corporate sponsors or their Northeast-plus-LA core fan base is too happy about that. That's OK in the NFL, which is pretty much market-neutral, but not in the NBA. The "fans" who love the type of guys you describe are in those Top 5 markets. And, with the Bulls, Warriors, & Nets being (barely) exceptions, their teams stink.