That is why all networks have less of an audience percentage wise then they did 40 years ago: there are a LOT MORE CHOICES NOW. Not just on TV but the internet. Even the SB is getting a significantly less audience when looking at the percentage.
Total views Super Bowl 2022__99 million....slightly up Super Bowl 1998__90 million NBA Finals Ave Views 2022__about 12.5 mil...WAY down NBA Finals Ave Views 1998__about 30 mil.. NFL holding ground, NBA sinking
This is all pretty dishonest. 1. The NBA has a MUCH wider audience than the NFL. It is an international game NOW, 2. 1998 Bulls had the GOAT player and the league's greatest cultural phenomenon. That Bulls crew is why the league is international now. Of the last six NBA Drafts, four of the number one overall picks were born outside the U.S. Last year, foreigners claimed five All-Star spots, the Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. And it appears that the International Basketball Operations Department will continue to be busy. Of the seven players mentioned above, the average age is only 26. The NBA’s commitment to international growth has positioned the league for long-term success, and it continues to invest in the right places. It is no coincidence that last year, NBA viewership reached a four-year high despite the rise in cord-cutters. New media platforms, untapped nations for basketball talent — the NBA is playing the long game. The NBA's global viewership was up 30% last year. And it's viewership among US viewers under 30 surpasses the NFL. It's a game built on the youth and on international markets.
Are you calling ME dishonest? Or the data? Even if it is just raw data displayed on-page. Not opinion. Raw data. Dishonest? How do you know the discussion was not only about US viewership? It didn't say one way or the other.
I'm calling the headline/title dishonest. It does not distinguish between US or Non-US and just labels it viewers. That's absolutely untrue. Worldwide viewership is up massively year over year and most certainly since 1998. I am also saying it is a dishonest talking point amongst general talking heads. NFL actually has far more worries as they have the aging demographic, CTE concerns and worldwide expansion has gone far less smoothly than the NBA. But NFL is STILL King in the US and it is not going anywhere anytime soon, The NBA is however the most popular league in the 2nd most popular sport in the world after Soccer. The NBA salary cap (essentially based off profitability) has essentially doubled since 2015. The NFL salary cap (essentially based off profitability) has grown about 50% in that same period.
All we had in 1998 was NBC, HBO, ESPN, and CNN. And we liked it! None of this darn fangled regional sports, or news channels across the spectrum, or 15 versions of HBO! We watched our NBA Finals, our HBO weekend movie, we saw our Sportscenter every night, we got our news without commentary, and we liked it!
Forming super teams and the game being one huge 3 point shooting contest is distasteful for many of us.
I don’t wanna be one of those old guys that say stuff like this but I am going to. The NBA was just better in the 90s. Hardly anyone plays defense any more and all we see is 3pt shots even on fast breaks.
