LAS VEGAS – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently acknowledged a noticeable decline in television viewership this season, but emphasized that the decline does not indicate a waning interest in professional basketball.
“If you look at other metrics in our business, it is clear that we’ve had record attendance at our games over the last two years,” said Silver in an interview with The Athletic and various national media outlets before the NBA Cup championship. “Additionally, our social media following is growing at a level unmatched by any other league and continues to grow. So interest in our game will never wane.”
Although Silver called the ratings a slight decline, insights from Sports Media Watch show a staggering 19% drop in viewership for NBA broadcasts on the major national networks, including ESPN , ABC and TNT, compared to last year’s numbers in the NBA Cup semifinals. This decline is part of a broader trend affecting overall cable television viewing, with men’s and women’s college basketball as well as the NHL experiencing similar declines.
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Linking this decline to changing viewing habits, Silver says: “We are facing an important moment as streaming content overtakes traditional television viewing. Our future media deals, worth $76 billion over 11 years, reflect this that transfer by covering each game “Making streaming services accessible and thus enable new methods of production and expanding access for viewers.”
“The majority of our audience now consumes our content through media rather than live visits, so we need to put a lot of emphasis on this change,” he added.
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Shifting focus, Silver also talked about the increasing number of three-point shots in NBA games. He acknowledged that there was a slight increase in the number of three-point shots attempted by each team, estimating that it would increase by two or three attempts, but rejected the proposal to reset the three-point line.
“We had a lot of conversations about the style of playing basketball,” said Silver. “We took a comprehensive look at the skill levels displayed in the games, the different offensive techniques and how the fans view the game as a whole. The current situation in basketball is very favorable and I am very happy to see the talent we have in the competition, while recognizing the unparalleled abilities of our athletes.”
When it comes to the impact of analytics on the game, Silver rejects the idea of a quick fix like Major League Baseball’s proposed “golden at-bat” rule. “If I thought there was a simple solution, I would certainly present it. However, I’m afraid that’s not the case here,” he explained.
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During the press conference, Silver also discussed several topics, including the possibility of expanding the league and the future of the NBA Cup.
While cities such as Las Vegas and Seattle are being discussed as prime candidates for expanding franchises, Silver is clear that a formal application process has not yet begun. “We are currently exploring various strategies for potential expansion and evaluating existing cities, but we are not expecting any invitations for applications at this time,” said Silver. “We haven’t talked to specific teams, including Las Vegas.”
As for a new European league, Silver revealed ongoing discussions with FIBA and European clubs about the formation of a new basketball league, although he warned that early too early to make public announcements. “We haven’t made any internal decisions yet, but the growth potential of basketball in Europe is huge. The quality of the game is amazing and many elite players are from Europe. There is a significant commercial and fan engagement that opportunity, something there is something unique.”
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Regarding the future of the NBA Cup, Silver acknowledged the controversial debate over the venues for the final four games. While some franchises prefer to host the championship in their own arenas, he pointed out the advantages of neutral places like Las Vegas. “Coordinating an event in a neutral location comes with its complexities, but I am not against using home locations for the finals. The most important consideration is how we can do it logistically can while making sure we keep the traditions and “Allowing fans to plan ahead for these important dates.
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The NBA has not yet announced the location for the next NBA Cup Semifinals.