NBA commissioner Adam Silver put his foot in his mouth throughout Wednesday’s press convention earlier than the league’s preseason board of governors conferences.
Silver fielded questions regarding Kawhi Leonard’s controversial endorsement offers with the Los Angeles Clippers in addition to the NBA’s new broadcast schedule, which can function video games throughout digital streaming properties resembling ESPN, NBC’s Peacock and Amazon’s Prime Video.
Ever for the reason that decline of cable tv, we’ve entered right into a “lower the wire” streaming world that requires a number of subscriptions to look at exhibits, films and reside sports activities. This isn’t simply a problem surrounding the NBA because the NFL and MLB are going through related challenges about capitalizing incomes potential via streaming rights whereas holding an reasonably priced product for followers.
Silver was requested concerning the rising price to look at NBA video games at residence and his reply was fascinating to say the least.
“There’s an enormous quantity of our content material that folks can basically watch free of charge,” Silver mentioned. “That is very a lot a highlight-based sport.”
The commissioner referenced Instagram, TikTok and Twitter as locations the place followers can view basketball.
That’s all advantageous and nice till you understand you could’t watch full video games on social media, and whereas basketball actually has became a most well-liked sport for the youthful era of sports activities followers, the NBA is alienating a giant sector of their viewers. Older followers should not going to devour NBA content material on social media. They’ll simply miss the sport if they’ll’t determine stream it.
Whereas everyone was operating with the clip of the commissioner of the NBA virtually telling the world to simply observe him on Instagram, Silver did be aware that with the league’s new media deal, they’re going from 15 video games on broadcast tv to 75. This may permit followers to look at extra marquee video games with solely a TV antenna, making basketball far more accessible to anyone with a tv.
In accordance with ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the NBA’s nationwide tv networks (Amazon, NBC and ESPN) met this week to debate how they’ll work collectively on shifting ahead with an accessible product for followers.
Watching the NBA on tv will definitely look totally different shifting ahead. Contained in the NBA is shifting from Turner Sports activities and TNT to ESPN, which was confirmed by Shaquille O’Neal this week.
The NBA aired on TNT for 36 seasons. 2025 will definitely be the beginning of a brand new period of watching basketball. Simply be sure to’re following them on social media, too.
