NBA Ratings Decline: A Pricey Problem?

The NBA appears to lose in TV ratings this season. Some point fingers at the overflowing three-pointers shot, but for former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, it’s way more basic than that: the games are getting too expensive to watch.

To witness an NBA game, the cable TV pays out of pocket to see local games while paying for NBA League Pass to watch out-of-town games. League Pass has its own limitations, however: it is not permitted to broadcast games featuring the local fan’s favorite team. The consequence is an overpriced and hassle-intensive experience for sport fans.

As opposed to this, the NBA games were much more accessible back in the day. In fact, they were widely broadcasted on free-to-air TV. Therefore, it was easier for people to tune into the series.

While it’s interesting about what Shaquille O’Neal has to say about the three-point revolution, Arenas’s case for rising costs and complexities to watch an NBA game seems quite convincing. As the evolution of the NBA continues, the league must take into account how the changed phenomena will impact fan engagement and viewership.

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