With the advent of the NBA’s new broadcast rights deal—in which multiple networks and streaming services are paying billions of dollars for the privilege of showing NBA games—consuming professional basketball is becoming a more diversified experience. Ultimately it’s also becoming more expensive. The league’s fans will need access to ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock, Amazon Prime, and perhaps a league pass or local subscription in order to see their favorite team(s) play. Each will require some sort of fee. And that’s not even counting the price of any in-arena tickets. In the aggregate, it adds up.
Today NBA Commissioner Adam Silver met with reporters following a session with the NBA Board of Governors. He discussed a variety of topics, including the following:
It’s not been widely publicized, and the account is private, but Blue Sky user ohnohedidn’t24 also quoted Silver addressing the rising cost of viewing NBA games, mentioned above. The quotes are contained in a linked video. The account’s transcript from Silver:
There’s a huge amount of our content that people can essentially consume for free. This is very much a highlight-based sport. IG, TikTok, Twitter…YouTube
So as unprecedent billions pour into the league, apparently the commissioner’s solution to the resulting pocketbook pain for fans is to skip some of the games and instead microdose highlights via social media. Good to know. Too bad we don’t live back in the days where stadiums had slatted and/or barred fences around them so the commissioner could suggest anyone who couldn’t afford an actual ticket could just stick their forehead against the fence and peep through the gaps, getting glimpses for free. Thank you, guv’nah! Right kind of you! I s’pose if security chases me away I’ll just whisk back to the orph’nage for some gruel. Good stuff, that!
If more comes out of the conference, or we get more elaboration/confirmation on that quote, we’ll let you know.