Damn! Not even LeBron could help the ratings...

[Fast Dunk]

San Antonio/Cleveland 6.3 rating lowest ever for a NBA Finals Game 1

Sad...

But don't blame Lebron..

Blame the Spurs.

[whottt]

Why? The Spurs have been in higher rated finals....have the Cavs?

[Fast Dunk]

Why? The Spurs have been in higher rated finals....have the Cavs?


Yeah everytime the Spurs are on the Finals the ratings go down a big deal!

[ChumpDumper]

And when the Cavs are on the Finals the ratings go down even further.

[whottt]

Took the Cavs to hit the all time low...

Question:

What makes Cleveland think anyone gives a fnck about it? It has a river that catches on fire? Last I heard...Cleveland was the anus of the USA.

Cleveland must think it's LA or something.

[whottt]

At least San Antonio never lost it's football team.

[Fillmoe]

spurs in the finals = boring city.....

is it any shock that the 2 lowest rated finals series' have had the spurs in them?

[Fast Dunk]

Finals ratings since 1976


1976 CELTICS VS SUNS 11.5
1977 BLAZERS VS SIXERS 12.7
1978 BULLETS VS SONICS 9.9
1979 SONICS VS BULLETS 7.2
1980 LAKERS VS SIXERS 8.0
1981 CELTICS VS ROCKETS 6.7
1982 LAKERS VS SIXERS 13.0
1983 SIXERS VS LAKERS 12.3
1984 CELTICS VS LAKERS 12.3
1985 LAKERS VS CELTICS 13.7
1986 CELTICS VS ROCKETS 14.1
1987 LAKERS VS CELTICS 15.9
1988 LAKERS VS PISTONS 15.4
1989 PISTONS VS LAKERS 15.1
1990 PISTONS VS BLAZERS 12.3
1991 BULLS VS LAKERS 15.8
1992 BULLS VS BLAZERS 14.2
1993 BULLS VS SUNS 17.9
1994 ROCKETS VS KNICKS 12.4
1995 ROCKETS VS MAGIC 13.9
1996 BULLS VS SONICS 16.7
1997 BULLS VS JAZZ 16.8
1998 BULLS VS JAZZ 18.7
1999 SPURS VS KNICKS 11.3
2000 LAKERS VS PACERS 11.6
2001 LAKERS VS SIXERS 12.1
2002 LAKERS VS NETS 10.2
2003 SPURS VS NETS 6.5
2004 PISTONS VS LAKERS 11.5
2005 SPURS VS PISTONS 8.2
2006 HEAT VS MAVERICKS 8.5

[ChumpDumper]

Yep, Cleveland is dragging us down. If only Detroit had beaten you guys.

[Fast Dunk]

Yep, Cleveland is dragging us down.

And the Nets and the Pistons too?


Fact of the matter put the Cavs with any other team and the ratings will go up quickly!

I'm surprised the 1999 Finals had better ratings despite the lockout, well maybe becuase it has to do something with New York

[PM5K]

I'll tell you one thing in regard to all of these Lebron/Jordan comparisons, the Bulls could have played the Antartica Polar Bears and still would have gotten a 13....

[ChumpDumper]

Fact of the matter put the Cavs with any other team and the ratings will go up quickly!Put the Spurs with any other team and the ratings will go up quickly!


I'm surprised the 1999 Finals had better ratings despite the lockout, well maybe becuase it has to do something with New YorkIt's no Cleveland, that's for sure.

[Condemned 2 HelLA]

Fact of the matter put the Cavs with any other team and the ratings will go up quickly!

Yeah, because the rest of the country was just completely on pins and needles anticipating the ratings grabber that could've been Cavs/Jazz, huh?

[Fast Dunk]

Put the Spurs with any other team and the ratings will go up quickly!



It showed when the Spurs played the Nets and Pistons :lol

[whottt]

And LeBron is certainly no Jordan....or Dwade even.

[whottt]

It showed when the Spurs played the Nets and Pistons :lol

He said as he looked up....

[ChumpDumper]

It showed when the Spurs played the Nets and Pistons :lolYes, the ratings were higher than when they played the Cavs :lol

[whottt]

Yeah, because the rest of the country was just completely on pins and needles anticipating the ratings grabber that could've been Cavs/Jazz, huh?


Ironically enough...the Jazz appear to be the greatest ratings draw in history. At least based on that ratings chart.

[Fillmoe]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/e/ec/San_Antonio_Spurs_logo.png


=

http://www.csmngt.com/eg%20sleep.jpg

[ChumpDumper]

So Stern wanted Pistons/Jazz.

[Condemned 2 HelLA]

Ironically enough...the Jazz appear to be the greatest ratings draw in history. At least based on that ratings chart.

Got me there.
No arguing my way out of that one.
:depressed

[whottt]

Maybe if Kingsfan realized that basketball is still played in June, the ratings would be higher. Alas...how are they to know?

[Fillmoe]

Got me there.
No arguing my way out of that one.
:depressed


jordan and bulls?

[Fillmoe]

Maybe if Kingsfan realized that basketball is still played in June, the ratings would be higher. Alas...how are they to know?


you sir are quite original...... and exactly what do the kings have to do with the spurs being boring as shit to watch?

[ChumpDumper]

He just told you.

[whottt]

you sir are quite original...... and exactly what do the kings have to do with the spurs being boring as shit to watch?


At least as much as you still being on a Spurs message board, when you should be reading draft boards....

[Fillmoe]

He just told you.


your comprehension skills are lacking......

[ChumpDumper]

your comprehension skills are lacking......Nah, a zero like you wouldn't even know what the word Rochester means to your ilk.

[MannyIsGod]

you sir are quite original...... and exactly what do the kings have to do with the spurs being boring as shit to watch?As low as the raitings were for the Spurs game the other night, I bet they got more viewers than the Kings did right?

[ChumpDumper]

It's just a damn shame the ratings don't go back to 1951.

[Fillmoe]

whatever kid...... holla at me when you can get more than 10 ppl to watch game 2 of the finals......

[ChumpDumper]

Whatever kid......holla at me when--

Well, never.

Fuck off and keep fishing.

[Fillmoe]

As low as the raitings were for the Spurs game the other night, I bet they got more viewers than the Kings did right?


i highly doubt that shit.... i bet more people are watching wnba monarchs games.......

[ChumpDumper]

:lmao Fillmoe just called the Kings a WNBA team.

[whottt]

.... i bet more people are watching wnba monarchs games.......


That's because they keep thinking the Kings are the WNBA team.

The only time the Kings make news is when their coach gets a DWI.

[Fillmoe]

:lmao Fillmoe just called the Kings a WNBA team.


i highly advise you go back and get your GED.... comprehension isn't one of your strong points

[ChumpDumper]

:lmao

Keep watching the Monarchs, kiddo. Maybe THEY'LL make the playoffs.

[Fillmoe]

it must be sad when more people rather watch the wnba finals over a finals that the san antonio spurs are in......

[Condemned 2 HelLA]

it must be sad when more people rather watch the wnba finals over a finals that the san antonio spurs are in......

Can you please post the television ratings to back up this statement?
Thanks.

[ChumpDumper]

It must be sad to have to hang around a Spurs message board during the Finals since the Kings suck that badly.

[whottt]

it must be sad when more people rather watch the wnba finals over a finals that the san antonio spurs are in......


It's really not sad at all...if your team could ever make the finals, you'd know that....that's sad.

[AnkleBreaker21]

whatever kid...... holla at me when you can get more than 10 ppl to watch game 2 of the finals......
well i will be watching with some of my friends, and thats all that fucking matters

[Fillmoe]

your guys jokes have something in common with your team.........







they both make me....

































http://www.csmngt.com/eg%20sleep.jpg

[Leetonidas]

Shows how much Cleveland blows dick. Every game the played, except Game 5 vs. Detroit was EXTREMELY boring. That Nets series where the teams scored like 6 points in the 4th quarter was God awful.

[Leetonidas]

your guys jokes have something in common with your team.........







they both make me....

































http://www.csmngt.com/eg%20sleep.jpg

Wouldn't just be easier to use the :sleep emoticon?

Your whole lame act is making me :sleep

[Josh810]

your guys jokes have something in common with your team.........







they both make me....

































http://www.csmngt.com/eg%20sleep.jpg
Why are you here? Honestly. I really wanna know.

[ChumpDumper]

Having your team in the Finals is a great experience, Fillmoe.

With some luck and alot of hard work, your Monarchs could get there.

[AnkleBreaker21]

yah the cavs are boring as hell, besides wannabe jordan the whole team sucks major balls

[ChumpDumper]

Why are you here? Honestly. I really wanna know.He's basking in the reflected brilliance of fans with a team in the Finals.

Who could blame him?

[Leetonidas]

He's basking in the reflected brilliance of fans with a team in the Finals.

Who could blame him?
Has it been that long since the Rochester Royals won the title? :lol

[AnkleBreaker21]

yah i bet that horry shot against the kings still fucking hurts bad:lol:lol

[Johnny RIngo]

Who the fuck are the Sacramento Kings? They're one of those garbage lottery teams, right?

[Strike]

Last I heard...Cleveland was the anus of the USA.
:lmao

[Strike]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/e/ec/San_Antonio_Spurs_logo.png


=

http://www.csmngt.com/eg%20sleep.jpg

2 things.....

http://www.highlandmint.com/ProductPics/KingsLogo.jpg
=
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sports/gif/nba-lottery.gif

Also....

What the fuck does Crestside Cutthoat mean?

[Ronaldo McDonald]

Finals ratings since 1976


1976 CELTICS VS SUNS 11.5
1977 BLAZERS VS SIXERS 12.7
1978 BULLETS VS SONICS 9.9
1979 SONICS VS BULLETS 7.2
1980 LAKERS VS SIXERS 8.0
1981 CELTICS VS ROCKETS 6.7
1982 LAKERS VS SIXERS 13.0
1983 SIXERS VS LAKERS 12.3
1984 CELTICS VS LAKERS 12.3
1985 LAKERS VS CELTICS 13.7
1986 CELTICS VS ROCKETS 14.1
1987 LAKERS VS CELTICS 15.9
1988 LAKERS VS PISTONS 15.4
1989 PISTONS VS LAKERS 15.1
1990 PISTONS VS BLAZERS 12.3
1991 BULLS VS LAKERS 15.8
1992 BULLS VS BLAZERS 14.2
1993 BULLS VS SUNS 17.9
1994 ROCKETS VS KNICKS 12.4
1995 ROCKETS VS MAGIC 13.9
1996 BULLS VS SONICS 16.7
1997 BULLS VS JAZZ 16.8
1998 BULLS VS JAZZ 18.7
1999 SPURS VS KNICKS 11.3
2000 LAKERS VS PACERS 11.6
2001 LAKERS VS SIXERS 12.1
2002 LAKERS VS NETS 10.2
2003 SPURS VS NETS 6.5
2004 PISTONS VS LAKERS 11.5
2005 SPURS VS PISTONS 8.2
2006 HEAT VS MAVERICKS 8.5

The only thing this shows is that the Cavs are just as weak as the Nets were, if not even weaker, when it comes to competition. Pistons/Spurs was rated an 8.2 because each team had a chance to win. The Cavs just suck as competition.

[Strike]

So Fist Fuck, I mean Fast Dunk, what has your little history lesson shown?

All I see it showing is proof that your "prodigal son" isn't the ratings grabber you and the rest of your fellow tools seem to think.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

The only way this series can get high ratings is if Lebron scores in the 40's in a cavs win. But he would have to ask Bruce permission to do that.

[milkyway21]

1999 SPURS VS KNICKS 11.3
2000 LAKERS VS PACERS 11.6
2001 LAKERS VS SIXERS 12.1
2002 LAKERS VS NETS 10.2
2003 SPURS VS NETS 6.5
2004 PISTONS VS LAKERS 11.5
2005 SPURS VS PISTONS 8.2
2006 HEAT VS MAVERICKS 8.5

Los Angeles & New York.
How you can beat Hollywood and Broadway? People are blaming the Spurs for the ratings. You think if Duncan is playing for the Knicks and they're in the finals instead of the Spurs, the rating would still be down?

I don't think so...:rolleyes

why is it SI reports:
Last year's Game 1 between Miami and Dallas earned a 7.8 rating and yours @ 8.5?

[HJNTX]

spurs in the finals = boring city.....

is it any shock that the 2 lowest rated finals series' have had the spurs in them?


Just wondering what the ratings were like when the KINGS were in the Finals?? :lol

[Shred]

It's doesn't help when the only people who tune in to watch are shooting each other in the head. This is one of those stories that reminds you how much you love San Antonio's "small town in a big city" atmosphere.

Finals Party, San Anto Style: (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA060907.01B.party_shooting.3581e22.html)

Party takes a bloody turn

Web Posted: 06/09/2007 01:26 AM CDT

Vianna Davila
Express-News

A shooting between two friends early Friday left a Taft High School graduate dead and another man charged with murder after one fired on the other at an all-night party, police said.
The death of Thomas Mauricio Farley, 20, came as a shock to those who knew him and suspect James Roy Montez, 20 — friends and fellow Taft High School graduates who had gathered at a party to watch the Spurs play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, according to the victim's uncle Gerard Mauricio.

But no explanation Friday could bring back Lucy Farley's only child.

"They killed Tommy," she wailed, as friends and relatives tried to comfort her. "They shot him in the back of the head."

Montez remained at the Bexar County Jail on a $125,000 bond, charged with murder.

According to police, several people between the ages of 17 and 20 had gathered for a party at a town home in the 7800 block of Micron Drive.

Various guests at the party said Montez was carrying a handgun in his back pocket and had spent at least part of the night playing with the weapon, according to a police report. At least one witness thought the gun wasn't loaded, believing Montez had stuffed the magazine into his front pocket, and told police that the shooing appeared to be an accident, the report said.

Witnesses said Farley and Montez were drunk and "joking around" when Farley told his friend, "Shoot me." Montez did, striking Farley once in the eye, according to the report.

Montez ran out the front door and fired about five more shots into the air before he fled, the report said. Neighbors said the sound of the rapid-fire pops was followed by the screech of a car leaving the scene and the yells of partygoers as they spilled out of the townhome and into the parking lot of the complex.

Police arrived shortly after 3:00 a.m. and found Farley lying on the dining room floor, the report said. He was taken to Wilford Hall Medical Center, where he died from a single gunshot wound to the head around 6 a.m., according to the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office.

Officers later picked up Montez at the Eagle Ridge Apartments in the 3700 block of Wurzbach, a little more than 2 miles away, according to police.

Evidence technicians recovered pieces of a gun in an overgrown field behind the apartments, but it was unclear if that was the weapon used in the assault.

Statements that Montez made to detectives while in custody led them to believe he "knowingly caused the death of (Farley)" by shooting him, the report said.

Montez' family had no comment Friday.

Friends and family could not say exactly how long Montez and Farley knew each other; but they said Farley, friendly and gregarious, was known to just about everyone.

The son of a retired San Antonio police officer, Farley had lived with his mother and grandmother since the age of 5 when his parents divorced.

Known as a ham and a health nut, he loved to work out, and was always fit and athletic.

"He had big dreams," said friend and next-door neighbor Keith Sanchez, 19, as he remembered the poems Farley had shared with him.

Farley joined ROTC at Taft High School and once considered joining the service, especially since his maternal grandfather served in three American wars.

But he changed his mind as he watched the conflict in Iraq unfold.

"He wanted to live his life," said his mother. "He wanted to live his life to the fullest."

He had been taking classes at Northwest Vista Community College since he graduated from Taft in 2005 and had nurtured an interest in communications, especially film, his mother said.

Framed pictures of Farley at various ages cluttered the living room coffee table Friday: a smiling baby in his mother's arms; and the mature high school student, smart in his blue ROTC uniform.

And among dozens of pictures in a Farley family photo album, one shows him standing in a classroom beside two classmates. One is Montez.

"All his friends were very good boys," said Farley's grandmother Sally Mauricio. "I'm sure that boy (Montez) was a very good boy."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]

[Johnny RIngo]

All we need is the racism and shitty weather and we'll be just like Phoenix/Arizona.

[Shred]

All we need is the racism and shitty weather and we'll be just like Phoenix/Arizona.

???

[Johnny RIngo]

???

By 1991, most states had adopted Martin Luther King Day except for Arizona.

The NFL, which had an increasing percentage of African American players, and urged by the NFL Players' Association, voted to yank Super Bowl XXVII from Arizona, and awarded it instead to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Faced with the boycott, Arizona voters finally approved the holiday by ballot in 1992, and on March 23, 1993, the NFL awarded Super Bowl XXX (to be played January 1996) to Tempe.

[Shred]

By 1991, most states had adopted Martin Luther King Day except for Arizona.

The NFL, which had an increasing percentage of African American players, and urged by the NFL Players' Association, voted to yank Super Bowl XXVII from Arizona, and awarded it instead to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Faced with the boycott, Arizona voters finally approved the holiday by ballot in 1992, and on March 23, 1993, the NFL awarded Super Bowl XXX (to be played January 1996) to Tempe.


That's a stretch. Texas adopted it that same year, BTW. Phoenix was actually one of the first major cities in the country to adopt MLK Day. I know real racism when I see it, and I only need turn to:

Outrage over Texas college MLK Day party (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0125071mlk1.html)
JANUARY 25--Students at a Texas college threw a Martin Luther King Jr. Day party that featured attendees wearing gang apparel and Afro wigs, carrying malt liquor, handguns, and fried chicken, and even one woman dressed as Aunt Jemima.

What am I doing? Arguing who's more racist with a TEXAN???!!!

[Melmart1]

City/State smack is very weak, but not quite as weak as city/state smack coming from the fan of a team that the Spurs ALREADY BEAT. Did you run out of bait or something?

[SpursWoman]

So Fist Fuck, I mean Fast Dunk, what has your little history lesson shown?

All I see it showing is proof that your "prodigal son" isn't the ratings grabber you and the rest of your fellow tools seem to think.


Well that, and the fact that the ratings still aren't going to help the Cavs beat the Spurs in this series.

I still haven't gotten a good answer on why we're supposed to give a flying fuck about ratings....considering we're watching and loving it so far.

[Johnny RIngo]

That's a stretch. Texas adopted it that same year, BTW. Phoenix was actually one of the first major cities in the country to adopt MLK Day. I know real racism when I see it, and I only need turn to:

Outrage over Texas college MLK Day party (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0125071mlk1.html)
JANUARY 25--Students at a Texas college threw a Martin Luther King Jr. Day party that featured attendees wearing gang apparel and Afro wigs, carrying malt liquor, handguns, and fried chicken, and even one woman dressed as Aunt Jemima.

What am I doing? Arguing who's more racist with a TEXAN???!!!

Texas was never threatened with a boycott from African-American athletes like Arizona was. At the end of the day Arizona's about as racist as you can get in the US of A.

3.6% of Arizona's population is black. 11.7% of the Texan population is black.

[NBA Junkie]

A Phoenix-Cleveland Final wouldn't have done better.

[spursfan09]

At least we know the Spurs are boring. Whats the reason nobody wants to see Lebron?

[KidCongo]

A Phoenix-Cleveland Final wouldn't have done better.

Nah we woulda been blown out be Pheonix worst match up ever and no-one would watch...

[samikeyp]

Nah we woulda been blown out be Pheonix worst match up ever and no-one would watch...

Exactly! :tu

[BlackFlagg]

Fact of the matter put the Cavs with any other team and the ratings will go up quickly!

You just contradicted yourself. :rolleyes

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

What's funny is the lame trolls from other teams trying to hold up the Spurs as boring despite the fact that three of its four Finals appearances have had better ratings than a 1980 series between the Lakers and 76ers that featured Magic, Kareem, and Dr. J and among other things had the 'Magic at center game' and the infamous baseline, one handed reverse scoop layup by Dr. J that we all see all the time in the vintage NBA highlights.

So apparently the 'boring' Spurs > Magic, Kareem, and Dr. J.

Thanks for playing, trolls.

[Saguaro]

America will watch LeBron James in future years, when his opponent is legitimate. Right now, the country has its back turned to the cheater Spurs, just like they do for Barry Bonds.

[bigFUNDAMENTAL]

it's because people already know what will happen
Spurs winning it's 4th title and i like it :)

[O-Factor]

San Antonio/Cleveland 7.9 rating lowest ever for a NBA Finals Game 1

Sad...

But don't blame Lebron..

Blame the Spurs.

Please, the Cavs bore the shit out of me, and everyone else for that matter. ESPN has an article titled "Lebroring" That should tell you something. They also have another article by Bill Simmons proclaiming that this Spurs team fun to watch. Nothing more exciting than watching manu and tony with their drives and finishes. And Horry throwing up a 3 ball, Tim owning the paint. The Cavs are really boring, but anyway, we don't give a shit about ratings when we are about to win our 4th championship!

[O-Factor]

America will watch LeBron James in future years, when his opponent is legitimate. Right now, the country has its back turned to the cheater Spurs, just like they do for Barry Bonds.

LOL, you are such a whinny loser. Keep convincing yourself of that!

[baseline bum]

Finals ratings since 1976


1976 CELTICS VS SUNS 11.5
1977 BLAZERS VS SIXERS 12.7
1978 BULLETS VS SONICS 9.9
1979 SONICS VS BULLETS 7.2
1980 LAKERS VS SIXERS 8.0
1981 CELTICS VS ROCKETS 6.7
1982 LAKERS VS SIXERS 13.0
1983 SIXERS VS LAKERS 12.3
1984 CELTICS VS LAKERS 12.3
1985 LAKERS VS CELTICS 13.7
1986 CELTICS VS ROCKETS 14.1
1987 LAKERS VS CELTICS 15.9
1988 LAKERS VS PISTONS 15.4
1989 PISTONS VS LAKERS 15.1
1990 PISTONS VS BLAZERS 12.3
1991 BULLS VS LAKERS 15.8
1992 BULLS VS BLAZERS 14.2
1993 BULLS VS SUNS 17.9
1994 ROCKETS VS KNICKS 12.4
1995 ROCKETS VS MAGIC 13.9
1996 BULLS VS SONICS 16.7
1997 BULLS VS JAZZ 16.8
1998 BULLS VS JAZZ 18.7
1999 SPURS VS KNICKS 11.3
2000 LAKERS VS PACERS 11.6
2001 LAKERS VS SIXERS 12.1
2002 LAKERS VS NETS 10.2
2003 SPURS VS NETS 6.5
2004 PISTONS VS LAKERS 11.5
2005 SPURS VS PISTONS 8.2
2006 HEAT VS MAVERICKS 8.5

You do realize the Spurs-Pistons finals was rated higher than the legendary 1980 Lakers-Sixers, right? Also, higher than Bird's win over Houston in a similarly lopsided Finals.

[cornbread]

America will watch LeBron James in future years, when his opponent is legitimate. Right now, the country has its back turned to the cheater Spurs, just like they do for Barry Bonds.
:dramaquee

[Buddy Holly]

Can anyone here explain why the big market Mavs and Heats (Heat even had Shaq) did just .3 better than the Spurs and Pistons??

I guess their cities and teams were... yawn, huh.

Sometimes I wonder if these trolls think posting all their lame shit here will someone make them attractive to the opposite sex.

[Extra Stout]

If NBC had kept the NBA contract over the past five years, the ratings would be about two points higer across the board for each Finals series since 2003.

[whottt]

The Spurs are boring

Sin,

ABC and ESPN







I love watching them take the ratings bullet in the azzzzzzz.

Any network that forces you to listen to Mark Jackson deserves no more than to go out of business.

I rather SAS than Mark Jackson.

[spursfan09]

Maybe its just really ABC and ESPN's fault. How can you continue to say a team is boring and make it seem like they are not worth watching. Well no one's watching. Its not the Spurs fault....

[SpursStillTippin]

lol @ cavs fans moral victory of "low ratings" who the fuck cares? here is as much as i care about ratings ............i'd rather have 2 people watch my Spurs win another title then have millions watch my team lose(cavs,suns,heat,lakers)..........fuck your ratings lol im a fan what do ratings have anything to do with me???

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

America will watch LeBron James in future years, when his opponent is legitimate. Right now, the country has its back turned to the cheater Spurs, just like they do for Barry Bonds.

Spurs ratings > 1980 Lakers (Magic, Kareem) vs. Sixers (Dr. J) ratings


:sleep

[Extra Stout]

How are record-low ratings a "moral victory" for Cavs fans? They mean either that America is even less interested in the Cavs than they are in the Spurs, or that nobody thinks this series will be remotely competitive.

[Fast Dunk]

Associated Press
Jun. 8, 2007 04:36 PM
NEW YORK - Game 1 of the NBA finals drew the lowest rating ever for an opening-game in prime time, dropping 19 percent from last year.

The San Antonio Spurs' 85-76 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night earned a 6.3 rating and 11 share on ABC. The previous low was a 6.4/11 in 2003.

Last year's Game 1 between Miami and Dallas earned a 7.8 rating and 14 share.

The rating is the percentage watching a telecast among all homes with televisions, and the share is the percentage tuned in to a broadcast among those households with televisions on at the time. A ratings point represents 1,114,000 households.

[ChumpDumper]

Yep, Lebron and the Cavs are just a shitty draw. I don't know why their fans expected any different.

[Fast Dunk]

Yep, the Lebron and the Cavs are just a shitty draw.

:lol

[davidpuddy1]

What about all the people that watched the game at sports bars? What about groups of people that watched at other's houses?

The ratings aren't always accurate because it is mostly estimation based on a small sample size.

[Extra Stout]

In another thread, I speculated that the NBA would move away from its current television strategy with ESPN and TNT.

WRONG.

The NBA is finalizing an eight-year extension of its current deals with Turner and Disney, for a substantial increase in rights fees.

In addition to getting the TV rights, Disney and Turner also will gain rights to streaming video broadcasts of games on their websites, and on-demand video for computers, cell phones, Ipods, and digital cable/satellite TV.

linko (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966562.html?categoryId=2522&cs=1)

[SRJ]

How are record-low ratings a "moral victory" for Cavs fans? They mean either that America is even less interested in the Cavs than they are in the Spurs, or that nobody thinks this series will be remotely competitive.

"If a tree falls in the forest and no one is present to hear it, does it make a sound?"

This is the principle Cleveland is operating on.

[TxJudsonRocketTx]

What the fuck does Crestside Cutthoat mean?

Crestside Deepthroat is more like it :lol

[judaspriestess]

If NBC had kept the NBA contract over the past five years, the ratings would be about two points higer across the board for each Finals series since 2003.

That I believe is the culprit. The marketing of the NBA is horrendous on ABC. + I think the start times are affecting the east coast more so than the west coast. Those are fairly late start times.



The NBA is finalizing an eight-year extension of its current deals with Turner and Disney, for a substantial increase in rights fees.

In addition to getting the TV rights, Disney and Turner also will gain rights to streaming video broadcasts of games on their websites, and on-demand video for computers, cell phones, Ipods, and digital cable/satellite TV.
This also shows the wave of the future. Its not so much more a "TV" thing.
Nowadays with computers(internets), International marketing, Tivo, merchandising etc. The NBA and the networks make up their money in other areas.

I don't watch network TV except for Jeopardy and as of now basketball. I haven't watched network tv consistently for the last three years.

[ChumpDumper]

The NBA is finalizing an eight-year extension of its current deals with Turner and Disney, for a substantial increase in rights fees.That's all we should really care about as far as this deal goes. Higher salary caps.


In addition to getting the TV rights, Disney and Turner also will gain rights to streaming video broadcasts of games on their websites, and on-demand video for computers, cell phones, Ipods, and digital cable/satellite TV.Even better.

[EVAY]

San Antonio/Cleveland 6.3 rating lowest ever for a NBA Finals Game 1

Sad...

But don't blame Lebron..

Blame the Spurs.
Perhaps others have already pointed this out...but even though the total number of people watching were fewer than in other years, the broadcast was still the most watched show that night. So, please, all the ratings mean is that Thursday night was not a night when most people in America were watching regular network tv. Stern is likely bright enough to know that. Also, since both teams in the finals have so many international players the coverage in foreign lands was likely higher than it would have been with some other teams (like Detroit). People really need to get a grip.

[ClingingMars]

who gives a FUCK about the ratings

no one

-Mars

[Marcus Bryant]

The Spurs are 3 wins away from their 4th championship. Who gives a fuck about ratings?

[Fast Dunk]

I think it has to do about the western conference second round "robbery"

Many fans were really mad and made a commitment to boycott the Finals by not watching.

[Fast Dunk]

The Spurs are 3 wins away from their 4th championship. Who gives a fuck about ratings?

Ratings are important..

Too much money on the line.

At this pace we won't have NBA coverage in the near future...

[Marcus Bryant]

Ratings are important..

Too much money on the line.

At this pace we won't have NBA coverage in the near future...

Then the NBA needs to find a better 'next MJ' because the current one isn't cutting it.

[spursfan09]

I think it has to do about the western conference second round "robbery"

Many fans were really mad and made a commitment to boycott the Finals by not watching.

You must be a Suns fans, seriously only Sun fans are the only ones who still care about that loss.

[dbreiden83080]

San Antonio/Cleveland 6.3 rating lowest ever for a NBA Finals Game 1

Sad...

But don't blame Lebron..

Blame the Spurs.

You have to blame Lebron because he is all they talked about numbnuts. If this guys Star power is so huge why is America not watching him in his first finals. Did MJ play the darlings of the league every year in order to get big ratings, no he did not. Lebron is beloved by the media not by the fans this pretty much confirms that.

[spursfan09]

Ratings are important..

Too much money on the line.

At this pace we won't have NBA coverage in the near future...

maybe the NBA should look to another network for better coverage then.

[dbreiden83080]

whatever kid...... holla at me when you can get more than 10 ppl to watch game 2 of the finals......

The NBA ratings have really never been the same since MJ retired buddy. Heat/Mavs last year had the star power of Shaq and Wade and the ratings were only slightly better than Pistons and Spurs the year before.

[dbreiden83080]

maybe the NBA should look to another network for better coverage then.

They need to get their big playoff games off of TNT and ESPN and only on ABC. NBC used to tie all that in with their primetime shows and it helped the ratings. Big playoff games not on major networks is not a good thing.

[Fast Dunk]

maybe the NBA should look to another network for better coverage then.

True I see the ratings getting better...

The Spurs and Duncan are aging, they won't be back to the Finals...

They can't even repeat.

[itzsoweezee]

Finals ratings since 1976


1976 CELTICS VS SUNS 11.5
1977 BLAZERS VS SIXERS 12.7
1978 BULLETS VS SONICS 9.9
1979 SONICS VS BULLETS 7.2
1980 LAKERS VS SIXERS 8.0
1981 CELTICS VS ROCKETS 6.7
1982 LAKERS VS SIXERS 13.0
1983 SIXERS VS LAKERS 12.3
1984 CELTICS VS LAKERS 12.3
1985 LAKERS VS CELTICS 13.7
1986 CELTICS VS ROCKETS 14.1
1987 LAKERS VS CELTICS 15.9
1988 LAKERS VS PISTONS 15.4
1989 PISTONS VS LAKERS 15.1
1990 PISTONS VS BLAZERS 12.3
1991 BULLS VS LAKERS 15.8
1992 BULLS VS BLAZERS 14.2
1993 BULLS VS SUNS 17.9
1994 ROCKETS VS KNICKS 12.4
1995 ROCKETS VS MAGIC 13.9
1996 BULLS VS SONICS 16.7
1997 BULLS VS JAZZ 16.8
1998 BULLS VS JAZZ 18.7
1999 SPURS VS KNICKS 11.3
2000 LAKERS VS PACERS 11.6
2001 LAKERS VS SIXERS 12.1
2002 LAKERS VS NETS 10.2
2003 SPURS VS NETS 6.5
2004 PISTONS VS LAKERS 11.5
2005 SPURS VS PISTONS 8.2
2006 HEAT VS MAVERICKS 8.5

thanks for demonstrating the continual decline in ratings. no matter who is in the finals, the ratings are continuing to go down. what does that prove? americans don't like professional basketball. if the finals were a one game deal, i'm sure the ratings would be big. but americans do not want to invest two weeks following a sport they don't even care about.

[PM5K]

I'll tell you one thing in regard to all of these Lebron/Jordan comparisons, the Bulls could have played the Antartica Polar Bears and still would have gotten a 13....


:spin

[spursfan09]

True I see the ratings getting better...

The Spurs and Duncan are aging, they won't be back to the Finals...

They can't even repeat.

At least they would've won 4 championships by then. And realistically the Spurs won't be done just yet. Tony, Manu and Tim are still in their prime to win a few more.

[whottt]

The fact of the matter is...since Jordan retired I don't think the East has been favored in a single finals...

Take a look at the Lakers ratings...they are supposedly the Goose tha lays the golden egg...yet their 3 finals were not substantially better than the Spurs Knicks.


Shaq is supposed to be ratings gold...but he crapped out last year...as did young and exciting DWade. As did the exciting Mavs.




I just hope every one realizes...the Finals lost ratings substantially in 2003...point that out as the Spurs all you want...just know that was the first year ABC had the finals....and there was like a 2 week delay before the finals started.

ABC does a crappy job of promoting the finals.

[dbreiden83080]

thanks for demonstrating the continual decline in ratings. no matter who is in the finals, the ratings are continuing to go down. what does that prove? americans don't like professional basketball. if the finals were a one game deal, i'm sure the ratings would be big. but americans do not want to invest two weeks following a sport they don't even care about.

Heat/Mavericks is big one there an 8.5 rating compared to the Spurs 8.2 with the Pistons. If this is an issue just with the Spurs then why with the Heat and Mavs were the ratings bad. Basically the only time the ratings have been good since MJ left was when the Lakers were in the finals and even those ratings were not what they were in MJ's heyday.

[Fast Dunk]

At least they would've won 4 championships by then. And realistically the Spurs won't be done just yet. Tony, Manu and Tim are still in their prime to win a few more.


Not so fast...

TD is getting old and injury prone

As far as the Finals, this series is just starting and anything can happen.

[Fast Dunk]

The fact of the matter is...since Jordan retired I don't think the East has been favored in a single finals...

Take a look at the Lakers ratings...they are supposedly the Golden egg...yet their 3 finals were not substantially better than the Spurs Knicks.


Shaq is supposed to be ratings gold...but he crapped out last year...as did young and exciting DWade.




I just hope every one realizes...the Finals lost ratings substantially in 2003...point that out as the Spurs all you want...just know that was the first year ABC had the finals.

ABC does a crappy job of promoting the finals.

ABC had good ratings in 2004 between the Lakers and Pistons.

So much for the NBA on NBC being better.

[dbreiden83080]

ABC had good ratings in 2004 between the Lakers and Pistons.

So much for the NBA on NBC being better.

And bad ratings with the Heat and Mavs why is that exactly if this is just about the Spurs? What that chart shows is Lakers need to be in the finals or you get bad ratings. Check out the ratings from MJ's day HUGE, you may never see that again.

[O-Factor]

At least they would've won 4 championships by then. And realistically the Spurs won't be done just yet. Tony, Manu and Tim are still in their prime to win a few more.

This is the first of our 3-peat. We will own the next 2 years....I would say 4-peat, but Im modest.

[Fast Dunk]

And bad ratings with the Heat and Mavs why is that exactly if this is just about the Spurs? What that chart shows is Lakers need to be in the finals or you get bad ratings. Check out the ratings from MJ's day HUGE, you may never see that again.

Hey but at least the Heat-Mavs Game 1 ratings were better..19% better than this Years game 1 and slightly better overrall for the whole series.

[Fast Dunk]

This is the first of our 3-peat. We will own the next 2 years....I would say 4-peat, but Im modest.
try to repeat for once then you can talk about 4-peats :lol

[Vito Corleone]

it must be sad when more people rather watch the wnba finals over a finals that the san antonio spurs are in......

I couldn't give a flying funk who is or isn't watching the NBA finals, in about 4 games San Antonio is still going to be the champs, so go home and suck on that. Maybe if all those exciting teams in big markets learned how to play the game then they could beat us and bring in those big ratings, but since they can't they have no one to blame but themselves.

Keep hanging your hat on low ratings as a sign that San Antonio doesn't belong because it only makes you and every other team look bad since none of them could beat my Spurs.

BTW What were the ratings when San Antonio was playing the elite teams, I'm pretty sure they were pretty high, fact is everyone knows it is only a matter of getting the games over with before the Spurs are being crowned champs. When the outcome is obvious few people are going to take time to watch.

[Fast Dunk]

I couldn't give a flying funk who is or isn't watching the NBA finals, in about 4 games San Antonio is still going to be the champs, so go home and suck on that. Maybe if all those exciting teams in big markets learned how to play the game then they could beat us and bring in those big ratings, but since they can't they have no one to blame but themselves.

Keep hanging your hat on low ratings as a sign that San Antonio doesn't belong because it only makes you and every other team look bad since none of them could beat my Spurs.

BTW What were the ratings when San Antonio was playing the elite teams, I'm pretty sure they were pretty high, fact is everyone knows it is only a matter of getting the games over with before the Spurs are being crowned champs. When the outcome is obvious few people are going to take time to watch.

True they watch the "other" teams, that's why they're high...

[dbreiden83080]

Hey but at least the Heat-Mavs Game 1 ratings were better..19% better than this Years game 1 and slightly better overrall for the whole series.

Actually what that shows is the Cavs are the reason they suck. Pistons/Spurs were much better than this rating. You do realize that all the media were saying the ratings will be good because of Lebron so it stands to reason that he is not the star the media thinks he is in the eyes of the public.

[spursfan09]

Are fans trying to imply that the Spurs don't deserve to be the in finals just because they bring low ratings? Jealousy is not an attractive quality to have.

[Fast Dunk]

Actually what that shows is the Cavs are the reason they suck. Pistons/Spurs were much better than this rating. You do realize that all the media were saying the ratings will be good because of Lebron so it stands to reason that he is not the star the media thinks he is in the eyes of the public.

Not really...

People don't want to watch the Spurs even if it was MJ's Bulls against the Spurs..

The Spurs kill the excitement.

[ClingingMars]

NO ONE GIVES A FUCK ABOUT RATINGS

End of thread.

http://www.picpop.com/gallery/albums/userpics/0828/lameass.gif

-Mars

[O-Factor]

try to repeat for once then you can talk about 4-peats :lol

Try winning one championship, then you can talk to me about repeats and what not

[Vito Corleone]

try to repeat for once then you can talk about 4-peats :lol

And remind me again exactly what has the city of Cleveland ever won? Well I guess if there was a championship for water catching fire, you would win that.

[O-Factor]

And remind me again exactly what has the city of Cleveland ever won? Well I guess if there was a championship for water catching fire, you would win that.

If the was a championship for hype, Cleveland would be on a 4 year championship run.

[Vito Corleone]

True they watch the "other" teams, that's why they're high...

And yet all those teams are done and we are still playing what does that say about their brand of exciting basketball.

Its for losers

[dbreiden83080]

Not really...

People don't want to watch the Spurs even if it was MJ's Bulls against the Spurs..

The Spurs kill the excitement.

According to your chart people don't want to watch the Heat and Mavs either. Essentially same ratings as the Spurs and Pistons.

[davi78239]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/e/ec/San_Antonio_Spurs_logo.png


=

http://www.csmngt.com/eg%20sleep.jpg


She's just tired of the spurs being a dominant team. What can we say...........I guess the whole world would be watching if the Kings ever made the Finals huh.

[Extra Stout]

Not really...

People don't want to watch the Spurs even if it was MJ's Bulls against the Spurs..

The Spurs kill the excitement.
I imagine if they held Jordan to 4-16 shooting and 6 turnovers, that would indeed be a real buzzkill for the bandwagon fans.

[doldrums]

it's probably being watched worldwide in record #'s. My friend in Paris says people are waking up at 3am to watch the finals.

[Strike]

:dramaquee :cry :dramaquee :cry :dramaquee :cry
America will watch LeBron James in future years, when his opponent is legitimate. Right now, the country has its back turned to the cheater Spurs, just like they do for Barry Bonds.
http://www.christianpoint.org/inspiration/images/crying_baby.jpg

[Strike]

I think it has to do about the western conference second round "robbery"

Many fans were really mad and made a commitment to boycott the Finals by not watching.

Let morons and bitches boycott the finals all they want! Does it change the fact that the Spurs are going to win the title?

No.

Do you think any player on the Spurs really gives a shit about ratings?

No.

And I still haven't seen anything about why, even with "the king" in the finals, it was still a ratings flop. If he is so great and such a draw, and if the Spurs are so bad and boring and evil, then why aren't people watching in droves to root for their new baby boy and root against the Spurs?

Anyone? Anyone?

[Strike]

True I see the ratings getting better...

The Spurs and Duncan are aging, they won't be back to the Finals...

They can't even repeat.

:lmao

When the Cleveland "give the ball to Lebrons" win ANYTHING back to back, then you can talk, fucktard.

[Strike]

Hey but at least the Heat-Mavs Game 1 ratings were better..19% better than this Years game 1 and slightly better overrall for the whole series.

WHY THE FUCK AREN'T PEOPLE WATCHING YOUR BOY FUCKHEAD????????

[cole]

unless you're abc executives, who cares about nba finals ratings?

if kings fans find the spurs boring, who cares? we're in the finals. they're bad and getting worse.

[Strike]

try to repeat for once then you can talk about 4-peats :lol

Try to win anything more than once every 50 FUCKING YEARS YOU FUCKING DOLT.

[Mike_Jones]

Fillmoe got the internet going nuts!

[Marcus Bryant]

Cleveland and Sacramento, major media markets.

[T Park]

Sacramento must be speaking from experience from the finals

oops......

[Marcus Bryant]

1997 BULLS VS JAZZ 16.8
1998 BULLS VS JAZZ 18.7

Obviously the Jazz had a lot to do with that. Apparently America is not buying James as the next Jordan. Based on what the Spurs did to him in Game 1, I can't say I disagree.

[Marcus Bryant]

Before I forget, I'll take 3 "boring" titles and being 3 wins from another boring one anytime. Certainly beats not making the playoffs and having to look back to the 1887-88 Rochester Royals as your only championship team.

[WalterBenitez]

we are boring ... so f...k that TV

[DOMINATOR]

ratings are down because everyone knows spurs are going to win... duh
west>least

[Solid D]

http://www.nba.com/global/finals2007_itv_070607.html

-The Finals Will Reach Fans in 205 Countries and Territories in 46 languages-

NEW YORK, June 6, 2007 - When the San Antonio Spurs tip off against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, June 7, a record 128 television broadcasters, will provide coverage of the 2007 NBA Finals for a growing NBA fan base around the world. This breaks last year's record of 112 telecasters. Overall, fans in 205 countries and territories will be watching in 46 languages.

Also, more than 250 international media from 23 countries and territories will converge in San Antonio and Cleveland to bring the action back to fans around the world. There will be 36 television and radio networks and websites on-site including 20 who will be in commentary positions.

For the first time a TV station from the Middle East (ART - based in Jordan) is sending a commentary team to cover the NBA Finals live in Arabic for NBA fans throughout the Middle East. Other NBA television partners coming on-site to provide live coverage for the first time are from Albania (Telesport), Argentina (Canal 7), Bosnia (OBN) and Brazil (TV Esporte Interativo).

"The NBA Finals is no longer just an American event, it is worldwide. We at Arab Radio and Television (ART) are very excited to bring the NBA to our neck of the woods,” said Mustapha Tell, ART Head of Sports. “While we have been showing NBA games on ART for years, this year for the first time we are attending the game and are right in the middle of it all and can share that excitement with our viewers.”

"OBN TV is broadcasting The Finals live and Bosnian fans are thrilled to have the opportunity to watch the best basketball league in the world on their TV screens,” said Mirza Vilic, Executive Director, OBN TV, Bosnia. "The NBA Finals promises to be very exciting and OBN is proud to broadcast all seven games live, in addition to being on-site at The Finals for the first time.”

A record nine international players will be competing in The Finals and there will be television coverage in all of the players home countries. The San Antonio Spurs have six international players: Tim Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands), Francisco Elson (Netherlands), Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Fabricio Oberto (Argentina), Tony Parker (France) and Beno Udrih (Slovenia). The Cleveland Cavaliers have three international players: Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Lithuania), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Montenegro) and Anderson Varejo (Brazil).

Eleven international NBA television shows will shoot behind the scenes at The Finals, up from five last year, including Hoopark (China, CCTV), NBA Lin Ju Li (China, GDTV-Guangdong), NBA Zhi Zao (China, 32 telecasters), NBA Magazine (NHK, Japan), NBA Jam (RPN, Philippines), Basketball Tonight (ESPN Star Sports Taiwan, Pan Asia), NBA Time and American Dream (Canal+, France), Espanoles NBA (Canal+ Spain) and NBA Timeout (US, AZN Television). NBA.com/China will also be on-site to capture video for daily videoblogs.

NBA team rosters featured a record 85 international players, approximately 20% of the NBA, from 37 countries and territories at the end of the 2006-07 season. When the 2007 NBA Playoffs tipped-off, a record 60 international players from 28 countries and territories were on Playoff rosters.

Along with recent MVP winners such as Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Phoenix’s Steve Nash (Canada) and San Antonio's Duncan, players such as, Chicago’s Andres Nocioni (Argentina) and Luol Deng (England), Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao (Brazil) and Aleksandar “Sasha” Pavlovic (Montenegro) and Sixth Man of the Year Leandro Barbosa (Brazil) made significant contributions during the Playoffs and helped make this a coming out year for a number of international players.

NBA.com continues to reach more fans around the world than ever. Among English language sports league Web sites, NBA.com draws the greatest number of users outside the United States with more than 50% of traffic to the site coming from outside the U.S. The Finals will be no different as NBA fans can log on to NBA.com and listen to live audio of the games in 15 languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, Dutch, Flemish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Tagalog.

The NBA was the first U.S. professional sports league to offer live, language specific web casts internationally. In the NBA’s continued quest to utilize technology to reach NBA fans through new media platforms, The Finals will be available via live web casts to fans in Brazil in Portuguese, courtesy of NBA partner Globo.com. The NBA Finals will also be available on a live streaming basis to 20 international markets via NBA.com/broadband.

[judaspriestess]

^^^^ NICE!! ratings may be down with the casual retarded so called fans in the US but the NBA is making up for it nicely around the world.

[dbreiden83080]

America will watch LeBron James in future years, when his opponent is legitimate. Right now, the country has its back turned to the cheater Spurs, just like they do for Barry Bonds.

Legitimate, so the Spurs are a bad team. America does not want to see the golden boy tested in this finals. The Spurs being seen as bad guys was suppossed to help the ratings because Lebron was in the role as savior and America would be cheering him on all the way. The idea that this is not about Lebron is laughable. You can't promote him as this beloved player and then when he is in the finals ignore that the ratings are bad. in 1996 MJ could have played the finals against a JV girls basketball team at 3 AM and the ratings would have been better than what they did in game 1.

[Marcus Bryant]

I think a reason the American public at large isn't tuning in, besides the lack of a team from a major media market, is that the American public is largely ignorant of the game. It takes a transcendent star(s) from a major media market to pull in the public (which, let's not forget, is the same public that tunes in droves to American Idol and other crap). It's no surprise that the Finals in the last 10 to 15 years that garnered the largest shares featured a Magic, Jordan, Bird, or a combo of Shaq and Kobe.

Also, the league in general has lost some of what it used to be in the 80s. Just look at the following:



1988 LAKERS VS PISTONS 15.4
1989 PISTONS VS LAKERS 15.1

2004 PISTONS VS LAKERS 11.5


The league has to compete with a lot more in the way of entertainment nowadays. 500 or so channels on cable plus the internets. Gone are the days of just 3 major networks with 3 major professional sports leagues. Anyways, take a look at the ratings for last year's Finals:


2006 HEAT VS MAVERICKS 8.5

Two new teams to the Finals, one with arguably the most dominant bigman of the era and the other with a flashy high scoring team from a large market. Another way to look at it is you move Shaq out of LA and team him with a relative unknown guard like Wade instead of Bryant and you have a 30% or so drop in the ratings.

In any event, I'll leave it to the goobers of middle America to disparage the game based on popularity while I watch my favorite team march to yet another championship.

[johnsmith]

Plus America is losing interest in basketball.


NFL is where people's passion is nowadays.

[dbreiden83080]

I think a reason the American public at large isn't tuning in, besides the lack of a team from a major media market, is that the American public is largely ignorant of the game. It takes a transcendent star(s) from a major media market to pull in the public (which, let's not forget, is the same public that tunes in droves to American Idol and other crap). It's no surprise that the Finals in the last 10 to 15 years that garnered the largest shares featured a Magic, Jordan, Bird, or a combo of Shaq and Kobe.

Also, the league in general has lost some of what it used to be in the 80s. Just look at the following:



The league has to compete with a lot more in the way of entertainment nowadays. 500 or so channels on cable plus the internets. Gone are the days of just 3 major networks with 3 major professional sports leagues. Anyways, take a look at the ratings for last year's Finals:



Two new teams to the Finals, one with arguably the most dominant bigman of the era and the other with a flashy high scoring team from a large market. Another way to look at it is you move Shaq out of LA and team him with a relative unknown guard like Wade instead of Bryant and you have a 30% or so drop in the ratings.

In any event, I'll leave it to the goobers of middle America to disparage the game based on popularity while I watch my favorite team march to yet another championship.

All good points but i do think Stern needs to take a look at how they are promoting these games. The TV deal is up and they are doing the new contract he should take a step back. This is a finals that has a team on it's to maybe a dynasty and it's brightest young star in his first finals and the ratings are the worst ever. That is an alarming formula right there for the NBA to be in this spot. The league is in deep shit if the ratings for the finals are only good when the Lakers get there. You said it last years finals with Shaq and Wade not much better in terms of ratings. I really think they need to start doing these games like NBC did which is make sure almost all the major playoff games are on ABC in primetime. No more TNT and ESPN doing conference finals. They need to restructure the way they promote the games to the fans.

[Marcus Bryant]

Not sure if this has been touched upon in the thread, but the double whammy of Jordan not making it back to a Finals after '98 plus the lockout took their toll on the league's popularity in the US


1996 BULLS VS SONICS 16.7
1997 BULLS VS JAZZ 16.8
1998 BULLS VS JAZZ 18.7
1999 SPURS VS KNICKS 11.3
2000 LAKERS VS PACERS 11.6
2001 LAKERS VS SIXERS 12.1
2002 LAKERS VS NETS 10.2
2003 SPURS VS NETS 6.5
2004 PISTONS VS LAKERS 11.5
2005 SPURS VS PISTONS 8.2
2006 HEAT VS MAVERICKS 8.5

The last 3 Bulls championship teams pulled larger ratings than the Kobe/Shaq Lakers were ever able to, despite both teams running off 3 titles in a row. And that was with the Bulls playing a small market Jazz team twice while the Lakers of 2000-02 faced large market opponents from Philadelphia and northern New Jersey.

[dbreiden83080]

Plus America is losing interest in basketball.


NFL is where people's passion is nowadays.

That's true Marcus made good points about other forms of entertainment taking away fan interest but that has not hurt the NFL. 93 million people watched the Superbowl last year, 93 MILLION, WOW!!

[Marcus Bryant]

Yeah, this is still a football country. Also, look at where America's population is growing...in the southwest. A lot of that growth is among hispanics, which aren't exactly as interested in general with basketball as they are with baseball and the other form of football. Basketball has a lot more in common with soccer nowadays, as you have a relative smaller segment of the population who are diehard devotees.

Basketball is a sport dominated by African-Americans and an ever growing number of international players. As a segment of the population African-Americans are stagnant in terms of % of the total population. I'm sure if we take a look at the NBA's ratings outside the US they are exploding. But inside the US, Middle White America is turning away from the league. I think some of this has to do with their perception of the league. Hence why the league has opted to institute a dress code, among other initiatives to clean up the league's image.

[Marcus Bryant]

Plus, I would say the average American is inundated with a large amount of entertainment choices and a lot less time to check it all out. How many people out there who would turn into a NBA Finals game in the 1980s now are not because they are surfing the internets?

[Solid D]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_June_10/ai_n13808560

More Than 105 Million Viewers Worldwide for Spurs-Pistons Game 1; Game 1 Of The Finals In the U.S. Drives ABC To No. 1 On Thursday In Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 And Across All Key Men Demos
Business Wire, June 10, 2005
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. -- With 205 countries televising the Finals, more than 105 million viewers worldwide are estimated to have tuned in to Game 1 on Thursday, June 9. An estimated 25 million viewers in China watched Game 1 while in Argentina, home country of Spurs guard and Game 1 star Manu Ginobili, drew an estimated 2 million viewers - the most ever for an NBA telecast in the country.

In the United States, Game 1 of the 2005 NBA Finals - with close to 11 million viewers - led ABC to win Thursday night in primetime among Adults 18-49 (4.4/14), Adults 18-34 (4.2/15) and across all the key male demographics, with high double-digit wins over its nearest competition: Men 18-34 +45% (4.3/15), Men 18-49 +59% (4.2/16) and Men 25-54 +70% (4.6/14).
Compared to the last NBA Finals match-up not to feature the LA Lakers (2003 Game 1: New Jersey-San Antonio on 6/4/03), Game 1 of the 2005 NBA Finals was up by 13% in households, (7.2/13 vs. 6.4/11) 10% in Total Viewers (10.57 million vs. 9.6 million) by 10% among Adults 18-49 (4.4 vs. 4.0), 2% among Adults 18-34 (4.2 vs. 4.1), 16% among Men 18-49 (5.9 vs. 5.1) and 10% among Men 18-34 (5.7 vs. 5.2).

COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

[ChumpDumper]

So what we need is Eduardo Najera, except he should be good at basketball.

[Marcus Bryant]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_June_10/ai_n13808560

More Than 105 Million Viewers Worldwide for Spurs-Pistons Game 1; Game 1 Of The Finals In the U.S. Drives ABC To No. 1 On Thursday In Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 And Across All Key Men Demos
Business Wire, June 10, 2005
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. -- With 205 countries televising the Finals, more than 105 million viewers worldwide are estimated to have tuned in to Game 1 on Thursday, June 9. An estimated 25 million viewers in China watched Game 1 while in Argentina, home country of Spurs guard and Game 1 star Manu Ginobili, drew an estimated 2 million viewers - the most ever for an NBA telecast in the country.



There you go.

[SA210]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_June_10/ai_n13808560

More Than 105 Million Viewers Worldwide for Spurs-Pistons Game 1; Game 1 Of The Finals In the U.S. Drives ABC To No. 1 On Thursday In Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 And Across All Key Men Demos
Business Wire, June 10, 2005
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. -- With 205 countries televising the Finals, more than 105 million viewers worldwide are estimated to have tuned in to Game 1 on Thursday, June 9. An estimated 25 million viewers in China watched Game 1 while in Argentina, home country of Spurs guard and Game 1 star Manu Ginobili, drew an estimated 2 million viewers - the most ever for an NBA telecast in the country.

In the United States, Game 1 of the 2005 NBA Finals - with close to 11 million viewers - led ABC to win Thursday night in primetime among Adults 18-49 (4.4/14), Adults 18-34 (4.2/15) and across all the key male demographics, with high double-digit wins over its nearest competition: Men 18-34 +45% (4.3/15), Men 18-49 +59% (4.2/16) and Men 25-54 +70% (4.6/14).
Compared to the last NBA Finals match-up not to feature the LA Lakers (2003 Game 1: New Jersey-San Antonio on 6/4/03), Game 1 of the 2005 NBA Finals was up by 13% in households, (7.2/13 vs. 6.4/11) 10% in Total Viewers (10.57 million vs. 9.6 million) by 10% among Adults 18-49 (4.4 vs. 4.0), 2% among Adults 18-34 (4.2 vs. 4.1), 16% among Men 18-49 (5.9 vs. 5.1) and 10% among Men 18-34 (5.7 vs. 5.2).

COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
:smokin

[SPURS REP]

Without reading every post. I will say WHO CARES about t.v. ratings. Seems to me that people just want to use it as another lame excuse to whine.
As a rep who sells licensed everything. I can tell you without any reservation that Spurs gear and all the things that go with it out sell all the other NBA teams, don't even get me started on jerseys at the NBA store..blah,blah.... Believe me, I can't tell you how many companies are happy to see the Spurs in the finals...
For that matter Cleveland, first time combined with Lebron and the sports history generates sales...There are more to these finals than TV...Merchandise and lots of it!!!
Getting grief from a Hawk fan and a King fan is pretty funny considering nobody buys their stuff OR watches them on T.V.!!!

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

True they watch the "other" teams, that's why they're high...


Actually it says more about your team (the Cavs, or is it the Suns, you keep changing...?).

The Spurs ratings have all been consistent until the drop this year playing the shitty ass Cavs.

[ducks]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_June_10/ai_n13808560

More Than 105 Million Viewers Worldwide for Spurs-Pistons Game 1; Game 1 Of The Finals In the U.S. Drives ABC To No. 1 On Thursday In Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 And Across All Key Men Demos
Business Wire, June 10, 2005
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. -- With 205 countries televising the Finals, more than 105 million viewers worldwide are estimated to have tuned in to Game 1 on Thursday, June 9. An estimated 25 million viewers in China watched Game 1 while in Argentina, home country of Spurs guard and Game 1 star Manu Ginobili, drew an estimated 2 million viewers - the most ever for an NBA telecast in the country.

In the United States, Game 1 of the 2005 NBA Finals - with close to 11 million viewers - led ABC to win Thursday night in primetime among Adults 18-49 (4.4/14), Adults 18-34 (4.2/15) and across all the key male demographics, with high double-digit wins over its nearest competition: Men 18-34 +45% (4.3/15), Men 18-49 +59% (4.2/16) and Men 25-54 +70% (4.6/14).
Compared to the last NBA Finals match-up not to feature the LA Lakers (2003 Game 1: New Jersey-San Antonio on 6/4/03), Game 1 of the 2005 NBA Finals was up by 13% in households, (7.2/13 vs. 6.4/11) 10% in Total Viewers (10.57 million vs. 9.6 million) by 10% among Adults 18-49 (4.4 vs. 4.0), 2% among Adults 18-34 (4.2 vs. 4.1), 16% among Men 18-49 (5.9 vs. 5.1) and 10% among Men 18-34 (5.7 vs. 5.2).

COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

friday night would have helped more in rating then thursday

[Fast Dunk]

I hope the ratings for Game 2 are better for the good of the NBA

[Cry Havoc]

Um... is it shocking that the ratings aren't that great this year?

San Antonio. Cleveland.

Not exactly the mega-cities of the United States.

If Chicago played the Lakers in the finals, they would be garnering HUGE ratings. It's simple, people: Population.

[Its already over]

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3746/sasucksavek7zo3.jpg

[johnsmith]

I hope the ratings for Game 2 are better for the good of the NBA


Matched up against the series finale of the Soprano's...........don't think it's going to happen.

[Shred]

Apparenly, if you watched Game 1, you should have been So You Think You Can Dance?-ing! :downspin: (At least there's dignity in getting crushed by the Sopranos head-to-head.)

[ChumpDumper]

:lol at Cleveland's surprise at finding out nobody gives a shit about them.

Welcome ot the club.

[BWJACKETS]

Yeah, because the rest of the country was just completely on pins and needles anticipating the ratings grabber that could've been Cavs/Jazz, huh?

Cavs vs. Jazz would have done much bigger numbers, everybody hates San Antonio.

[ChumpDumper]

Everybody hates Cleveland too.

:lmao @ saying the JAZZ would bail you out though. That was a good one.

[Cry Havoc]

Cavs vs. Jazz would have done much bigger numbers, everybody hates San Antonio.

Uh, no.

Teams that are hated draw huge rating numbers.

Utah - Cleveland MIGHT have put up slightly better numbers, but only because people would have thought they could have been "witness" to the first title for LeBron. With the Spurs, they know there's no chance of that happening.

[VinnyTestesVerde]

Cavs vs. Jazz would have done much bigger numbers, everybody hates San Antonio.

W
G
A
F

:sleep :dramaquee :violin

[BlackFlagg]

Cavs vs. Jazz would have done much bigger numbers, everybody hates San Antonio.


Good old-fashioned, unadulterated jealousy is such an amusing thing. :lol :downspin: :clap

[VinnyTestesVerde]

True I see the ratings getting better...

The Spurs and Duncan are aging, they won't be back to the Finals...

They can't even repeat.

Any legit champion would not only win the title, but do it AGAIN the next year to really-ultra-super with the title right? The first title doesn't really count, but if they win it again back to back, then the team really legitimizes their previous wins.

:pctoss

Let me think...the Cavs can't win ONE TITLE. Unbelievable...excuses are for losers dude.

[da_suns_fan__]

Um... is it shocking that the ratings aren't that great this year?

San Antonio. Cleveland.

Not exactly the mega-cities of the United States.

If Chicago played the Lakers in the finals, they would be garnering HUGE ratings. It's simple, people: Population.

:lol

Nice Try. Why did the Rockets and Magic have twice the viewership? Because the population of ORLANDO is so huge?

The Spurs aren't a draw because they are BORING. It has NOTHING to do with market sizes and every Spurs fan knows it.

[ClingingMars]

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3746/sasucksavek7zo3.jpg

http://www.forumspile.com/STFU-Stop_Posting.jpg

-Mars

[ChumpDumper]

Why did the Rockets and Magic have twice the viewership? Because the population of ORLANDO is so huge?Houston is....
The Spurs aren't a draw because they are BORING. It has NOTHING to do with market sizes and every Spurs fan knows it.Nah, were the Spurs in New York, there wouldn't be enough sanitary wipes in the world to unstick the keyboards of the national press.

[dbestpro]

People in the US are turning into cows. Someone calls the Spurs boring then all the US fans call the Spurs boring. Someoe says no one watched the game in the US and they think that is all that matters. 105 million people watched the Spurs play. The world can't help it if the USA fan wants to live in a fantasy world of slam dunks ans wide open threes based upon matador defenses. The Spurs play the game the way it was mean't to be played. No team in NBA history has had such a draw of fans. The Spurs are a worldwide favorite by x5 over any other team in history. Sorry to burst the bubble to the fans of fantasy dunk basketball. The Spurs may not be America's team, but they are the World's Team.

[CharlieMac]

Yeah, those ratings were really suprising.

[dbreiden83080]

Houston is....Nah, were the Spurs in New York, there wouldn't be enough sanitary wipes in the world to unstick the keyboards of the national press.

You got that right i live in NY saw all those Ewing Knick teams up close. There was nothing flashy or fun about Ewing and those best knicks teams were slow grinding physical teams that would beat the hell out of people. They played in a big market and got the ratings.

[dbreiden83080]

:lol

Nice Try. Why did the Rockets and Magic have twice the viewership? Because the population of ORLANDO is so huge?

The Spurs aren't a draw because they are BORING. It has NOTHING to do with market sizes and every Spurs fan knows it.

Other than your almighty Suns tell me who is so exciting to watch compared to the Spurs? Tony driving the lane, Manu driving and hitting 3's and Tim dominating in the low block is boring compared to what give me a few examples??

[u2sarajevo]

I am left wondering if the thread starter is a network executive? If not.... why do you care what the ratings are?