This is good news for the NBA: with 1.5 million viewers on average watching the matches in the first phase of the In-Season Tournament, the Great League boosted its audiences over the period.
Indeed, while waiting for the data for the quarter-finals, but also the semi-finals and the final, the audiences for the qualifying matches represented an increase of 26% on ESPN and TNT, compared to similar matches, the last year. An increase confirmed on local channels, with an increase of 20%.
For ESPN and TNT, who shared the semi-finals, it was also the opportunity for a “crossover”, with Stephen A. Smith, Adrian Wojnarowski and Bob Myers a few meters from Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O 'Neal.
The opportunity for “Chuck” to congratulate the former Warriors GM to have “left the Titanic before it sank…”
“This is the first step in a project that could create other opportunities in the future”, explained Craig Barryexecutive vice president and chief content officer of TNT Sports.
For the NBA, this audience bonus is in any case an interesting argument as negotiations approach for the next TV agreement. This NBA Tournament is therefore the ideal product to integrate new broadcasters (Netflix?).
As a reminder, renegotiations around the NBA's next TV contract will open on March 9, 2024, first with a 45-day window during which the basketball league will only be able to negotiate with its current broadcasters, The Walt Disney Company. (ESPN/ESPN+/ABC) and Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT/NBA TV/Max). Only if no agreement is sealed during this period will other broadcasters be able to join the race.
