The league also set a record for total video views. Open golf (-42%).ĭespite the drop in linear viewership, the NBA drove fan engagement during the season, with its average digital audience for nationally televised games up 34% compared to the 2019 postseason. Open tennis (-45%), Kentucky Derby (-43%), college football (-30%) and U.S. The NBA’s decline mirrored other sports properties including the MLB Division Series (-40%), NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (-38%), U.S. While the restart clearly was a huge operational success, NBA postseason TV ratings from Disney dropped 37%, including record low viewership for the Finals, as the league was forced to play its postseason in the crowded fall season during an election year instead of its typical spring dates. “We had no blueprint, but we pulled together as a team that far and wide had input in turning over every rock in putting together protocols.” “Everyone involved followed every plan we put together,” Flatow said. The league and the players union will be negotiating how to factor the heavy losses into the salary cap.īut the NBA’s most significant metric from the bubble is zero - as in zero positive COVID-19 tests or any disruption of play while at Disney. The losses offset by the bubble do not include any specific team losses, which will be significant as well. Expect a major decline, given that 40% of total league revenue comes from its gate. The review will establish the amount of basketball-related income that will be used to calculate next season’s salary cap. The league won’t know the specific amount of its overall revenue shortfall due to the pandemic until it completes audits for all 30 teams over the next few weeks. 11 when the Los Angeles Lakers won Game 6 of the NBA Finals to secure their record-tying 17th title. 22 of last year and finally ended on Oct. “Without a doubt, it was worth it,” said one executive from a Disney bubble team of the massive effort and investment needed to complete the longest season in NBA history. For the Finals, the NBA unveiled a new court design that for the first time put the logo of Finals presenting partner YouTube TV at center court while also placing Walt Disney World script on each side of the court. Other sponsor contracts were fulfilled by virtual signage during TV broadcasts and hard signage around Disney courts. Much of the teams’ and league sponsorship contractual obligations were also fulfilled at Disney by the addition of virtual ads and other activations, notably the Michelob Ultra Courtside Club that drew 60,000 virtual fans who logged into the fan wall during the 172 games played at Disney. 1 priority was health and safety and from a business standpoint, it was important that we would finish the 2019-2020 season, crown a champion and be able to include our business and media partners and develop a plan to bring our fans courtside,” said Kelly Flatow, NBA executive vice president, event management, who played a key role in planning and operating the restart at Disney. The bubble’s economics are critical in stemming significant losses brought on by the three-month pandemic shutdown and the league’s China controversy that kept the NBA off CCTV for months. The NBA spent $180 million to operate 100 days of basketball in its Disney bubble, but the steep investment allowed the league to stop the loss of $1.5 billion in projected revenue.Īccording to sources familiar with the league’s finances, the Disney restart allowed the NBA to stem the loss of about $1.5 billion in expected revenue, the bulk of the money tied to national and local television revenue followed by league sponsorships. One move by the league to give sponsors exposure included putting the logo of Finals presenting partner YouTube TV at center court.
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