More than 2.7 billion dollars per year, or 24 billion over 9 years! This is the amount of the contract signed by the NBA in 2014 with ESPN, ABC and TNT, and it is since the signing of this deal that player salaries have exploded, and that the league is doing like a charm.
It is also for that that the chains have their say on the date of the resumption of the season, especially that the audiences were not good in the “bubble”. No question for broadcasters to wait until January to resume the season, and no question of facing head-on against the Olympic Games at the end of July.
« The chains told the NBA it would be better in terms of exposure, audience and revenue Explains Neal Pilson, former president of CBS. ” The Olympic Games monopolize the audience. They are grabbing the dollars that should be in the NBA. Some advertisers will have to make a choice, and they will probably opt for the Olympics. »
According to the NBA, starting before Christmas would save between $ 500 million and $ 1 billion, and this includes income related to advertising campaigns broadcast on ESPN, TNT and ABC.
« There is a lot of money at stake at Christmas, and usually the NBA solicits more than 500 sponsors to attract customers in November and December. ”Recalls Todd Krizelman, boss of MediaRadar agency on CNBC. A period during which the NBA achieves very good audiences on Christmas Eve with half a dozen matches broadcast from noon to 9:00 p.m.
It is therefore, for the NBA, to optimize the period that is successful (Christmas), while avoiding competition from a global event (the Tokyo Olympics). ” This creates competition for advertising, audiences and the public. It doesn’t make sense for anyone to be facing the Olympics »Warns Neal Pilson.
This is why the players should validate in a few hours the scenario proposed by the NBA with a regular season of 72 matches and Finals scheduled for early July. Just before the Olympics which will start on July 23, 2021.
