While the relationship between sport and television is typically a reciprocal one, it is the broadcast networks that usually wear the pants.
Sporting bodies around the world are pressured into scheduling games at the behest of their broadcast partners’ demands, with the lure of rights fees and advertising exposure usurping the convenience of those who still like to sit in the stands.
In the National Basketball League’s case, the Wednesday night timeslot on Fox Sports has been a necessary evil. Necessary because it allows the league to escape the competition of other summer sports such as soccer, evil because a mid-week clash is hardly family-friendly during the chunk of the season before and after school holidays.
It’s also particularly evil for those in Queensland, who have been expected to be in their seats by 6.30pm so Fox Sports can maintain its regular 7.30pm timeslot in New South Wales and Victoria. The effect that this can have on attendances was evident in the Round Eight meeting between Cairns and Townsville. While no official crowd figure was given, the number of empty seats was embarrassing for a FNQ Derby which could have sold out the Convention Centre had it been played on a weekend.
It is appears, however, that commonsense has prevailed. Just weeks after the Gold Coast Blaze happily announced that Fox Sports had agreed to push back their remaining Wednesday night games to 7.30pm local time, the Townsville Crocs have struck a similar deal. This is a win-win situation. Fans now have ample opportunity to be in their seats by tip-off, while a larger crowd makes for an enhanced atmosphere and television product for the broadcaster.
This decision bucks the aforementioned trend of networks wielding their power to the detriment of fans, and symbolises a gradual turning point in Fox’s treatment of the NBL. The number of games being shown this year is a significant improvement on last season’s coverage, which didn’t commence until Round Six and included just one live game each week.
There has also been the introduction of regular “every second counts” promos filmed during the pre-season tournament in Darwin, and the decision to replace Steve Carfino with football commentators Brian Taylor and Dwayne Russell has assisted the league in its efforts to “Australianise” the product. Taylor’s wittiness has proven incredibly popular in the AFL and will attract the curiosity of mainstream viewers, although his lack of research and occasional inaccuracies must make some purists cringe.
Fox Sport’s relationship with the NBL still has plenty of room for improvement, however, as all basketball fans will realise on Saturday 5 December. That’s when Melbourne Tigers recruit Julius Hodge makes his much-anticipated return to the Distinctive Homes Dome after walking out on Adelaide last season due to a pay dispute. Sixers fans are known for their passion and hostility at the best of times, meaning Hodge’s reception will make for a compelling spectacle in front of what will surely be a near-capacity crowd.
Compelling for those that can see it, at least.
As it stands now, the clash will only be shown on Rivus TV, a pay-per-view streaming service marred by technical difficulties.
The NBL should have done everything in its power to ensure this game would be accessible to the masses. If Fox refused to increase its broadcast schedule on economic grounds, the league could have asked to swap a future Saturday night broadcast for next week’s showdown. For example, the January 16 clash between Perth and Cairns is hardly going to have fans salivating in their living rooms and could have been sacrificed for the good of the game.
Instead, the only thing being sacrificed is another opportunity to showcase the best the NBL has to offer to a national audience.
Despite Fox’s improvements, it remains an all-too familiar story of neglect for Australian hoops fans.
Coops
Guest
Good article. Lets hope the local comp can return to the glory days of the 80's and 90's. The NBL doesn't have to compete with the NBA, there isn't a basketball competition which can. What it needs to do is promote its differences to the NBA. I for one prefer to watch a game that is dominated by superstars, I much prefer watching the NCAA College comp to the NBA, the skills are still there but the egos and the show ponying aren't. The same goes for the NBL and in promoting the product the NBL should focus on its strengths such as teamwork and tribalism that it can tap into.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Great article, agree with the lot of that. The Adelaide fans will be going off with Hodge on their court again, it'd be great to have that as a TV game. Adding to JiMMM's comment, the NBL is suffering from the increased exposure the NBA is getting this year being on One HD. I've got mates who usually wouldn't watch basketball at all aking me questions like where are Golden State from, etc. I mean it's great they are watching basketball, but it isn't helping the local game. Obviously it's hard to get decent coverage considering where the NBL is at. The good news is the current administration doesn't look out of its depth, which is refreshing. The bad news is there's a heck of a lot of work to do.
Mushi
Guest
Agree it is a sport which appeals so much because of the jaw dropping athleticism so why watch inferior athletes?
JiMMM
Guest
To be fair while scheduling is a problem, I think you are drawing a pretty long bow to blame foxsports for the lack of interest in the NBL. The NBL is now competing with the NBA not being supported by it, it is a competition because the NBL is only broadcast on Foxsports (with minimal FTA coverage) whilst the NBA is broadcast on ONE and has much better brand (I hate this term but it is applicable in this instance) recognition. Not many people even new the NBL was still operating. Talking to some of my mates over a pint at the local recently while the NBL was on one of the TV's, the general consensus was that why would we watch this when we can watch the NBA. One of these mates is going to marry a basketball player (female), and they haven't been to an NBL or WNBL game in the time that they have been together that I am aware of. So really while a midweek fixture will certainly not help the cause Basketball in Australia has a hell of a lot more problems that should be more pressing.