Yesterday, an ad popped up in my Twitter feed. It was for Foxtel. It boasted that every NBL game this season would be live on Fox Sports.
Even forgetting the every game live part, the existence of that ad alone would have been enough to get NBL fans excited.
A broadcaster willing to go out of its way to promote the league? That has been missing in recent years and it wasn’t something that went unnoticed.
But if such early indications are to be believed, it’s one of the perks of the NBL crossing over to pay TV with the new deal announced yesterday.
Those perks include every game of the season being broadcast on a television platform for the first time ever.
Those perks include the security of a five-year deal, albeit with a review at the end of the first season.
Those perks include giving sports fans who don’t currently tune in the ultimate carrot – live sport on their TV screens four nights a week.
Those perks include the ability to simulcast a game each week to a free-to-air network.
Those perks include HD basketball and the overall attention to detail that comes with a Fox Sports presentation.
Those perks include every game live.
It’s a good outcome. Some have questioned the current lack of a free-to-air partner, but TV deals need to be looked at through the prism of the NBL’s bargaining power.
You suspect other broadcasters weren’t tripping over themselves. For where the league is at, getting every game on a TV platform is a step forward, as are the other perks.
Credit here has to go to the league for coming up with the new TV-friendly schedule.
The NBL took a gamble with its fixture by placing a higher priority on getting into people’s lounge rooms than getting people into stands. They added weekly Wednesday and Thursday night games, despite the effect such games have had on attendance in the past.
It was a ballsy move, but a necessary one. The next step is to continue the run of TV-minded decisions with a focus on creating truly engaging television.
If that can happen, the bargaining power may be improved next time around. (That’s important because for all the positives of this deal, it appears the NBL has had to open its wallet to make it happen.)
The final benefit to this deal will be the injection of positivity it provides.
As we’ve alluded to, fans were happy to voice concerns about the last TV deal. With a change of leadership, even the NBL itself seemed to disown it.
I didn’t like that attitude. Free-to-air expoure saw the viewing audience of the NBL grow at a time the league was in desperate need of growth. The numbers validated this.
Again, I would simply say TV deals need to be looked at through the prism of the NBL’s bargaining power. There’s no reason the last deal couldn’t have been a good decision for that time and this deal a good decision for this time.
Either way, a lot of negative voices around the league were silenced yesterday and that’s not a bad thing.
And if people still want to be negative, we can refer them to Crocodiles star Brian Conklin.
“We only had three games on television last year… so to have all 28 live on television is going to be awesome,” Conklin told the Townsville Bulletin.
Now the countdown to October 7 can start and on that front, the clubs have certainly played their role.
With big names like Chris Goulding, Nathan Jawai, Julian Khazzouh, Kevin Lisch, Kirk Penney, AJ Ogilvy and Ebi Ere all returning from overseas – and poster boy Josh Childress going around again – the set-up is there for a great season.
A season that will play out with every game live.
Nick Nack
Guest
The NBL probably 'has to pay' to be broadcast which is why it is not mentioned. It would be barely a pittance compared to AFL money. Chump change to use a term the basketball folks no doubt would have heard of the way they are so influenced by Americanana.
Stifler
Guest
Yeah great.... This should keep all the nrl subscribers happy, hope they have a super Nbl Saturday!!! Being back Al green and threeo keogh and I'm there
c
Guest
good question
B-Rock
Roar Guru
im amazed the NBL could achieve this - must be the best news for the league in 20 years. The success of Australians in the NBA (only going to increase with Simmons and Maker over the next 2 years) would have contributed as well. Hope the NBL can invest more confidently in on court and on-air talent. Great result
Swampy
Guest
As I said above I don't like the 40 minute FIBA rules. I don't follow why we changed from the traditional 12 minute quarters. I don't relate the stats from 40 minute games properly historically. Remember basketball at a professional level has always been 48 minutes. It was FIBA & the NCAA that corrupted the length of the game to 40 minutes for amateurs.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Ryan, absolutely. Hopefully a lot of cross promotion on the Fox Sports channels, their news channel, their website etc is included to make this happen. And for good measure, with those names I've mentioned returning, I suspect the product will be lifted a bit this year too.
jonty23
Guest
With our players getting plenty of hype and profile in the NBA its the perfect time to rebrand and launch the NBL. A once world class league the FOX deal can once again generate some interest and profile. Well done for both FOX and the NBL admin to put this deal together
fadida
Guest
What's wrong with Steve Carfino saying "he's taking it to the hoop"? :)
hikikomori
Guest
its over in 2 hours, when a game's over, its over, making it longer doesnt achieve anything
Johnno
Guest
We play FIBA rules now man
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Great news for the NBL, well done to the League and Broadcasters.
Swampy
Guest
Great. Now please change the rules so the games are 48 minutes again. And be allowed to tech foul anyone who shoots under 30% from three point land when they clank their next three attempt... or maybe eject the coach at the next break for allowing the attempt!
John
Guest
How much Money?
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Fantastic news for the NBL, and well done to Fox Sports. DiFab, I think your opening sentiment is the most important, and I know I've banged on about this with you before: promotion of the game. Fox isn't just willing to broadcast the NBL, they're willing to promote the game, and this is what has been sorely lacking. You can have the greatest product in the world, but if people don't know about it, they won't buy it. The NBL has suffered the worst of both worlds: not always a great product, and little awareness of it anyway. Hopefully both of these things are well on their way to being addressed now.
Matthew Pittard
Guest
Hopefully we get a whole new generation of Commentators too. Fox need to take the time to recuit some new talent for this.
Patrick L
Roar Rookie
Great to see NBL back on Fox.
Ryan Buckland
Expert
This is great news for the NBL, for the players and for the fans. It gives Fox something to replace the BBL, which I dare say they've been searching for for a little while. They may even look at this in the same light that they did with their investment in the Big Bash formation: build a product over a few years, and sell it off to a free to air network down the track (or at least part of it). Can't really see the downside of this at all. More quality live sport in prime time during the summer months. I have no doubt the wholesale rights to one game a week will be picked up by a FTA network, too, particularly if they don't have to do any of the actual broadcasting themselves and just retransmit the Fox feed.
jamesb
Guest
I don't think it should be an issue playing Wednesday and Thursday nights. Matches are played indoors, so you don't have to worry about the weather, plus you only need 3000-4000 people in attendance to generate some form of atmosphere. The problem with the NBL is the lack of promotion and marketing. Earlier this year, I only found out who won the NBL grand final during a story about the plight of Wollongong Hawks going into voluntary administration.