NBA has problems...

[theriver55]

They changed the way they were measuring and reporting ratings so all sports have had huge "increases" in viewership primarily because of incorporating additional viewers. That was a change in 2025 so everything is artificially increased. We will have to wait for 2026 to end before we get back to apples v apples year over year trends. Meanwhile, anyone with a brain understands the NBA game is terrible.

OK did not know that. Regular season sucks for sure. Postseason a horse of another color.

 

[Tanko]

They changed the way they were measuring and reporting ratings so all sports have had huge "increases" in viewership primarily because of incorporating additional viewers. That was a change in 2025 so everything is artificially increased. We will have to wait for 2026 to end before we get back to apples v apples year over year trends. Meanwhile, anyone with a brain understands the NBA game is terrible.

What did they change? How do they count "additional" viewers?
This sounds like they are cooking the books for ad revenue.

 

[azbob]

This is from Google and there is more detail there if you want it:
"TV ratings underwent a massive shift in 2025, driven primarily by Nielsen's implementation of "Big Data + Panel" measurement, which combines traditional panel households with data from millions of smart TVs and set-top boxes. This shift generally resulted in lower ratings for many networks, particularly in the prized 25–54 demographic, despite aiming for higher accuracy.

• Sports Measurement Improvements: While the overall trend for linear is down, the new "Big Data + Panel" system actually improved ratings for sports by capturing more viewers than the previous panel-only system, note The Hollywood Reporter."

 

[Tanko]

This is from Google and there is more detail there if you want it:
"TV ratings underwent a massive shift in 2025, driven primarily by Nielsen's implementation of "Big Data + Panel" measurement, which combines traditional panel households with data from millions of smart TVs and set-top boxes. This shift generally resulted in lower ratings for many networks, particularly in the prized 25–54 demographic, despite aiming for higher accuracy.

• Sports Measurement Improvements: While the overall trend for linear is down, the new "Big Data + Panel" system actually improved ratings for sports by capturing more viewers than the previous panel-only system, note The Hollywood Reporter."

Wow. You're right.
They can't really compare to the old ratings anymore. Whole basis has changed.

 

[Wagerallsports]

Penny Hardaway believes the NBA has lost its appeal as a spectator sport

“Over the years, to me, it’s just getting worse and worse. Not in a bad way. But for me to watch, because I’m in college, I see the fundamentals and playing team ball. And just shooting all the threes now is just a little irritating to me to just watch an NBA game. No one shoots layups anymore. It’s fun to watch for fans. But for guys that were pure in the game, it’s a little difficult.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/2055774586562879714