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.