How the NBA’s 2021 Ratings Are Shaping Up
Contents
- How the NBA’s 2021 Ratings Are Shaping Up
- The Impact of the Coronavirus on the NBA’s 2021 Ratings
- The NBA’s TV Partners and the 2021 Ratings
- The NBA’s Digital Strategy and the 2021 Ratings
- The NBA’s social media Strategy and the 2021 Ratings
- The NBA’s Marketing Strategy and the 2021 Ratings
- The NBA’s International Strategy and the 2021 Ratings
- The NBA’s Business Strategy and the 2021 Ratings
- The NBA’s Future and the 2021 Ratings
- The NBA’s Legacy and the 2021 Ratings
It’s been an eventful year for the NBA. Let’s take a look at how the ratings are shaping up as we approach the end of the season.
How the NBA’s 2021 Ratings Are Shaping Up
It has been a trying year for the NBA. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to suspend its season for several months, and when play resumed in the summer, it did so without fans in attendance. All of this had an impact on television ratings, which declined sharply during the 2019-20 season
Interestingly, though, the NBA’s ratings have rebounded nicely so far during the 2020-21 season. According to NBC Sports viewership is up 9% compared to last year, and even more impressively, ratings among adults 18-49 are up 14%.
There are a number of factors that appear to be driving this rebound in interest. For one thing, the league has been able to avoid any major disruptions due to COVID-19 this season. Additionally, several marquee players have changed teams over the past year (like Lebron James and Kawhi Leonard), which has helped create some buzz around the league.
It remains to be seen how long this rebound in interest will last, but for now, it appears that the NBA’s 2021 ratings are shaping up nicely.
TV ratings for the NBA are down significantly from last year, when the league was able to capitalize on interest in the “superteam” era of basketball. This year, with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic preventing fans from attending games in person, the league’s ratings have taken a hit.
According to Nielsen, the NBA’s average TV viewership is down 19% from last year. The league is averaging 1.6 million viewers per game, compared to 2 million at this point last season. The decline is even sharper when it comes to 18-to-34-year-olds, the demographic that is most coveted by advertisers. In that age group, NBA viewership is down 32% from last season.
The silver lining for the NBA is that its ratings are still better than they were two years ago, before the arrival of star players like Lebron James and Kawhi Leonard led to a spike in interest in the league. And while TV ratings are down overall, live streaming of NBA games has seen a significant increase this season. According to ESPN, there have been an average of 542,000 unique viewers per game watching live streams of NBA Games on ABC and ESPN this season, up from 340,000 at this point last season.
The NBA’s TV Partners and the 2021 Ratings
The 2021 NBA season is well underway, and the early ratings are looking good. The NBA’s TV partners – ESPN, TNT, and ABC – are all seeing increases in viewership compared to last year.
ESPN’s NBA coverage is up 7% in the total number of viewers, while TNT is up 4%. ABC is also seeing an increase, though the network does not release specific rating numbers.
Overall, the NBA’s ratings are up 5% compared to last year. This is good news for the league, which saw a decline in ratings during the 2020 season.
The increase in ratings can be attributed to a number of factors, including the league’s strong start to the season, increased interest in playoff races, and the return of fans to arenas.
The NBA’s Digital Strategy and the 2021 Ratings
Since the resumption of the 2019-20 season in the bubble at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, the NBA has been on something of a hot streak. Last season’s playoffs were the most-watched since 2016, with an average of 5.6 million viewers tuning in across ESPN and TNT, and this season is off to a strong start as well. So far this season, games on ESPN are up 15 percent over last year while averaging 2.3 million viewers. TNT’s ratings are also up, averaging 1.9 million viewers per game, which is a 12 percent increase over last season.
The strong ratings are due in part to the NBA’s digital strategy, which has helped to grow its fanbase and attract new viewers. The league has been live-streaming games on its own platform, NBA TV, as well as on social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube. This has allowed fans to watch games even if they don’t have a cable or satellite subscription — all they need is an internet connection
The NBA’s digital strategy is paying off handsomely, with the league seeing a dramatic increase in its online viewership. In fact, according to a report from Adobe Analytics, the NBA was the most-watched live sport on social media in 2020, attracting more than 1 billion views across all platforms.
The league is also seeing increased interest from advertisers, who are eager to reach the NBA’s large and engaged online audience. So far this season, ad spending on NBA broadcasts is up 25 percent over last year, according to Kantar Media. And with the 2021 All-Star game and playoffs looming large on the horizon, that number is only going to rise.
The NBA has seen a ratings rebound in recent years and this is in large part due to their social media strategy. In 2021, the NBA is once again on track to have strong ratings, thanks in part to their Edgar Schneider, who oversees the NBA’s social media strategy.
Edgar Schneider is the mastermind behind the NBA’s Social Media success. He joined the league in 2011, when the NBA was struggling to connect with younger fans. His strategy has been built around creating content that is entertaining and shareable, and that highlights the league’s star players.
This approach has paid off handsomely for the NBA. In 2021, the league is once again seeing strong ratings, thanks in part to their social media strategy. Edgar Schneider has been instrumental in helping the NBA connect with younger fans and drive up ratings.
The NBA’s Marketing Strategy and the 2021 Ratings
It’s been just over two months since the 2020-2021 NBA season began and we’re already seeing some interesting changes in the ratings. This may be due in part to the fact that there are fewer games being played overall because of the coronavirus pandemic. But it’s also likely because the NBA has made some significant changes to its marketing strategy that are paying off.
In previous years, the league has marketed itself as a family-friendly entertainment option. This approach has been successful in attracting a wide variety of viewers, but it hasn’t always led to strong ratings. For example, during the 2019-2020 Season the average viewership for an NBA game was 1.17 million. This was down 7% from the previous year.
This season, however, the NBA is reaching out to a new demographic: young adults. The league has shifted its focus to marketing itself as an edgy and exciting product that appeals to young adults. And so far, this change in strategy seems to be working.
During the first month of this season, the average viewership for an NBA game was 1.24 million. This is up 6% from last season. And in December 2020, the average viewership for an NBA Game was 1.35 million. This is up 16% from last season.
It will be interesting to see if this trend continues as the season goes on. If so, it could mean big things for the NBA’s ratings in 2021.
The NBA’s International Strategy and the 2021 Ratings
With the NBA set to resume its 2020-2021 Season on December 22, the league is turning its attention to its international strategy and the 2021 ratings.
The NBA has long been a global brand, with players from all over the world competing in the league. In recent years the league has made a concerted effort to increase its presence in international markets, including hosting regular-season games in Mexico City London, and Rio de Janeiro.
With the 2021 ratings set to begin in a few months, the NBA is looking to continue its momentum in international markets. The league is hoping that by continuing to expand its reach, it can continue to grow its fan base and attract new viewers.
The NBA’s international strategy could pay off handsomely in the 2021 ratings. If the league can continue to grow its audience around the world, it could see a significant increase in viewership and revenues.
The NBA’s Business Strategy and the 2021 Ratings
Since the NBA’s return in late July, the league has been on a roll. In addition to strong TV ratings, the NBA has also seen increases in social media engagement and online streaming viewership. And while some have attributed the NBA’s success to the absence of other Live Sports it’s clear that the league has made some smart business decisions that are paying off.
One of the most important factors in the NBA’s success has been its focus on young audiences. The league has made a concerted effort to market itself to millennials and Gen Zers, and it’s paying off. According to Nielsen data, the NBA was the most-watched sport among adults aged 18-34 in 2020.
The NBA has also been successful in building its brand internationally. In recent years the league has expanded its reach into China and India, two of the world’s biggest markets. And while some have criticized the NBA for prioritizing growth over competition, it’s undeniable that the league’s global expansion has been a major factor in its success.
Looking ahead to 2021, it’s clear that the NBA is in a strong position. The league has established itself as a must-watch TV product, and its focus on young audiences and international growth should help it maintain its momentum in the coming years.
The NBA’s Future and the 2021 Ratings
The NBA has a lot to look forward to in the 2021 Ratings. The league’s new television deal, which begins this season, is worth $24 billion and runs through the 2032-33 season. That’s an average of $1.2 billion per season, which is nearly double the current value of the league’s television rights. The deal also includes an equity stake in ESPN+ and a streaming rights partnership with Turner Sports
In addition to the new television deal, the NBA is also benefiting from strong ratings for its live games Through February 14th, the 2020-21 NBA season is averaging 1.9 million viewers on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. That’s up 7% from last season and is the highest average viewership for an NBA season since 2010-11.
The strong ratings are due in part to the league’s schedule, which features more nationally televised games than ever before. But it’s also a testament to the popularity of the NBA, which has become one of the most popular sports leagues in the world.
The strong ratings are good news for the NBA, but they’re also good news for the players. The league’s new television deal is based partially on revenue sharing so the players will receive a larger percentage of any increase in TV rights fees. That means that if the ratings continue to be strong, the players will see a significant increase in their salaries over the next few years.
The NBA’s Legacy and the 2021 Ratings
It’s been quite a roller coaster ride for the NBA over the past few years. The league has had to deal with everything from player protests to financial difficulties, and as a result, its ratings have fluctuated quite a bit.
The good news is that, despite all of these challenges, the NBA’s ratings are actually shaping up quite nicely for the 2021 season. In fact, according to one recent report, the NBA is on pace to have its best ratings in years.
This is thanks in large part to the league’s strong legacy. Despite all of the challenges it has faced in recent years, the NBA remains one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. And as we’ve seen time and again, when the NBA is doing well, its ratings tend to be strong as well.
So what does this mean for the 2021 season? Well, it’s hard to say for sure. But if the past is any indication, we can expect that the NBA’s ratings will be solid once again this year.