Part 4/8:
The statistics are alarming—overall NBA viewership is down approximately 48% since 2012, and recent playoff and finals ratings have been dismal. Some of the lowest-rated NBA Finals in recent history have occurred over the past four years, raising serious concerns about the league's future. Viewership drops of 12% were recorded during the last playoff season, with findings revealing that last year's championship attracted fewer viewers than any in recent memory.
The trend is not just a fluke or a single season's discrepancy. The league has been unable to reverse this tide of decline. While the NBA recently made a deal to return to NBC, many question whether this will have any significant impact on the league's waning popularity.