foxtel to stop NBL coverage??

[lawsy82]

There is an article on back page on courier mail today stating that:

Foxtel is considering putting all its resources towards A LEAGUE, and no more NBL, this has scared potential buyers of the Bullets

JVG told the players via text message he was resigining, although artilce days Joey and him didnt see eye to eye, and was pushed

If this article is true, THE NBL IS OVER. No fox no nbl

[blueberry]

Well if Sydney survives it may be good news for them.
If every home game is not being televised then they might get the crowds in

[fraggs]

What kind of financial impact would that have? Does anyone have any figures with regards how many people actually watched the NBL on Fox? No doubt it impacts the sponsors of the league because no TV means less advertising. I also wonder how much Fox paid for the rights. Are we talking millions of dollars? I do get the feeling that loosing Foxtel's substantial TV coverage would be a serious issue but just how much of an issue?

[lawsy82]

i remember 2-3 years ago, there was an article when fox resigned it was like 1million over 3 years or something like that. Im sure someone can confirm, but it was something like that

[Wild 1]

Maybe FOX wants the NBL to pay more than $1million next season? :P

[Katisha66]

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor ... 89,00.html (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23392631-10389,00.html)

That's the article. This is what Fox apparently have to say:
:"We are currently in discussions with the NBL for next season and the finals season just completed was one of the most successful in the competition's history."
Which doesn't really tell us anything, does it.

This whole thing just seems to be going from bad to worse. :(

[hurley509]

I think I know what i Have to do! time to get on there asses people. www.foxsports.com.au (http://www.foxsports.com.au) you can write feedback to them, i say we start NOW!

[Julian]

nbl@foxsports.com.au

[hurley509]

feedback@foxsports.com.au

people need to stop bitching and start doing! if they get rid of the NBL do you think were even still gonna get international games? barring the olympics, we will probably not even see the boomers in there test series, none of that. there is no way im going without the NBL on some sort of tv. do something about it now! ive already sent a letter and i promise il do more...

[LegoSHAQ]

I got rid of my foxtel last Saturday.. and the reason I told them was that the NBL was no longer on and I didn't want to pay $50 a month for Simpsons repeats..
If people cancel their foxtel and use the reason of no NBL.. they might think twice..
But in my opinion I would rather the NBL drops foxtel and goes with Channel 9..

[Cram]

But in my opinion I would rather the NBL drops foxtel and goes with Channel 9..

But that would be assuming that 9 wants the NBL.

[LegoSHAQ]

Yeah.. because it sounds like foxtel are desperate to keep the NBL :? :lol:

Channel 9 have shown interest.. and they have a while before they can get the AFL back again..

[Cram]

Yeah.. because it sounds like foxtel are desperate to keep the NBL :? :lol:


Well, thats kinda the whole point. No ones interested. Its not as if nine and fox are in a bidding war for the NBL, and fox giving it the flick makes it easier for 9 to get. 9 would likely only take it on their own terms - VERY limited coverage at bad time slots and no promotion.

[Voice(s)]

The problem though with the big three FTA stations is that IF say the NBL signed with Channel 9 they could do exactly what they did with the old NSL and sit on those rights all season (not showing much games if any) and then broadcast the grand final.

[LegoSHAQ]

well the NBL would be stupid to take any offer that didn't include showing regular season games..

[Cram]

They're not exactly in a position to make demands

[havrilla the gorilla]

I tell you what if Foxtel stop the NBL coverage I will be cutting it loose ASAP. I don't know what the future holds for the league if this happens, but I am particularly insulted that it is possibly due to the A-League.

I do like football/soccer and have followed Premier League for some time, but the simple fact is that the A-League is practically unwatchable. The standard is crap and it's a joke that Foxtel is trying to flog it off as otherwise. Even the Australian national coach came out and said it was shit.

In contrast the standard of play in the NBL is as good as its ever been, and measures up to alternative leagues around the world. I understand it is all about the dollars and numbers, and if the A-League fans on fox outnumber the NBL fans 10:1 we are pretty much screwed.

I know which one I would rather watch but I am as scared as hell that i'm in the minority.

[lawsy82]

I sent my letter to foxtel re: todays courier mail article, i am too insulted that A League is getting mentioned. A League stands for A class SHIT!!

[Voice(s)]

I'm not terribly worried as I think this is all the usual noise you hear come re-negotiation time. I believe the just expired deal was a 5 year, $5m deal.

Fox did all this "ahh we don't really want it anyway" stuff with the AFL early last year. Channel's 7 and 10 needed a third party to broadcast the games they couldn't/weren't willing to and local community stations were even mentioned. Then right on the eve of the AFL pre-season comp starting, 7 and 10 accept Fox's offer of 4 games a week for like $40m-$50m (a steal considering 7 and 10 are paying $700m+ for less games each).

[Soft Copy]

i remember 2-3 years ago, there was an article when fox resigned it was like 1million over 3 years or something like that. Im sure someone can confirm, but it was something like that

I gues the market is very different (bigger) in Australia but I'm amazed a minority sport such as basketball gets any money from the broadcaster for televising it. Sky TV in NZ paid nothing to the league or the Breakers when they had it over here and I'm pretty sure Maori TV have paid nothing this season for their coverage. I think there were viewership bonuses involved in the contract but were at a level that meant they were never going to have to pay them.

Indeed, in the past, smaller sports than basketball in this country have paid the production costs to have their sport on tv. The channel gives the airtime for free (and collects any advertising revenue) but the outside broadcast company charges the sport at cost for the privilege of producing the coverage so that their sport can be on the box. I believe that, in some of these cases, advertising revenue over a certain amount is divided between the broadcaster and the sporting body involved, but of course involves tiny sums of money usually.

Television coverage is vital for the luring of sponsors for teams and, consequently, so is the need to give each team an even number of televised games. While the Kings might lament the lack of bums on seats due to the uneven number of times they're on tv compared to other teams, I'm sure Firepower's ad agency are laughing at the amount of free airtime their client is getting.

[sixers33]

Isaac has mentioned that it could open the door for teams to negotiate with channels themselves to show games like WIN 9 Adelaide showing 36ers and Channel 7 Perth showing the Wildcats home games etc.

The NBL could also negotiate with ESPN as they show alot of basketball on TV are trying to get more Australian sports and tv shows displayed here.

[Cram]

Does anyone know (roughly) what it costs to produce a live (or delayed) basketball TV broadcast?

[sixers33]

With FTA multichanneling and the possibility of FreeView coming to Australia, NBL could be in a greater chance to get some FTA coverage.

[havrilla the gorilla]

The problem with free to air coverage is that everybody has had a go. Channel 7 had it up until the start of the 1992 season when it went to live(on Channel 10) before it was ready. It has never recovered.

It stayed on 10 until the end of 1998 following Foxtel begginning to show it from 1996. I think ABC stepped in around 99/00 which didn't really work but was better than nothing.

The interested thing for me was that channel 7 showed Sunday replays of Bullets games(in brisbane) around 01/02 with its own cameras. This only lasted around half a season, and never happened since. Now nine have Sunday replays, but don't have the balls to really promote and expose it.

I know Perth have had good coverage around the time of Kerry Stokes, and I have family in North Queensland and I must say without actually showing game day coverage the exposure is excellent with media, news bulletins and general word of mouth. The Cairns Taipans have there own ticketek booth in a Cairns mall, where you can also get Taipans merchandise.

So with free to air coverage somebody(except SBS) will be having their second bite of the cherry so to speak, so who would step up?

These are dark times for the rebellion.....

[hurley509]

get the news out to all the basketbal forums your associated with... get this out

[BethDogg]

Remember when they said they were gonna stop showing AFL.....they stopped Fox Footy but they still show it.

[angry ant]

I hope if this happens, they show it LIVE on free to air TV.

[A Really Bad Bass Player]

I hope if this happens, they show it LIVE on free to air TV.

oh no, you'll be told now how that will never ever happen...

BTW, I don't think that will happen

[singy]

Am I the only one that thinks Fox did a second rate job this year with the NBL coverage? Multiple Saturday nights with no game on, hardly any 3 live games per week as advertised at the start of the season, and plenty of head-scratching matchups while marquee matchups went under the radar untelevised.

I understand TV is so critical to advertising and promotional opportunities for the NBL, but the league also needs a broadcast partner that is willing to do what's best for the league as well, not just what's best for it. It should be more of a partnership - surely a strong NBL results in better ratings for Fox Sports.

[Voice(s)]

I'm with ya singy. I've had Foxtel for almost eight years now and I can't recall a worse NBL performance from them than this season. Sure there used to be the odd week when no Saturday night game was shown but this season it would've been at least double the usual amount.

Let's all keep in mind Fox have three dedicated sports channels they need to fill and I suspect the NBL would still be in their plans but they might be looking to drive the price down a bit.

The only genuine concern I have is what could be read into John Casey joining Fox's AFL team last season and his scaled back NBL coverage on Fox (pretty much doesn't do Saturday night games anymore). Maybe he's seen the writing on the wall?

[havrilla the gorilla]

I'm with ya singy. I've had Foxtel for almost eight years now and I can't recall a worse NBL performance from them than this season. Sure there used to be the odd week when no Saturday night game was shown but this season it would've been at least double the usual amount.

Let's all keep in mind Fox have three dedicated sports channels they need to fill and I suspect the NBL would still be in their plans but they might be looking to drive the price down a bit.

The only genuine concern I have is what could be read into John Casey joining Fox's AFL team last season and his scaled back NBL coverage on Fox (pretty much doesn't do Saturday night games anymore). Maybe he's seen the writing on the wall?


You guys are tough to please....I have only had foxtel for this NBL season and coming from ZERO I think the amount of games is pretty good. Even when it was on free to air you never really got a full game(same as channel 9 on a Sunday, while it is the nuts and bolts there are still gaps as it has been edited) sure there were the highlight shows and the panel shows but ACTUAL LIVE GAMES were non existant.

Sure, I would love every game live like the NRL, but you have to be realistic. The alternative from this years foxtel nbl coverage is watching the live scores on the internet website. It is all relative. I am happy you have been spolit for the last 8 years but remember the poor dudes who don't have foxtel ok. And be careful what you wish for?

[Daevo]

[quote="Voice(s)":smdekbxc]I'm with ya singy. I've had Foxtel for almost eight years now and I can't recall a worse NBL performance from them than this season. Sure there used to be the odd week when no Saturday night game was shown but this season it would've been at least double the usual amount.

Let's all keep in mind Fox have three dedicated sports channels they need to fill and I suspect the NBL would still be in their plans but they might be looking to drive the price down a bit.

The only genuine concern I have is what could be read into John Casey joining Fox's AFL team last season and his scaled back NBL coverage on Fox (pretty much doesn't do Saturday night games anymore). Maybe he's seen the writing on the wall?


You guys are tough to please....I have only had foxtel for this NBL season and coming from ZERO I think the amount of games is pretty good. Even when it was on free to air you never really got a full game(same as channel 9 on a Sunday, while it is the nuts and bolts there are still gaps as it has been edited) sure there were the highlight shows and the panel shows but ACTUAL LIVE GAMES were non existant.

Sure, I would love every game live like the NRL, but you have to be realistic. The alternative from this years foxtel nbl coverage is watching the live scores on the internet website. It is all relative. I am happy you have been spolit for the last 8 years but remember the poor dudes who don't have foxtel ok. And be careful what you wish for?[/quote:smdekbxc]
Yes, it is all relative. Compared with ZERO, Foxtel provided good coverage of games but compared with previous years, it wasn't as good this season. That trend is cause for concern in itself since the NBL has proved to be an easy target to bump if just about ANY other sport is on around the same time. That's not a good sign for future NBL coverage.

[havrilla the gorilla]

[quote="Voice(s)":251d6pgb]Yes, it is all relative. Compared with ZERO, Foxtel provided good coverage of games but compared with previous years, it wasn't as good this season. That trend is cause for concern in itself since the NBL has proved to be an easy target to bump if just about ANY other sport is on around the same time. That's not a good sign for future NBL coverage.[/quote:251d6pgb]


Can you guys pinpoint exactly where the standard has dropped this year? As far as John Casey goes give me Bradtke and Gaze any day. His constant cliches and mindnuming phrases are no loss. I will sure miss "he gets the job done" "he makes no mistake" and "non preferred left" ad nauseum.

Have the actual amount of games reduced? Because that to me would indicate a problem.

In following on from others I have just written in to express my discontent to:

feedback@foxsports.com.au

So please do the same and be heard. I am sure if they receive enough mail they will at least consider a re-think. Unless the price to broadcast basketball is really expensive it is totally wrong to kill of the NBL when you can tune in and be "entertained" by poker, ten pin bowling and darts.

[WilloWildWaves]

Yikes, first the Kings, then the Bullets are in trouble and may not be around next season and now fox sports may pull out. The NBL is in serious trouble :(

[havrilla the gorilla]

Yikes, first the Kings, then the Bullets are in trouble and may not be around next season and now fox sports may pull out. The NBL is in serious trouble :(

Wow mate what a scoop. Do you have anything positive to contribute such as writing to Foxsports? Or are you satisfied with the understatement of the year. People who read your post may have to sit down first.....

[singy]

The only genuine concern I have is what could be read into John Casey joining Fox's AFL team last season and his scaled back NBL coverage on Fox (pretty much doesn't do Saturday night games anymore). Maybe he's seen the writing on the wall?

Glad you mentioned this as it reminded me of something. After the Tigers win in Brisbane a few weeks ago, Case was standing on the court waiting to do his post-game wrap for the news. As we walked past, we said all the usual "love your work" etc etc stuff that you say, but when I asked him why he wasn't commentating every game anymore, he just went quiet. It was strange.

[singy]

Can you guys pinpoint exactly where the standard has dropped this year?

I've had Fox for about 9-10 years, very similar to Voice(s), and both of us have noticed the drop off this year. I can't put a number to it as I don't keep records of how many games were on, but I certainly remember there being more games on in previous seasons, and I remember more of the marquee matchups being shown.

Also, this year moreso than others, the scheduling seemed to be all in Fox's favour, especially during the playoffs. Decent crowds were sacrificed in favour of Fox's preferred timeslot, and I just don't get that. Surely it looks better to potential sponsors to see the stands close to capacity than what some of the games shown provided. With more channels and more time to fill in the schedule, the coverage should be getting better, yet we are getting bumped by other sports.

[phill]

I just contacted Foxtel and told them if they stopped showing the NBL they'll find their set top box on my nature strip.I suggest everyone do the same.

[Ewan Corness]

As a quick side-note, why the hate for John Casey? (Not just in this thread, he seems to cop it a bit on the boards here.) He's one of the better commentators in the country, we should be thankful we got him for the NBL.

And yes, it doesn't look good for the NBL right now. Don't blame Foxtel either, they're a business, and if the A-League gets better ratings, more advertisers, etc, while the NBL sits on its hands, then they have to go where the dolla dolla bills are.

http://250asprin.blogspot.com/2008/03/nbl-rip.html

[phill]

Hey Ewan, Here's a blast from the past. There's no hate for Case here. We love taking the piss, it is a form of affection. If you took a poll on Casey I reckon he'd be more popular than Kevin Rudd at the moment.(If that's possible)

[phill]

Just one more thing Ewan, The Kings still the worst sporting team in Australia?Never forgive you for that!

[Wild 1]

I remember seeing the ratings in another thread here, and A-League dominates a fair bit over NBL. Hopefully NBL can negotiate some FTA somewhere to cover the loss if it happens.

Its up to the league and individual clubs to make the product better viewing for TV. Even I, who have been attending and watching games since the late 80's find a lot of games boring to watch due to the lack of atmosphere and empty seats.

A-league looks good on tv with the big crowds theyre getting, and so do most other football codes.

Even with the smaller tin shed stadiums back in the day of the NBL, it was always good to watch on TV because of the great atmosphere of a full, sold out stadium. I think this needs to happen first before we get back on regular FTA.

[Bench Warmer]

While I enjoy watching games on Fox, their sponsorship also comes at a cost. The NBL wanted to extend the season by a month (get it back towards what it used to be - space out the games, have most on weekends). Can't do it - Fox veto. None of the teams like the ridiculous finals format - can't be changed, Fox veto if you want finals shown. Then you have ridiculous finals scheduling and tip off times - a whole bunch of weekday 6.30pm tip offs to satisfy Fox but not the fans - with empty seats and wasted home revenue.

I can understand the importance of having coverage to attract sponsors, promote the game etc., but sometimes I think Fox are as bad for the league as they are good. I wouldn't mind if the NBL offered TV rights to Fox for next to nothing - if it can retain control over it's own league and scheduling, and maybe a right to have delayed telecasts shown on commercial channels if there's any demand for it.

[Mr bEn]

Perhaps this means we can finally get rid of those fkn Wednesday night games. I don't think any team benefitted from those?

Brng back Friday nights, Saturday nights and Sunday arvo only!!!!!!

[singy]

While I enjoy watching games on Fox, their sponsorship also comes at a cost. The NBL wanted to extend the season by a month (get it back towards what it used to be - space out the games, have most on weekends). Can't do it - Fox veto. None of the teams like the ridiculous finals format - can't be changed, Fox veto if you want finals shown. Then you have ridiculous finals scheduling and tip off times - a whole bunch of weekday 6.30pm tip offs to satisfy Fox but not the fans - with empty seats and wasted home revenue.

I can understand the importance of having coverage to attract sponsors, promote the game etc., but sometimes I think Fox are as bad for the league as they are good. I wouldn't mind if the NBL offered TV rights to Fox for next to nothing - if it can retain control over it's own league and scheduling, and maybe a right to have delayed telecasts shown on commercial channels if there's any demand for it.

I absolutely second this whole post. The AFL is successful, among other things, because they schedule games according to when fans prefer them. You can't say that about the NBL - it's all about Fox these days. The playoff games in front of empty stadiums this year were a disgrace and a very poor reflection on the NBL.

[Ewan Corness]

Just one more thing Ewan, The Kings still the worst sporting team in Australia?Never forgive you for that!

phill I didn't write that coverline! The editors/sub-editors write the cover/headlines, I was just a freelance journo. But you have to admit if the Kings weren't the worst team in Australia at the time, they were damn close :)

[phill]

Ewan, you could have come out after the 3-peat and announced the Kings as the best sporting team in Australia. You could have created your own headline. :wink:

[fraggs]

Super 14 rugby suffers the same problems. QLD had their season opener schedule at 7pm on a Friday night, it was rediculous. There is only one possible reason why they would do that and it would be because Fox would only broadcast in prime time. There is, no question, more money in rugby than basketball these days but still it gets pushed around by TV schedules. I'd suggest its hard to avoid because unless a sport is in massive demand then any network that picks up coverage can be quite demanding over what they want from any deal.

[inebriated]

NBL demands and Fox.

Sort of like the tail trying to wag the dog

Doesnt work that way

[Voice(s)]

I just contacted Foxtel and told them if they stopped showing the NBL they'll find their set top box on my nature strip.I suggest everyone do the same.

When this NBA season finishes if Foxtel do decide to give the NBL the arse then I will more than likely make that trip to the post office and send the IQ back to them.

[Julian]

Game 5 was ranked 15th with 52,000 viewers last week making it the biggest rating NBL game and series ever on Fox Sports.

[devils]

I have always been interested to see what happens then the FOX deal was over. Personally I think NBL should get a better deal or ditch them.

I think the conditions that FOX puts on the NBL is not worth the coverage we get. Any coverage is good coverage, but when they are forcing midweek games, midweek knockout finals, won't let the dates of the season be moved etc you really have to question whether its worth it.

This season there seems to be a lot less NBL on FOX, and with this recent news its obvious they don't rate the NBL that highly, and if they keep the NBL I can't say coverage is going to improve this season.

Just cast your minds back to the opening couple of rounds this season, from memory fox only showed 1 or 2 games from the first couple of rounds, it was pretty disgraceful

[meg]

The FOX broadcast has fallen down this year, IMO. What is the alternative, however? Live scores from nbl.com? I don't think so...they've not worked more than they have this season. Print media? Oh, that's right...half of the "sports journalists" don't even know who is on which team.
Basketball fans are being shafted, and there's little we can do about it. At the end of the day, it's about money, and that's one thing the NBL doesn't have.

[lukus13]

Somebody earlier mentioned ESPN as a potential option.

Anyone know if this would be viable??

[devils]

I know espn show lots of NBA, but I think almsot all of the content they show is from overseas, I don't know any australian sports they cover.

I guess it could work, but how many pubs and bars have ESPN? I know like 1-2, but most of them just have foxsports. Not everyone can afford pay tv or even receive it eg apartment complexes, I think espn would be alienating a lot of fans.

[kc4mvp]

They can have my two set box's back the day they say they are not covering the NBL

[basketballer999]

i dont get why they dont use active like the did for a season foxsports was looking to do more of it i thought now they have just stoped
cos i rather be able ti pick my timeout to go into than lisson to cafino or cas or anyone else talk through it

[ol'timer]

Super 14 rugby suffers the same problems. QLD had their season opener schedule at 7pm on a Friday night, it was rediculous. There is only one possible reason why they would do that and it would be because Fox would only broadcast in prime time. There is, no question, more money in rugby than basketball these days but still it gets pushed around by TV schedules. I'd suggest its hard to avoid because unless a sport is in massive demand then any network that picks up coverage can be quite demanding over what they want from any deal.
I think the response is...If QLD ever joined the 21st century and had daylight savings the start times wouldnt be any worse than other states...Hope yr happy with yr non faded curtains.
Seriously if Fox dumps the NBL...Get BA to schedule at least 1 WNBL game as a double header with an NBL game everyweek ..that way the ABC can show both leagues with live on ABC2 .Plus we will still get the Breakers home games on Fox no doubt .

[sixers33]

ESPN has an Australian version of Sports Center, PTI Australia.. They showed interest in having the AFL and increasing coverage of Australias local leagues like the NBL etc.

[coast2coast]

[quote="havrilla the gorilla":33tpj3r5][quote="Voice(s)":33tpj3r5]Yes, it is all relative. Compared with ZERO, Foxtel provided good coverage of games but compared with previous years, it wasn't as good this season. That trend is cause for concern in itself since the NBL has proved to be an easy target to bump if just about ANY other sport is on around the same time. That's not a good sign for future NBL coverage.


Can you guys pinpoint exactly where the standard has dropped this year? As far as John Casey goes give me Bradtke and Gaze any day. His constant cliches and mindnuming phrases are no loss. I will sure miss "he gets the job done" "he makes no mistake" and "non preferred left" ad nauseum.

Have the actual amount of games reduced? Because that to me would indicate a problem.

In following on from others I have just written in to express my discontent to:

feedback@foxsports.com.au

So please do the same and be heard. I am sure if they receive enough mail they will at least consider a re-think. Unless the price to broadcast basketball is really expensive it is totally wrong to kill of the NBL when you can tune in and be "entertained" by poker, ten pin bowling and darts.[/quote:33tpj3r5][/quote:33tpj3r5]

Have already emailed Fox and will drop fox from pay tv coverage of no basketball. Actually, must agree with you that no John Casey on basketball would not be a bad thing. Gaze, Bradtke are far better with Carfino. Will be interesting to see what eventuates.

[coast2coast]

As a quick side-note, why the hate for John Casey? (Not just in this thread, he seems to cop it a bit on the boards here.) He's one of the better commentators in the country, we should be thankful we got him for the NBL.

And yes, it doesn't look good for the NBL right now. Don't blame Foxtel either, they're a business, and if the A-League gets better ratings, more advertisers, etc, while the NBL sits on its hands, then they have to go where the dolla dolla bills are.

http://250asprin.blogspot.com/2008/03/nbl-rip.html

I actually find him a bit boring as far as basketball goes to be honest. Give me Gaze's enthusiasm anyday!

[Lisa]

If the NBL can't even be broadcast when there are three dedicated FTA stations they are really screwed.

[WilloWildWaves]

[quote="eye of the tiger":1dpyihs5]Yikes, first the Kings, then the Bullets are in trouble and may not be around next season and now fox sports may pull out. The NBL is in serious trouble :(

Wow mate what a scoop. Do you have anything positive to contribute such as writing to Foxsports? Or are you satisfied with the understatement of the year. People who read your post may have to sit down first.....[/quote:1dpyihs5]Nah, I just like stating the obviouse. I am a big fan of the NBL and if Fox do stop showing games that will be sad to see, but it will not be the end of the world. If anything it may help the NBL attract more crowds to actual games

[BlowJoggs]

As a quick side-note, why the hate for John Casey

Here I go, here I go, here I-here I go, YO.

Where does one start. He talks too freakin much and gets off on the sound of his own voice. Yes his fantastic vocabulary is sometimes good for some novelty gems but you're watching a pretty detailed, fast paced sport and the horse-race style calling gets very tiresome, very quickly.

He adds no dimension to the visuals like past players/coaches do. Sure Bradtke speaks like a doofus but where else can you get an ex NBA player, NBL legend explaining an intricate offense to you right as it unfolds. The same goes with Barf and Drewy. For all their faults - just for who they are and what experience they have with the NBL adds so much to the commentary. I even find Drewy's blatant Tigers biased quite entertaining as unlike Casey, it's authentic and from the heart.

Don't get me wrong, I love Casey's enthusiasm, he leads the league in that category. But for mine, his chatter really ruins the game. Even in the NBL Championship presentation he was doing a running commentary as he was announcing the players. Dude just read the farken names out. Less is more Mr Case.

He's sooo repetitive too. The *insert national team* international; needs to get busy; can't get it to tumble; spills only as far as *player*; gives him some treatment (wtf is that anyway); splashes a three; trust, trust, trust. He needs to take a leaf out of Clint Dogg's rhymes and just "keep it real".

Barf, Hogey, Drewy - it's just like they're talking to each other while watching the game. It's awesome. I'd like to see Drewy and Hoges together actually.

Bruce Palmer is always good as well.

[meg]

Bradtke is terrible. Gaze is improving. I'd like to see JR have a crack when he stops playing, and although he's biased and mad as a cut snake, I think Simon Kerle always presented well on telly. I think he might create some legal issues, though. :lol:

[Lemon Custard]

I think Bradtke is better than Gaze, not by much, but the man appears to have left the state of Victoria at some point, and that gives him a slight advantage. He also comes out with some truly horrible one liners, and is forever having an argument with himself about how to pronounce 'Tovey'. In game 4, his "Toovey, Tovey, Toovey, Tovey" chant went on for a good 20 seconds.

[Daevo]

Bring back Palmer

[Observer]

Super 14 rugby suffers the same problems. QLD had their season opener schedule at 7pm on a Friday night, it was rediculous. There is only one possible reason why they would do that and it would be because Fox would only broadcast in prime time. There is, no question, more money in rugby than basketball these days but still it gets pushed around by TV schedules. I'd suggest its hard to avoid because unless a sport is in massive demand then any network that picks up coverage can be quite demanding over what they want from any deal.

Maybe if Qld has Daylight saving it would not be a problem!!!!!!!!!!!!! :oops:

[Observer]

If the NBL can't even be broadcast when there are three dedicated FTA stations they are really screwed.

There are actually 5 FTA networks and ABC has 2 channels so that is a possible 6.

To answer someones else question about costs, a numbe rof years ago when either Prime or Ten was doing Cannons games I was told by one of their execs, that it costs them aroun d $50k to do a game (live or not). It would probably be a lot more now. They need a lot of sponsors to cover that.

Also 9 has been using Fox coverage so if Fox does not do it they would have to do it all and they probably would not do that.

9 is also Synney based and even though they FTA on the NRL they only ever do games in Sydney or the occioansl Brisbane game. So expect to see all Sydney games and no one else.

[Mookie]

As the 13 clubs jockey for personnel, the NBL is seeking to renew its pay television deal with Fox Sports that has been worth almost $1 million a season for five years and its naming-rights sponsorship with Hummer, which has to determine if it will continue getting its money's worth under a planned restructure of the sport.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/basketbal ... 88842.html (http://www.theage.com.au/news/basketball/players-coaches-on-the-merrygoround/2008/03/18/1205602388842.html)

[alexdunk]

I thought Hummer had an option year for the up coming season? And why can't Fox and the NBL simply sign a one year tv deal, then renegotiate if the NBL is significantly changed the following year.?

[Rat10]

As a quick side-note, why the hate for John Casey

He adds no dimension to the visuals like past players/coaches do. Sure Bradtke speaks like a doofus but where else can you get an ex NBA player, NBL legend explaining an intricate offense to you right as it unfolds. The same goes with Barf and Drewy. For all their faults - just for who they are and what experience they have with the NBL adds so much to the commentary. I even find Drewy's blatant Tigers biased quite entertaining as unlike Casey, it's authentic and from the heart.


Yeah, but surely that's why these are your special comments guys and they're there to provide these sort of comments and analysis. Casey is the play by play guy. Most great commentators have their signature sayings and Casey is no exception. Richie Benaud, Bruce McAvaney, Marv Albert etc.

I honestly can't think of a better play by play commentator that has called the NBL (the late Clinton Grybas comes close), and is as knowledgable and professional as John Casey and the NBL is (or was as the case may be) lucky to have him. Have you heard Carfino trying to do 'play by play'. It makes me puke almost as much as when he does that stupid voice for plays of the week.

[Southern Joe]

As a quick side-note, why the hate for John Casey


Where does one start. He talks too freakin much and gets off on the sound of his own voice. Yes his fantastic vocabulary is sometimes good for some novelty gems but you're watching a pretty detailed, fast paced sport and the horse-race style calling gets very tiresome, very quickly.


I don't think he gets off on his own voice. If ya want example of that .. listen to 3AW's Darren James. He has a very gifted speaking voice .. but boy is he in love with his own voice. Basketball IS detailed & pacey .. which is why you need someone who will keep pace with a varied patter of superlatives. Casey has alos become the voice of the NBl much like Marv became the voice of the NBA.

Casey also varies his standard fare. Notice during the semis instead of saying "shot clock into single numbers" .. he changed it to red numbers....

He adds no dimension to the visuals like past players/coaches do. Sure Bradtke speaks like a doofus but where else can you get an ex NBA player, NBL legend explaining an intricate offense to you right as it unfolds. The same goes with Barf and Drewy. For all their faults - just for who they are and what experience they have with the NBL adds so much to the commentary. I even find Drewy's blatant Tigers biased quite entertaining as unlike Casey, it's authentic and from the heart.

Casey is play by play ... much like Bruce, Rabs, & others who also offer no intracies ... becasue they leave that to the expert comments guy sitting by their side. If you take note Casey actually feeds them chances to dissect teh game.

[BlowJoggs]

That was a repetitive commodity. You would easily be Top 10 in this thread category. You certainly got off to an enterprising start but check your quotes, you might have possibly run out of real estate.

Trust you've enjoyed my coverage, I'm off to do a lap of honour.

[BlowJoggs]

On a serious note, why do you even need such detailed play by play.

You look at any other basketball commentator be it the NBA or Euroleague and the commentators actually PAUSE from time to time to let you just watch the game and occasionally they will tell you a fun fact or an update on a person's stat or whatever.

WE CAN SEE THE BLOOMIN THING UNFOLD, so why do we need someone who after all his years watching the sport still wouldn't be able to tell you how the Tigers shuffle goes calling out every.single.thing.that.happens.on.court.

The name of the person passing the ball, his partner's name, his shoe size, the expiry date on his passport then how he passes it to someone else who is a Canadian international, and how he's getting some treatment from behind from a Kiwi international who is among the league leaders in steals, how the Canadian international may have gotten away with an armbar but referee of 8,567 games Ray Hunt didn't see it that way.

As I said, I appreciate the passion but keep it real. When it's the goofy players at least they're having fun out there and will only speak when it's worth mentioning something.

I think Casey should be the sideline reporter guy who interviews people because he's definitely good at asking probing questions but as a basketball fan I greatly appreciate when greats of the game commentate and share their insight into the game itself. Although I think we can all agree that Barf needs to lay off the officiating, because as shit as it is most games, more often than not, the things Barf questions are rubbish anyway.

Don't diss Hogey, how farken awesome is he in a trippy kinda way. Speaks like a total caveman but he drops absolute gems like deciphering a play off a timeout or some really good observation about which way a player likes to pump fake and the best way to counter it. It's when he's doing stuff like that with Barf or Drewy there that you really start to appreciate their input.

[Rat10]

Bradtke is terrible. Gaze is improving. I'd like to see JR have a crack when he stops playing, and although he's biased and mad as a cut snake, I think Simon Kerle always presented well on telly. I think he might create some legal issues, though. :lol:

I always enjoyed Derek Rucker's special comments - he might be terrible at running NBL clubs but he was an excellent sidekick to Casey. Going back a little while but when Fox covered the 2002 grand final series they had Ricky Grace listening into time-outs and providing comments much like Cheryl Miller does in the NBA. He was also excellent.

[Skindog the Hawk]

blah blah blah
jizz over Barfino
hating on Casey

Mate...you don't like it, there's always the mute button...or, you can spam FOX and ask them to bring back Active so you can switch to just the court noise.

IAW Rat10, SJ and just about everybody else on the Boards - Casey kicks arse as a basketball commentator, especially when compared to the opposition.

SD.

[Stumps]

I definitely find Bradtke a lot more interesting than Gaze. Whether it's because he's played more recently, or because the Great One didn't bother scouting because he only played one end of the floor and knew he was going to get his 30 no matter who was defending him, Bradtke knows a hell of a lot more than Gaze about the current players, and as Cesar points out, is able to share knowledgeable little insights about them.

Cesar bagged out Carfino's knowledge of the rules, but I have to say, it's still easily the best of the four regulars (Carfino, Casey, Gaze, Bradtke). Gaze and Bradtke regularly demonstrate why so many players bitch about calls all the time -- even the pros don't actually know the rules.

[Voice(s)]

I'm basically in 100% agreement with Cesar.

I don't dislike Casey at all but he calls games like he's doing radio commentary. It's like a constant stream of noise with "Hoare takes a step...passes to Corletto who surveys his options" etc. with almost no let up. Like Cesar alluded to it's quite refreshing to hear commentator's from the NBA and Euroleague "tune out" every now and start talking to each other like normal people not as scripted mannequins.

While it's more than likely Casey's job for as long as he want's it to be considering how poor Carfino is at play by play it does have that "footy on the radio" feel. Another reason why AFL TV commentators for the most part are excrutiating to listen to, most do/have done a lot of radio.

As below the belt as Carfino usually is he works really well with Gaze. The gentle ribbing, humour and wit come naturally to both when together. Gaze is the pick of the bunch for his youthful enthusiasm and the sharp wit. Bradtke while improving markedly still comes across as a drunk guy trying to talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles.

Palmer is always worth the price of admission but used too sparingly, Rucker was decent, Simon Kerle was hilarious and basically money in the bank with his snide cheapshots (Paul Keating would've even appreciated his complete savaging of Ian Stacker during NBL Wrap or whatever it was) and while I think his time has gone as a player or coach in this league I always quite liked Shane Heal's commentary when he popped up from time to time during his three year retirement.

The only pairing that should never, never, never ever be repeated is Carfino and Cal Bruton. It was so appallingly bad you almost felt sorry for them.

[BlowJoggs]

Leroy needs to be on the banned list too, nobody should be subjected to, "aye yo Steve, aah thank he gon go fo' fawty tanight...or fiddy".
How has Bolden come across in the Kings broadcast? He's always a fun guy to talk bball to.
Vlahov is also good behind the mic.
JR when he retires will surely be in the media.

[Southern Joe]

On a serious note, why do you even need such detailed play by play.

Being a convert to basketball nearly 20 yrs ago, I can see both sides of this argument.


Yeh ... you purists can see all thats ahppening having played the game ..... but its us guys & gals who haven't played the game but are now converts to the game that like to learn more & more psoitional play. Sure .. an observant person will pick up heaps more being at a live game .... but on TV the cams don't pick up everything. Thats also another feather in Casey's bow. He tells us about things you DON'T notice .. like scuffles off the ball etc.

But ..... if we're to attract newbies to teh sport ... we need to compensate & embrace the fact that more needs to be done in commentary in Oz. USA is diff. because the audience is largely already conditioned to bball.

Even the EPL comms add as much input as Casey does ... & thats to an audience that is largely unified in to the sport they get saturation coverage on .. as well as continual half time promos that feature a skills demo segment.
You look at any other basketball commentator be it the NBA or Euroleague and the commentators actually PAUSE from time to time to let you just watch the game and occasionally they will tell you a fun fact or an update on a person's stat or whatever.


... Whenever I've seen NBA comms .. they're spitting out more stats per second with graphics about who's the leading stat getter in the most minute sense.

WE CAN SEE THE BLOOMIN THING UNFOLD, so why do we need someone who after all his years watching the sport still wouldn't be able to tell you how the Tigers shuffle goes calling out every.single.thing.that.happens.on.court.


.... Then why have a comm at all??

The name of the person passing the ball, his partner's name, his shoe size, the expiry date on his passport then how he passes it to someone else who is a Canadian international, and how he's getting some treatment from behind from a Kiwi international who is among the league leaders in steals, how the Canadian international may have gotten away with an armbar but referee of 8,567 games Ray Hunt didn't see it that way.



... Over exaggeration on making a weak point there Ces....

I see more minute stats being graphiced (what a word that one is !!! lol ) on NBA games. And I don't watch alotta NBA.


As I said, I appreciate the passion but keep it real. When it's the goofy players at least they're having fun out there and will only speak when it's worth mentioning something.

I reckon Casey is one of the most real comms out there. He is alll about pumping up the tyres of the game, the players, the coverage, his employers .. rather than himself. Obviously Fox Sports agree because they entrust him to call AFL, swimming & tennis ... how many other comms are entrusted with that ??

I think Casey should be the sideline reporter guy who interviews people because he's definitely good at asking probing questions but as a basketball fan I greatly appreciate when greats of the game commentate and share their insight into the game itself. Although I think we can all agree that Barf needs to lay off the officiating, because as shit as it is most games, more often than not, the things Barf questions are rubbish anyway.

Casey would be lost as a sideline guy. While he's become more technically proficient at calling different shots, moves & stuff like travels .... he obviously hasn't been privvy to too many timeouts & therefore would have nothing to add to hearing a timeout. You are also confusing the role of the experts guy to that of play by play.

Don't diss Hogey, how farken awesome is he in a trippy kinda way. Speaks like a total caveman but he drops absolute gems like deciphering a play off a timeout or some really good observation about which way a player likes to pump fake and the best way to counter it. It's when he's doing stuff like that with Barf or Drewy there that you really start to appreciate their input.


.... I personally think Hoagey has an annoying voice and an awkard look for TV ... then again .... I know I don't have the right look for TV. I have a decent speaking voice .... but could only get a community radio gig.

I think Brdatke needs more media training ... as i think in technique he is still miles behind Gaze & Carfino. In pre games .... Carfino has amazing fluidity & good camera awareness & the proximity of when to make eye contact with his fellow comms( esp. when he's working with Casey). Having played many yrs of top level basketball between them .. obv. Carfs, Hoges & Gaze are gonna have a great wealth of knowledge ... how much you enjoy the way they convey that knowledge would be subjective ... but I think technically Case, Carfino & Gaze are very good .;.. Bradtke is improving...

[Lisa]

If the NBL can't even be broadcast when there are three dedicated FTA stations they are really screwed.

There are actually 5 FTA networks and ABC has 2 channels so that is a possible 6.

To answer someones else question about costs, a numbe rof years ago when either Prime or Ten was doing Cannons games I was told by one of their execs, that it costs them aroun d $50k to do a game (live or not). It would probably be a lot more now. They need a lot of sponsors to cover that.

Also 9 has been using Fox coverage so if Fox does not do it they would have to do it all and they probably would not do that.

9 is also Synney based and even though they FTA on the NRL they only ever do games in Sydney or the occioansl Brisbane game. So expect to see all Sydney games and no one else.

Ooopss :oops: I meant 3 dedicated sports channels on Fox.

[Wild 1]

Bring back the mailman - Paul Maley.

Ricky Grace did a good job for the one Grad Final series he was doing sidelines for.

[Ewan Corness]

Casey is perfect as a professional sport caller, he's great regardless of who he's paired with, but he's especially needed when the offsider is an ex-athlete who sometimes needs their hand held (no Amaechi).

Besides Casey-Carfino, Bruce Palmer is ridiculously good, in terms of being both entertaining and informative. Bradtke is getting better, but his half-time questions to the players can be a bit clunky (they're generally something like "So, you were really dominated on the offensive boards in that quarter but you then came back, hit some threes and did some other good things so you must be happy, and even though you've got 20 points and you held Gavin Van Der Putten to a career low 30 at the half, would you like to do better in the second half or are there other things you can work on?") but he's got good insight - in a perfect world he'd be better breaking down Xs and Os on a scripted, in-studio style show. Gaze is Gaze - stumbles over names, laughs too much, but that's what makes him "him" - I'd like to see Gaze used more as that roving reporter who interviews interesting characters (other sport stars, etc) during a lull in the action. While he's not the most professional, he's a character and he's entertaining, which is pretty much 95% of what you need to be successful in front of a TV camera - a good parallel is Charles Barkley's broadcasting career, although Barkley is more smart and sarcastic, where Drewy is a goofball.

I love how this thread has turned into "rate the commentators" after my innocent question about the hateration of John Casey earlier :)

[glockers]

Bradtke while improving markedly still comes across as a drunk guy trying to talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles.

Voice(s) that is the funniest comment you have ever posted. So true!

[Voice(s)]

Cheers G-Lockers. But you should get that buddy of your's "lawsy82" or whatever he's meant to be to ease up on the "we're doomed I tells ya!!!11@" rubbish. :wink:

I posted this in the "Bullets for sale/run for the hills" thread and in retrospect is probably more apt here.

Boti's take on it all:

www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,226 ... 71,00.html (http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23405179-5006371,00.html)

[whupass]

Agree with voices, from what I am hearing. I think the call of the Fox not re upping are premature and groundless, like a lot of Lawsy's guesses!!
Media people I know all reckon Fox will continue with the NBL, for a lot of reasons. Some are:
They need the content
Realitevly cheap to produce
Established product on FOX
GF series was the highest rated in BB history on pay TV

Its not all doom and gloom..

[paul]

Fox will be back. They have stuck with NBL since 92 and things are a lot more promising now than when they signed the 5year 4mill deal.

NBL delivers consistent, solid ratings for six months of the year, delivers Fox subscribers because its the only place to get more than an hour per week. It is also a product that people go into pubs and ask to be turned on, particularly in inner city bars, and every product that encourages pubs to have pay tv is worth good money for Fox.

I think the level of coverage is good - 2 1/2 games per week (on average) is about what there is a market for. I think the current channel 9 coverage is also good - it's important to remember that in the early 90's when basketball boomed channel 7 only showed highlights of the 'game of the week' on a sunday morning.

The trick for the NBL now is to try and get the FTA coverage more market specific ie: Tigers or Dragons shown in Melbourne as often as possible, Kings or Razorbacks in Sydney etc. There are ways to do this without drastically changing the current arrangement, will just take a little creativity.

[Gweijo]

He's sooo repetitive too. The *insert national team* international; needs to get busy; can't get it to tumble; spills only as far as *player*; gives him some treatment (wtf is that anyway); splashes a three; trust, trust, trust. He needs to take a leaf out of Clint Dogg's rhymes and just "keep it real".



You forgot "the user-friendly roll"...

[Gweijo]

Fox will be back. They have stuck with NBL since 92 and things are a lot more promising now than when they signed the 5year 4mill deal.

NBL delivers consistent, solid ratings for six months of the year, delivers Fox subscribers because its the only place to get more than an hour per week. It is also a product that people go into pubs and ask to be turned on, particularly in inner city bars, and every product that encourages pubs to have pay tv is worth good money for Fox.

In summer, the NBL is competing against the A league, which is far more heavily promoted, and has heavy-hitters like Frank Lowy behind it. It wouldn't surprise me if Fox downgraded/dumped altogether their NBL coverage.


The trick for the NBL now is to try and get the FTA coverage more market specific ie: Tigers or Dragons shown in Melbourne as often as possible, Kings or Razorbacks in Sydney etc. There are ways to do this without drastically changing the current arrangement, will just take a little creativity.

I would have thought that the commercial networks being allowed to multicast on their digital channel would open up these sorts of "local" opportunities, but you still have to get around the problem of the cost of setting up an OB. Given that the networks are hell-bent on cost-cutting by centralising their news broadcasts, I don't see them carrying the OB costs themselves. It's be nice of they re-broadcast the Fox coverage...

[Mookie]

*bump*

Look smart, people are watching... :wink:

[sixers33]

I liked Foxtel, but it's not worth it without the basketball to me.. NBL goes, Foxtel goes basically.

[Mookie]

Seems to be the recurring theme.

[Big Shot Joey]

I'm not getting rid of foxtel (in my case austar) just because NBL and fox sports part ways (and I don't think the fox management really care if they lose a few subscribers because of it)....theres still the nba to feed my basketball needs

[havrilla the gorilla]

Make sure you all are keeping the faith by writing to Foxtel in protest, to air your disgust at the prospect of no NBL. I always thought writing in to complain about shit was for 50 something housewives with nothing better to do, but if you really care make it count, don't just write on this forum and leave it there.

With enough people it might make all the difference. Because no television coverage equals no NBL. It is simple.

"One man..can make a difference" - Knight Rider

[havrilla the gorilla]

One last thing about the Foxtel coverage form this year: Does anybody know the name of that rap/hip hop song they had going for the final eight teams during the finals telecast?

A couple of people have asked me over the last couple of weeks, and some chick on another forum was busting to know. I have no idea.. :P

[singy]

I'm watching the NBA game that was on Fox today and there's ads for the new netball competition that will be shown on Fox. That's great news for netball, but the thing that got my attention was that Fox are showing 5 live games over this weekend and Monday night - that's right - 5 LIVE games! I see netball in a similar space as basketball in this country, from the point of view that there's no issues with participation rates, just issues with attendances & promotions at the professional level. This news is confusing though - I'm not sure what it means for the NBL's prospects of remaining on Fox, but if they can find room for 5 live games of netball in one weekend during winter (the time when most people on here suggest NBL can't get coverage on Fox), I don't see why the same can't happen for basketball. Maybe we need to talk to the person that negotiated this great deal for the netball.

[Skindog the Hawk]

I liked Foxtel, but it's not worth it without the basketball to me.. NBL goes, Foxtel goes basically.

+1 - Austar doesn't do much more for me than take up space (and $80/mth of my paypacket). If the NBL goes, then Austar (read: FOX Sports) is out.

SD.

[kc4mvp]

I liked Foxtel, but it's not worth it without the basketball to me.. NBL goes, Foxtel goes basically.

+1 - Austar doesn't do much more for me than take up space (and $80/mth of my paypacket). If the NBL goes, then Austar (read: FOX Sports) is out.

SD.

Ditto for me

[pilonv1]

With limited Foxtel watching this season, I didn't miss the NBL at all. Probably because living in Sydney you'd never know it was on. But even still I had no interest in seeing the same teams every weekend, with the same commentators (who haven't realised yet that knowing when to say nothing at all is the sign of a good broadcaster), the same low rent production and the same low rent officiating.

This is a stark contrast from as little as three years ago when I'd be attending Pirates games and taping whatever game on Fox while I was out, or rushing home from basketball on Thursday nights to see a Breakers game since they were never shown on Wed/Sat.

I think losing Foxtel coverage would be the kick in the arse the League needs, and get them out of the stupid bubble they live in where they think everything is fine. If you can't get hardcore hoops fans like myself interested then what hope do you have?

[havrilla the gorilla]

. hardcore hoops fans like myself


Yeah you really sound one after that load of dribble..... :shock:

[pilonv1]

I'm surprised you were able to comprehend any of it.

[AngusH]

With limited Foxtel watching this season, I didn't miss the NBL at all. Probably because living in Sydney you'd never know it was on. But even still I had no interest in seeing the same teams every weekend, with the same commentators (who haven't realised yet that knowing when to say nothing at all is the sign of a good broadcaster), the same low rent production and the same low rent officiating.

This is a stark contrast from as little as three years ago when I'd be attending Pirates games and taping whatever game on Fox while I was out, or rushing home from basketball on Thursday nights to see a Breakers game since they were never shown on Wed/Sat.

I think losing Foxtel coverage would be the kick in the arse the League needs, and get them out of the stupid bubble they live in where they think everything is fine. If you can't get hardcore hoops fans like myself
interested then what hope do you have?

Honestly, if you were a hardcore hoops fan, you'd know when it was on. Fox Sports did a pretty good job of advertising it - much better than I would have expected prior to the season - and if you were that interested in it, the internet is another easy place to find the details.

Fact is, you missed a pretty darn good season. Talent level was high, quality of most of the games was pretty high. The commentators are no worse than any of the on-tv commentators for any other sports. Carfino in particular is, IMO, quite good. The production may be cheap compared to AFL/League, but hey, the game isn't near the profile of those two.

[Stumps]

. hardcore hoops fans like myself
Yeah you really sound one after that load of dribble..... :shock:
Oh, here we go, more of the "if you were a real fan you would stick your head in the sand and pretend everything was OK" attacks ...

[sixers33]

If only the "Hardcore" fans knew when the AFL was on, it would be alot less popular...

Fox Sports NEEDS to advertise the NBL better to get more people watching. Not many people know the NBL is on tv, let alone Fox.

[AngusH]

If only the "Hardcore" fans knew when the AFL was on, it would be alot less popular...

Fox Sports NEEDS to advertise the NBL better to get more people watching. Not many people know the NBL is on tv, let alone Fox.

Fox Sports advertises it just fine. You watch any of the sports channels and you see NBL adverts throughout the day.

[Voice(s)]

If only the "Hardcore" fans knew when the AFL was on, it would be alot less popular...

Fox Sports NEEDS to advertise the NBL better to get more people watching. Not many people know the NBL is on tv, let alone Fox.

Fox Sports don't need to do jack. I would've thought the NBL needs the NBL to advertise better. Also Fox Sports does do a pretty good job of advertising the NBL on Foxtel.

[ol'timer]

To talk about prodcution values and Fox coverage is a little unfair.
Firstly consider TV paid the AFL over 700M for TV rights, at that price they will exploit the league and games coverage with blanket advertising (its in their best interest to do so) thats marketing promotion the clubs and and the AFL dont pay for...thsoe who take advertising out with the channels cover it.
Secondly.To recoup that outlay they arent going to scrimp on quality of the coverage thus HD ,more camera angles GPS on players with heart monitors...all good stuff etc etc makes the production look better.
3rdly the venues the AFL plays in MCG,Telstra amongst them provide a fantastic backdrop.
Fox actually do a very good job with limited resources in mostly crap venues ...I mean that physically and also in facilities to provide the best camea angles to take advantage of the game actually understates the
quality of the players in the league.
Commentary is subjective...Casey vs Commetti
overall Fox does a good job on a shoestring..they just cant justify spending more for the advertising $$$ they get coming in .
Lets hope the league can make a good case on why they should continue to cover the league on the back of the quality of the Finals series

[havrilla the gorilla]

I'm surprised you were able to comprehend any of it.

Yeah me too the way you articulate.

Great insight - lets hope Foxtel scraps the coverage, that way it paves the way for FTA to come and save it with midnight replays if we are lucky, thus appeasing any advertising and sponsor concerns and generally helping the league in the long run.

If Channel 7 put their hands up to do it right, then it is a different matter. Why would you weaken the league and hope foxtel pulls the pin when there is no alternative?

Just pull the trigger yourself on the league then you claim to be a hardcore fan? Just halve whatever you are taking because you were obviously in an altered state to enjoy Pirates games....

[havrilla the gorilla]

. hardcore hoops fans like myself
Yeah you really sound one after that load of dribble..... :shock:
Oh, here we go, more of the "if you were a real fan you would stick your head in the sand and pretend everything was OK" attacks ...


Oh what a surprise....the great man has spoken. Sorry if this is becoming a common theme but you have totally missed my point. :wink:

There is a difference between constructive criticism and just trashing the broadcaster of our league - who do a fantastic job with the best resources available. You're the genius who always reminds us that Basketball is now a third tier sport in this country, yet you expect it to be running like a top tier one.
Being supportive of our game and not being openly critical does not equal burying your head in the sand. Is it perfect? No. Does it need to implement strategies to keep it viable? Of course. But there is a way you state your case, and bagging out the broadcaster that has done a good job trying to raise the profile of the sport without offering any alternatives or solutions is insulting. If people hate Carfino, Gaze and Bradtke who could do better? Any of you? I seriously doubt it.

Why do you care anyway - isn't your Sydney FC season ticket application form in the mail?

[meg]

If only the "Hardcore" fans knew when the AFL was on, it would be alot less popular...

Fox Sports NEEDS to advertise the NBL better to get more people watching. Not many people know the NBL is on tv, let alone Fox.

Fox Sports don't need to do jack. I would've thought the NBL needs the NBL to advertise better. Also Fox Sports does do a pretty good job of advertising the NBL on Foxtel.

Spot on.

[pilonv1]

Honestly, if you were a hardcore hoops fan, you'd know when it was on. Fox Sports did a pretty good job of advertising it - much better than I would have expected prior to the season - and if you were that interested in it, the internet is another easy place to find the details.

Not knowing when it was on was probably not the best choice of words. Not making me care when it was on is more accurate.

Fact is, you missed a pretty darn good season.

Carfino in particular is, IMO, quite good.

Well now I don't know what to believe.

[ozdunker]

"Fox Sports is televising all 69 matches to be held over the next four months between the five teams from Australia and five from New Zealand."

[singy]

"Fox Sports is televising all 69 matches to be held over the next four months between the five teams from Australia and five from New Zealand."

Yeah, that really surprises me. I'm thinking netball has a similar audience to basketball, yet Fox is prepared to show every game of the new ANZ Championship during the time when the schedule is loaded with Aussie Rules, League & Union, but is silent about extending the NBL contract when there's basically just A-League & cricket to contend with.

[ozdunker]

yeah i wouldnt mind a please explain from Basketball Australia over this one.

Not only does a deal like this make the WNBL look second rate, it makes the NBL look second rate.

[singy]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I heard from someone at the Tigers Big V game tonight (reliable source) that Fox told the NBL that if they go to 10 teams, they will show EVERY game live. The NBL's response? NO.

I'm not going to suggest which 3 teams should make way, but for the good of the game and sponsorship/marketing opportunities, you would think the answer had to be YES.

[meg]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I heard from someone at the Tigers Big V game tonight (reliable source) that Fox told the NBL that if they go to 10 teams, they will show EVERY game live. The NBL's response? NO.

I'm not going to suggest which 3 teams should make way, but for the good of the game and sponsorship/marketing opportunities, you would think the answer had to be YES.

Really? Why? What would be the difference? As has been discussed many, many times before, the major stumbling block is the cost of OB vans. Sounds like someone's yankin' your chain to me.

[LegoSHAQ]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I heard from someone at the Tigers Big V game tonight (reliable source) that Fox told the NBL that if they go to 10 teams, they will show EVERY game live. The NBL's response? NO.

I'm not going to suggest which 3 teams should make way, but for the good of the game and sponsorship/marketing opportunities, you would think the answer had to be YES.
and what was the other condition? That the games be scheduled Monday to Friday? Because there is no way FOX would show more than 1 game live that is being played at the same time..

[singy]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I heard from someone at the Tigers Big V game tonight (reliable source) that Fox told the NBL that if they go to 10 teams, they will show EVERY game live. The NBL's response? NO.

I'm not going to suggest which 3 teams should make way, but for the good of the game and sponsorship/marketing opportunities, you would think the answer had to be YES.
and what was the other condition? That the games be scheduled Monday to Friday? Because there is no way FOX would show more than 1 game live that is being played at the same time..

Didn't get into the detail. The topic came up as we were talking about how the new Netball competition managed to get EVERY game LIVE on Fox, and it was mentioned that the same deal was offered to the NBL, with 10 teams as the condition. The Netball has 1 or 2 games on Saturday, 1 or 2 on Sunday and 1 or 2 on Monday night, using the time difference with NZ to schedule double headers.

[meg]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I heard from someone at the Tigers Big V game tonight (reliable source) that Fox told the NBL that if they go to 10 teams, they will show EVERY game live. The NBL's response? NO.

I'm not going to suggest which 3 teams should make way, but for the good of the game and sponsorship/marketing opportunities, you would think the answer had to be YES.
and what was the other condition? That the games be scheduled Monday to Friday? Because there is no way FOX would show more than 1 game live that is being played at the same time..

Didn't get into the detail. The topic came up as we were talking about how the new Netball competition managed to get EVERY game LIVE on Fox, and it was mentioned that the same deal was offered to the NBL, with 10 teams as the condition. The Netball has 1 or 2 games on Saturday, 1 or 2 on Sunday and 1 or 2 on Monday night, using the time difference with NZ to schedule double headers.

If this is true, I wonder what ulterior motive Foxsports have. It's not out of the goodness of their hearts.
I wonder how many women watch the channel at present. Not many, I would think. Netball is the biggest female participation sport in the country, I'm guessing, and Foxsports would be thinking that they could increase their audience by quite a big margin by offering something for the other half of the population, along with their buying power. It would be interesting to see what the advertising slant during the netball season is. I still don't see the logic in deciding that 10 teams is the magic number.

Good on the NBL for not kowtowing to pressure by a broadcaster whose first interest is to make money for itself and it's shareholders. I cannot see that Fox has the NBL's best interests first and formost.

[sixers33]

It sounds like something Fox would do, they show every A-League match live, every netball match live and i would love to see 5 live NBL matches every week.

27 Matches per season for each team, have a top 5 and let the NBL stabalise 10 teams.

1 Adelaide
2 Brisbane
3 Cairns
4 Townsville
5 Perth
6 Sydney
7 Melbourne
8 South
9 NZ
10 Wollongong

Finals:

Week 1
a: 2V3
b: 4V5

Week 2
c: Loser of a V winner of b
d: winner of c V 1st

Week 3
Grandfinal = winner of C V winner of D

TV/Match Schedule

Wednesday - 1 Night
Friday - 1 Night
Saturday - 1 Afternoon, 1 Night
Sunday - 1 Twilight

[bballfan]

There is no way that Foxtel would show every NBL game even if they could. The reason Netball has got every game covered at the moment is that half the matches are broadcast by Sky in New Zealand and therefore Fox has taken a gamble in covering just 2 or 3 games in Australia per week and they just swap the rights to show the games with Sky.

The Fox deal for netball is just for the first year when things will be re-evaluated. Already the crowds have been not as high as expected and Monday night netball has been copping a thrashing both in attendances and ratings. Not surprising when they are up against the NRL or AFL directly in most timeslots. Even cricket could not compete against those sporting giants.

Fox will be covering the NBL again and it will be just the same format as the previous 5 year agreement with a Wednesday and Saturday night game.

[devils]

Agree with what bballfan said

The AUS/NZ netball league is brand new this season, and it was a bit of a gamble for fox to broadcasting every game (half the game coming from NZ sky sports)

I will find it hard to see them continuing this level of coverage though, especially as this deal was made for the opening year.

From memory fox sports did the same type of deal with the A-league, as they had no idea if it would be very successful. Turns out it worked out very well, and have extended the contract for a number of years with all games shown live.

So far the netball hasn't had the same impact A-League did when it started, but it may take awhile for some teams to gain a following. I personally had no idea fox sports were going to broadcast any of this new netball league.

I don't think the NBL is under any real threat, and I epect the same fox sports coverage to continue.

[isaac]

The three teams they want out are Wollongong, Singapore and (I think) West Sydney - not sure on the Pigs, but definitely heard the first two when this 10-team rumour first came up a month or so ago. I did not hear that they would cover every game, rather that they would not want to cover regional home games at all.

I guess we'll see what happens.

[curious]

Yes.
I had suggested that this was the case a long time ago.
Razorbacks will not play out of Penrith this season. So that helps them in terms of Fox coverage.
Any FWIH Penrith is no where near NBL standards yet.
Singapore might get a game of so if they can get a local feed.
Hawks hard to say.

[fraggs]

That actually makes sense to me. Foxtel just wouldn't be interested in lugging equipment out to areas where they don't normally go, particularly if the TV audience would not be there. Maybe the advertising dollars are less. With regards Singapore, you'd have to imagine that they just hijak someone else's feed. Surely those games are going live to a local audience and, if not, why is the NBL even trying?

None of this sounds particularly positive. It really seems like the NBL is going to have to suck it up and accept (almost) any demands that Fox throw at them. Can't see any local TV stations being interested.

[Voice(s)]

The NBL don't need to accept these alleged demands. While IMO it would probably make for a better and smoother product I would be pretty sure places Like Adelaide, Perth, Cairns, New Zealand etc. would be able to get their games shown on a local FTA channel if there were no nationally binding contract i.e. only Fox Sports can show NBL games in Australia.

[paul]

If this is true, it is great to see the NBL not give in to such demands. Remember what happened the last time a TV network promised the world if rural teams were culled. The NBL has to go by the rule that if a team is financially viable it can stay in the league.

Last season’s TV coverage was more than adequate, 2-3 games per week on pay-tv in Australia and a replay on Nine; 2-3 games per week on pay-tv and 2 on free to air in NZ; prime time replays of all Slingers games in Singapore – and a number of games on TV in the Philippines according to a friend there. Tigers Fox games have previously been screened in China and I have no reason to believe that wasn’t the case last year.

The NBL’s big problem is getting people to the games, so they don’t really need every game live on pay-TV until the majority of clubs have (*got off there arses and in to schools and local associations ad nauseum) significantly increased attendances.

If Fox doesn’t want to go to rural venues, then they shouldn’t, but there is no way the NBL should get rid of those teams on Fox’s behalf.

[Skindog the Hawk]

Can't see any local TV stations being interested.

WIN TV Wollongong previously televised every Hawks home game on repeat mid-week at about 11pm up until a few seasons ago, with local legends Bob Kubbinga and Phil Hamer.

I'd think that Townsville & Cairns would probably get someone to pick up their games...and generally the regional channels will do swaps of game footage between each other.

It's not as serious a problem as you might think.

SD.

[devils]

I am going back a fair bit here, but I remember as a Hobart devils fan in the early to mid 90's, we used to get EVERY game on FTA tv (home and away) as long as there was some form of tv coverage

ABC locally did the home games (put it on around 11pm) and then for an away game they would just take the feed from a local station (was delayed, but generally on same night or next morning) , stations didn't seem to have too much of a problem swapping feeds over back then. I think TV rights and $$$ has changed things a bit since then.

[Daevo]

Can't see any local TV stations being interested.

WIN TV Wollongong previously televised every Hawks home game on repeat mid-week at about 11pm up until a few seasons ago
I think in the early years the ABC showed them on local channel 5A
(the only TV channel you could tune to on the FM radio band...just thought I'd throw that in)

[Southern Joe]

.... I remember the old WIN4 channel. I use to be able to get that on FM as well. It was on about 100 on the FM dial.

I used to use that FM tune to record songs off the old Channel 7 show, " Sounds" (formerly "Sounds Unlimited")


My ideal situation for all NBL games would be this.....

A FTA network deal with regional stations only. So home games of TSV, CNS, Gong, GC be shown on delay nationwide ... even if at midnight.

NBL shows Cap city games live except for the host city .. which Fox blacks out. They do this for AFL .. this would be on teh Main Event Channel. Fox would then show a full replay @ 10 pm. This would be done Wed & Sat nights.

NZ continue to have their home games on Thursday nights.

Slingers do a reciprocal deal with Foxtel.

The NBL & Fox do a deal where any games can be purchased on a Box Office channel for $9.95. The NBL & Fox work out the cuts.

Wed. night's NBL Wrap starts 6.30 pm & is a full highlights show of all games.

[Observer]

A FTA network deal with regional stations only. So home games of TSV, CNS, Gong, GC be shown on delay nationwide ... even if at midnight.

.

All you need to do is to get a deal with WIN TV. They cover all Australia and Include 9 in Adelaide and Perth. So a deal with them could see everyone except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane covered.

[sixers33]

NBL makes deals with FOX and WIN/Nine.

Fox shows Wednesday Night/Saturday Night (Fox get to select), WIN does the rest of the games, broadcasting games for just the local team. The games Fox select are exclusive and not shown on WIN, a maximum of 3 games per team exclusive on Fox are shown.
NZ Breakers/Singapore Slingers are shown on Fox exclusively (exception to local teams state shown on WIN)
WIN games from other states are broadcasted on Main Event/FoxSports Plus for a price (eg. $9.99)
Finals are shown on both FOX (All games LIVE) and WIN (delayed broadcast except for local teams away games)

It's a win-WIN situation :P

Fox get more advertising on FTA out of it, and the NBL is broadcasted to more people.
Much like the AFL deal with Foxtel, exclusive games and less ads then FTA combined with advertising the product helps Fox get more subscriptions.

[Skindog the Hawk]

Now you only have to convince Bruce Gordon that it'll make him some $$$

[sixers33]

Anyone here got a spare few million dollars we can throw at him?

[CGG]

Anyone here got a spare few million dollars we can throw at him?

Oh please - if anyone here had a spare few million dollars we'd have bought a basketball team by now. :lol: