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1. The NBA’s viewership figures have recently become a hot topic among sports enthusiasts and media circles.
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Various opinions have been shared about the drop in the NBA regular-season ratings. It’s foolish to pin the fluctuation on a single factor unless it’s a standout event like a Caitlin Clark scenario.
However, the most absurd explanation I’ve encountered is the suggestion that the ratings decline is due to Charles Barkley’s critical comments about the league on TNT’s Inside the NBA.
Inside the NBA is an iconic show, and Barkley wields considerable influence. However, the notion that his opinions sway NBA fans to either abandon or tune in to a game is far-fetched and likely just a tactic to stir up online engagement.
It’s unrealistic to assume that sports enthusiasts would switch off an NBA game on TNT or ESPN simply because Barkley criticizes the game’s quality.
Recently, Barkley faced criticism for his lukewarm reaction to a stunning left-handed dunk by LeBron James.
Trending:
People are criticizing Charles Barkley.
They claim his negative comments about the game and his underplaying of exciting moments like LeBron’s dunk are among the reasons for the ratings decline.
Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/TLMWYVaZCD
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) January 8, 2025
How does an offhand remark about not needing to replay LeBron’s dunk 22 times on the postgame show lead to fewer people watching NBA games? This is a lazy argument that, while clickable, lacks substance.
Personally, I preferred the NBA from years past, but that’s based on my own observations, not Barkley’s commentary on Inside the NBA.
If anything, Barkley’s presence likely draws more viewers to the NBA. No other sports studio show generates as much buzz as Inside the NBA, which ultimately benefits the league.
Lakers coach JJ Redick remarked, “If I’m a casual fan and every time I turn on the TV, I hear that the product is terrible, I’m naturally disinclined to watch.”
A casual fan isn’t going to watch a regular-season NBA game regardless of what Barkley or anyone else says. They tune in for marquee players like LeBron or Steph Curry, or for big games like the recent Cavs-Thunder matchup. They are less likely to watch a routine game like Timberwolves vs. Heat on a Wednesday night.
Moreover, it’s improbable that a “casual fan” stays up to watch Inside the NBA’s late-night pregame or postgame shows and then decides not to watch the games because of Barkley’s criticism of the modern NBA. That just doesn’t add up.
2. The latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina is out today, featuring CBS announcer Ian Eagle as the guest.
Eagle discusses his experience calling the recent Chargers-Texans wild-card game, which he humorously refers to as “The Houston Invitational.” He also shares insights from his assignment on the Chiefs-Steelers Christmas Day game for Netflix, his collaboration with J.J. Watt, and the noticeable halftime focus disparity between the Texans and Steelers. Eagle also shares the advice he gave his son, Noah, on how to handle commentary during a one-sided game.
He also touches on the reports of him becoming Amazon’s lead NBA commentator next year and his reflections on calling his first Final Four. Other topics include personal anecdotes about hotel mishaps, his pen-collecting hobby, and interactions with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo.
Following Eagle, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins for the weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. Discussions range from the betting odds for the NFL wild-card games, the appropriate time to dismantle Christmas decorations, to Hulk Hogan’s recent booing incident on Monday Night Raw.
You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast below or on platforms like Apple and Spotify.
You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated‘s YouTube channel.
3. Exciting news from the sports broadcasting legend Dick Vitale, who has been dealing with several health issues in recent years. It seems that Dickie V is poised to return to the commentary booth. The 85-year-old hasn’t called a college basketball game for ESPN since early 2023.
Just had a check-up of my vocal cords & I was very emotional with the fantastic report by Dr. ZEITELS. He confirmed my vocal cords are cancer-free & he believes I can return to my passion of being courtside for @espn. pic.twitter.com/r4tJHcTiMF
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 8, 2025
4. Sports Media Watch recently published a detailed analysis of the NFL’s regular-season ratings.
One key finding is that despite Fox recruiting Tom Brady, CBS has outperformed Fox for the season in the 4:25 p.m. slot. This is only the second time CBS has topped Fox in this time window, a remarkable feat especially considering the impact of streaming services like Netflix and network shifts affecting game broadcasts late in the season.
5. A few weeks ago on College GameDay, comedian Shane Gillis quipped, “Now that everyone can pay their players, Notre Dame finally has a chance. It’s not just the SEC anymore, not just Coach Saban.”
On his podcast, Gillis shared a behind-the-scenes story about Coach Saban’s heated response to his comment after the broadcast.
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