Hoops

NBL fixture press release

How about NBL TV subscription to give us some NBA games as well.

When it comes to distribution of weekend games I think whatever makes Larry Kestleman the biggest chance of getting back monies he's invested.

I think saying "Townsville is a small market so let's only give them Wednesday/Thursday games" then that is silly as they should get many games on those days but Reptile Rumbles and other rivalry games (perhaps Blanchfield and Markovic returning for the first time) should be given a more epic feel and time slot.

I'm wondering who owns NBL games of the past as I hope NBL.tv can become a WWE network/major U.S. Sports networks type situation where we can have classic matches and rivalries and biographies of hall of famers and yes even panel shows (including Breakers if Sky do something for them).

It certainly sounds like things are trying to be sorted out after lots of disappointment from fans so good luck to the powers that be and I hope we don't live to regret dealing with Fox Sports

so paid up season tickets are what now? we are paying more per game, some pre paying.

As a Wildcat member I love the Friday night games just after work. (maybe 6pm). Ive attended a few wed night games in the past... that wasnt bad.

The great thing about Perth Arena is that its about a 4 minute walk from the Main train station here.

Its actually weekend games I struggle with. Anything on Sunday particulary as their there are less train services etc.

Another good thing to come on workday week games is the Red Army striding through the city heading towards the game. Feels really good seeing them all out there.

People hae no problem taking their kids out to Big Big Bash, AFL, even visiting socer teams ( when they usually have no interest in socer) to mid week events.
Its a matter of the event being promoted as special, specatular, etc. etc. We really haven't seen any more than token gestures at promoting NBL games for years.
Even if you want to go to a 36ers game, its hard to find the stadium!

The only people who know about the NBL is you and me so it will be interesting to see how much money is thrown at promoting the NBL.

Midweek games will impact on country fans, people who may have to travel 2 hrs or more to get to a game, but the league will 'happily ignore" those few if it can generate more income through sponsorship dollars thanks to increased TV exposure.

Regarding the above discussion of an "on the couch" type show.

Michelle Trewatha would be a good fit on that panel.

Re: the shortened season comments - there is only going to be one less round than last season. Last season = 20 rounds, this coming season = 19 rounds.

Gotta hope a benefit of this is that the salary cap is now better value -ie a player can earn $150k over 20 weeks instead of over 25 weeks, which is effectivley a payrise.

This "payrise" should put teams in the market for even better players. Players that want to play more and train less.

For teams it means depth is important. A 2 week injury becomes a 5 - 6 game injury instead of a 2 - 3 game injury. Also less recovery time between games will challenge players fitness and energy levels with quick turn arounds.

Sounds exciting - but disappointed it will all be over in just 20 weeks ( plus play-offs)

would be a good idea to make midweek games half price entry to begin with.

I can only hope from a Sydney standpoint they play the SEC games mid-week and the homebush ones on the weekend.

Will there only be one game per day?

Sounds good to me.

Im happy with mid week basketball too. It works in the NBA and other sports like Cricket so dont see why it cant work.

As someone who doesnt have fox but loves the 36ers/NBL i hope they have any games not on FTA TV available to watch live/on demand online on a nbl.tv type website.

Does anyone know if thats likely to occur??

...NBA news, sorry...

For me, it has to happen, the press release is leading people into an expectation that the NBL is going to provide something not too long and not boring.

So, it would be very, very important to get the pre-game interviews and pre-game build up right, then end that game with an immediate review and highlights package during post game interviews etc...

But, (and a very big BUTT) pardon the pun, there needs to be a weekly show of some kind to tie it all together!

The NBL isn't easy for everyone to follow, so we need to get it right and present the whole league properly and with some points of interest, even links to the NBA, why not add a little BNA news into a show about the NBL?

Wouldn't hurt, however it must be a quality show, IMHO...

A positive and confident media campaign appears to have begun. It will be crucial to get the right FTA Network and/or Foxtel on board.

It will be just as crucial to provide these fans with regular, high quality highlights and exciting plays to promote the NBL.

I don't mean nice lay-ups and scores, I mean great angles, crash and bash, huge dunks and something we can all talk about, but more importantly something the commentators at games can talk about in passionate terms, not robotic (ho, hum) and boring...