Hoops

A League Fox Sports deal worth $346 Million

A-League announced that 1 game per week to be shown on Network 10/One. Will be the Saturday night match, simulcast from Fox.

In my opinion, this is a risky move. We all know how 10 treated the NBL twice in its history. They'll do the same to the A-League if it doesn't rate well enough.

Hopefully this is good news for the NBL as SBS might want more sporting content, or 7,9 or ABC may want to counter the A-league coverage for NBL??? I mean, the league is on the up after all... of course 10 would never have wanted the NBL ever again and im sure the league wouldnt be keen to go back there.

SBS loved soccer. Wonder if 10 will give the same love. The sceptic in me says they wont. Curious if FFA took into considetation the network's treatment of basketball when signing up to them. Id think they didn't.

Good luck to them.

Problem imo is grass roots. Hugely popular sport in juniors as is soccer but badly run. Money needs to be invested which looks like its finally being done with tin sheds being replaced.
In 90s it was huge mainly by marketing started by NBA, Jordan, shaq etc. Focus from local clubs is premier league then div one teams. Need to somehow get NBA on fta, attract teams and players to play here and hype it up. BBL has taken off mainly because it's a spectacle but also because it's like Kim Kardashian, it's famous for being famous. Instead of marquee players like a Brock Motum who outside of basketball, no-one knows or cares, get an Iverson or McGrady to play a few games, give them a couple hundred thousand and build it up. A League did it with washed up players, coaches may hate it especially like last season with it being so tight, but I'd be lining up to watch Iverson or one if my past Hero's lace them up. Most of people on this forum has bagged Ferguson, but if he turns out to be star and after NBA comes back to play for a year or two would be huge.
Now these ideas may not work, in fact nearly guaranteed not to, but get some marketing firm to breathe life into league. Go Hollywood.

There is no way Fox is making a profit on this deal. Much like the AFL, NRL and cricket contracts. I guess A-League has joined the club of overhyped Australian leagues. Well done... I guess.

Correct, realigning our season to be more in sync with the FIBA calendar back in 1998 was a fail.

For me personally I would only watch the NBL or go to games if it was on in the months the NBA wasn't on. That would be my suggestion to make it more popular.

Difference is that the A league didn't just hire its old mates to run it and get it going. Actually got experienced and business minded people for the most important jobs.

As to the reasons why, I have no idea.

Young Chinese or phillipino prospects have an enormous amount of followers.

"Also make seperate Asian import. That'll increase viewership throughout Asia if you can bring a young prospect in or established player."

Not meaning to sound critical but how would this increase tv audiences in Asia?

Why would they watch when they have their own, very successful CBA?

Also make seperate Asian import. That'll increase viewership throughout Asia if you can bring a young prospect in or established player.

I'd make the cap higher and also scrap the current wnbl teams and align them with the current nbl teams, much like the a league/w league, afl/aflw.

Have a pro team, an entire youth/development team etc.

2 team expansion, 1 more vic team, 1 tas.
=

Mens/womens pro + boys/girls youth
Melbourne United
Second vic team (south east)
Sydney kings
Illawarra Hawks
Adelaide 36ers
Perth wildcats
Hobart devils
Brisbane bullets
Cairns taipans
Auckland breakers (Wellington)

Potentially a second Adelaide team and nz team.

vastly improve all content. Website, streaming, marketing etc.

"It's pretty simple.
The more viewers, the more bacon."

Exactly right. The more viewers, the more sponsors come on board, equaling more revenue and bargaining rights.

The question is, how do we get more people to watch the NBL on Fox Sports?

It's pretty simple.
The more viewers, the more bacon.

was a joke*

The ridiculous thing is the standard of the A-League from a worldwide perspective is poor. On the other hand NBL is one of the top basketball leagues worldwide. Yet the inferior league gets the money.

I am both a football and basketball fan, following both sports around the world. If I didn't know any better I'd think this is a joke.

Wasn't that long ago that the A-League was in the same boat as NBL.

Mavs-Flames @ Mt Barker
Women: Not a case of who will win, but how much. The benchmark is 122 (+81), so the Flamettes should see anything less than this as a failure if they want to be seen as number 1. I’m not too sure if the Mavs 202 cm centre has landed, but this season will be a long one without her. Flames in for a % booster. The Mavs will soon find out what’s deadlier? Jess Foley’s game, or a night out on the town with Kevin Foley.
Men: This will be the Mavs third tough game in as many weeks. Brad Hill was in fine form with 39 points against Sturt and the Mavs look on fire with a team chock-a-block with NBL talent. (Is Ben playing?) Norwood with plenty in the tank after a Sunday afternoon jaunt last week, but will need to shoot better than 29% to have any chance against Mavs. Men’s MOTR this one. It’s the battle of the Brads in the coaching department. Better get the best umpires up there, ‘cos one bad call might cost the game. Davo might have just a bit more cunning to make those crucial plays count. Flip a coin.


North-West @ Hillcrest
Women: Both teams enter undefeated, so this should be a good game. Women’s MOTR. Both teams shooting about the same standard, but West inaccurate in the 3 Pt department. The rest of their play is about the same on paper, except West with more TO’s, but more steals suggesting a team more willing to take a gamble and be aggressive. It is that willingness to take a risk that may just be the difference tonight and see Westies celebrate.
Men: North is yet to open their ledger for the season. West got the job done against Lions, but missed the “big back of rocks”. Would be a great game if both Rhys and Jeffrey (wash your hands Jeffrey, with the solvol Jeffrey) are playing for their teams. I am leaning towards West to have the more physical presence on court and to send North into the wilderness for another week to live off locusts and wild honey.

Tigers-Warriors @ Southern Siberia
Women: Tigeresses backed up a great R1 with a shocker by shooting badly, no very badly. Woodville are currently the deadliest from the stripe, but lead the comp in TO’s. Both teams are young and keen so providing the Tigers have been practicing their shots, this will be another tight game. Difficult to see a clear advantage either way if things go well for both teams, but I think the home team should prevail in a tight win.
Men: Tigers didn’t throw bricks last round, they threw cinder blocks. Woodville suffered from the “Forestville rash” last Saturday night. If the Tigers want to take one hand off the wooden spoon, they need to go into the room of mirrors for a good look and come out shooting. If Woodville want to be taken seriously as a finals contender they need to ice this game from the tip off and keep Charlie Sheen at bay. This won’t be the prettiest game this round and will be decided on turnovers and poor shooting. “Centrals Lite” might just have the edge.

Lions-Sabres @ Northern Siberia
Women: Lionesses showed grit in R1, but shot horribly in R2 (0/11 3P & 28% FG) to hand West an easy win. You need to shoot well if you want to win games. Sturt enjoyed the luxury of a training session in R2 and have Madgen and Seekamp on fire from the floor. Sturt have the lowest TO’s in the league and are rebounding better than the Lions through Maycock and Bowley. Mahoney has provided an extra dimension to the Lions, but Sturt’s consistent shooting will be the difference tonight. Wonder what reception Tess will receive?
Men: Lions are like MacGyver. They see a lot of action, get into a bit of strife, but never quite get the girl (the win). Plenty of shots, good rebounds, low turnovers, so why aren’t they winning? Could be more aggression is needed. A low steal rate and low FT rate could be an indication they need to attack the ball carrier more, and when they have it, drive it to the rack. Sturt winless after 2 rounds? What the? Can’t see them going 0-3 and they will be ready to explode like a zit on a teenager’s back. Jake’s purple pinot pinkies ready to pick off more rebounds than Bowley’ blossoming berries. Sturt to tame the Lions, while Tom Daly attracts the attention of “all the single ladies”. If Darren’s back, he could be “dynamite”.


Eagles-Panthers @ Wayville
Women: South are the 3 point queens at the moment (41%) and are sitting lower on the table than their talent indicates. Forestville backed up well last week against a lower opponent through some excellent 3 Pt shooting from Minear (4/5) and Bow (3/3). This will be tighter than what most people think with the weather forecast being a tsunami of threes around Wayville tonight. Forestville to rain over South.
Men: Rashad all over Warriors last week picking off rebounds like a Summertown orchadist picks apples. Don’t know if DJ is playing yet, but if he is, this is his test. Mitch Creek is providing the Panther faithful with some excitement and may be the lotion to cure the “Forestville Rash” this Saturday night. Pregnant women and people with heart disorders better not attend this ride. Probably equal MOTR - when was the last time that happened to South?

Sun
Mavs-Tigers @ Mt Barker Pleasure Dome
Women: The Tigers might be looking for an easy Sunday afternoon kill, but Mavs will be looking for a surprise win to boost their spirits. They have been completely tenderised by the West / Sturt / Norwood tenderisers in the first rounds and the Mt Barker forest provides good coverage for the Tigeresses to stalk their prey. Tigers to win, but not by the margins we have seen in the previous games.
Men: Brad’s men might get confused when he tells them there’s no training Sunday and they head up river waterskiing, but this is unlikely to happen. Tiger hunting is on and the Hillbilly will be sitting on his elephant directing traffic complete with pith hat and pink gin, tally-ho!

Lions-Flames @ Starplex
Women: Lionesses back up after a tough game to an opponent who should be a fresh as a daisy. Flames riding high and after four games, can’t anyone else pick their offense plan? It seems to simple, yet confuses so many.
Men: The Norwood Giants lumber up to Gawler today knowing they will win the boards. All Webbs needs to do is toss up prayers from downtown. If they miss, there’s always a pair of hands for the tip in. History favours the Flames and on the Starplex savannah this week, that history is unlikely to be re-written.