Needed pre game highlights from the blitz. Should have shown some player highlights while talking about them. Less talking, more highlights from the players involved from blitz and previous seasons. Wouldn't hurt for them to figure out some more cool graphic pieces to add to it all. I thought it was only a small improvement on last year's presentation 6/10

This was posted last night:

http://www.aussiehoopla.com/year-one-begins-pros-cons-fox-sports-first-nbl-broadcast/

I posted this in another thread, but relevant here:

Last night was OK, but over the course of the season OK won't be near good enough to achieve the ratings the NBL needs ahead of the review of the deal.

We've got to give it time though, hopefully it will improve a lot as the year wears on, with game footage woven into the coverage along with interviews and features etc.

But a big thing for me that can be done right away is turn down the effects mikes. Why is watching an NBL game on TV an assault on your ears when this isn't the case watching any other basketball comp?

The other thing is time-outs. Don't cross to the huddles for the full time-out every time, its not that interesting for most. Show an interview, or highlights from the game, and then show interesting snippets from the time-out, or occasionally go to the full time-out.

I did like the fact they replayed highlights instead of fouls as per previous years.

I think Hammer is a really good commentator. Gives some good insight, is knowledgeable of the players and i think he explains things with relative straightforwardness for non-basketball fans to understand what's going on.

Not having the score available on the screen was frustrating - and not a good look having something like happen from the first tip off in the very first game of the year.

Glad to see they appear to have done away with the in-game bench interviews which were absolute cringworthy.

In game music MUST be reduced. Sounds silly but I find it hard to concentrate on the basketball with the music blasting..like it's hard to focus on the game?

Would still like "cuts" and "edits" for introductions, 'going to ads' etc. to show actual highlights..

It's a massive league wide problem..all you see sometimes is cuts of fouling, guys complaining, some guy taking a charge, guys arguing (those ones aimed to show 'intensity' and heart), passes etc.. Can never understand it. They should show 3 pointers, dunks, nice layups.

Agreed MACDUB the music is the same as it's been for years and is over the top. Can the NBL at least trial a game with little or no music and see how it goes? The irony is it is an Americanisation of the NBL that the Americans do even less than us.

I agree with the music. What other sport in Australia has music during play, none that I can think of. Its unnecessary and pointless. During time outs, pre game, post game, and quarter and half breaks go for it. I am also not a fan of too much announcing during play either, keep it simple and let the players be the spectacle.

Agreed with replays..Damn annoying missing live basketball.

Tonight's production was crap, too. I fear it is going to be more of the same from the NBL. A whole lot of sizzle, but not seeing any steak. The TV product IS the product, not the Twitter updates.

I thought NBL was meant to pay some of the production costs?

Half baked coverage wont help grow this thing. They might as well just throw in the towel and fold the league if they think that this will get them anywhere.

Boti losing his mind lately.

WHAT a start! That was just what the doctor ordered - spectacular game, great crowd, quality TV coverage and unprecedented social media fan interaction.

Dr Kestelman, his chief surgeon Dr Loeliger and their team of nurses and interns have not only revived their NBL patient but steadily taken him off life support, affected a complete rehabilitation and last night watched with a proud tear in the eye as it blazed new heights on so many levels.

Calm down people, it's just the first round with no game footage available to weave into the coverage. If it's still this bland in a month that will be disappointing, but having said that, we can still watch every game live this season, which is twice as good as we've ever had before. Let's be a little patient.

There was plenty of Blitz footage; there is footage from these guys college careers. There is past NBL footage. There really is no excuse. Jeez, they could even take footage of tragardh and torrey craig playing 1 on 1 in a local park!

The league must only have 2 cameras at its disposal: baseline and sideline. There is no imagination in the TV product. In fact, the pre game promo with the black guy doing ball tricks (who isnt even in the league) is puzzling, and the NBL's official commercial is 1000% more appropriate for the show.

Kestleman said that everything was being done with 100 percent professionalism, but right now we have a good promotional team and a second rate product. Anyone who thought production has been good is kidding themselves. It is as rushed and basic as it has ever been. But hey, they did take us into the half time locker rooms.... once.

Lets get real: If the NBL's TV product doesn't raise, the NBL's standings won't either. People might be inticed to check it out, but few will stay with boring coverage.