From what i heard the NBL had to pay part of the costs to have games shown so not sure FOX paid anything to broadcast games. This was just from what was talked about on here and other forums so I could be wrong.

Always nice when millionaires are involved with NBL, Kestelman, Bendat who can spend big to make it big.. need more rich and stable owners who care.

Very much doubt Foxtel are paying a cent.

Possibly a very big part of the investment by LK is to put up some cash to get the league exposure, then try to recoup this through selling sponsorship to the likes of Chemist Wharehouse.

Trying to prove the NBL is a quality TV product and prove it will pull viewers which will give it a real dollar value for future contracts.

Adding to this investment is the commitment to re-establish the Brisbane Bullets and possibly further expand the league to increae potential tv audience.

No-one can doubt LK is giving this thing his best shot. Its not perfect, but no sporting comp is but you gotta love the vision and the optimism in the league tight now.

Perth benefited greatly with his injection of money and the professionalism Perth has in all aspects of the club helps the NBL's image.

Now that Kestelman is on board, hopefully they find a similar owner or group for Brisbane and eventually other struggling clubs.

They've done well with the sponsors so far and haven't even got a naming rights sponsor for the league yet.

Very promising future. Foxtel and the NBL Live app working very well.

KET why would you say Foxtel aren't paying a cent? What gives you that impression?

I know the NBL has put up a lot of its own money to get on Fox, but I thought Fox was also funding a bit of it (at least)

If the NBL are partially playing for it to be televised, why would they receive money from Foxtel? Foxtel would put money towards the cost but would not be giving the NBl money direct. That would come from sponsorships, which would come on board with a TV deal in place.

Haz, I mean Fox wouldn't be paying a cent to the NBL. I'm sure Fox are paying part of the costs of production.

Who is doctor evil?

What I am really interested in is how well the games have been rating? The figures aren't published anywhere.

If the ratings aren't good enough, will every game still be live on FOX next season?

FWIK Fox games are averaging in the 15-20K mark (that's average audience, not total reach) and Gem in the 40-50K mark. That makes for roughly double the overall viewing audience of last season.

Wow Paul, that is terrible :-(

Only if your expectations were too high. That's right around what was to be expected with so many games on, and much better than the last time it was on Fox despite far fewer games to stretch the audience. The Gem numbers are solid for the NBL, comparable to the years on Ten.

Both need to improve a hell of a lot to cash in, but that was never going to happen in the first season. It is just the same product dressed up a little better.

15-20k? Ouch!

Were you seriously expecting more than that with six games per week?

I had nothing to really base expectations on as such.
But I was certainly hoping for more by this stage, with the season well underway and the coverage locked regularly into channel 503.

I was hoping for more too obviously, but at the end of the 2000s the NBL was averaging 4-5K on Fox with only two games per week, and across the Ten/ONE deal it was in the 30-40K range, so it was always very unlikely there'd be big numbers.

The positive is the overall reach is around double what it was last year, so at least that's progress. The negative is there needs to be huge improvement to make the league sustainable.

paul - I struggle to remember. Last year was it 2 games per week being shown? i.e., is the increased audience a direct consequence of the increased exposure (number of games)?

What would be interesting to know as well is the additional exposure through NBL Live app. Is that known at all?

Yep.

Last season we had Friday night and Sunday games.

Its the Friday night game I really miss. I am hoping there is room in the Fox deal for them to sell them on for an acceptable FTA price.

Who else misses the Friday night FTA games?

I miss the channel seven / channel ten coverage during the glory days and the great John Gardiner.

I miss the Friday night game too. Out of the 2 FTA games from last season, the Friday night game was always better for mine.

Never really could be too bothered watching a game on Sunday arvo when I could be doing other things that day, or binge watch a TV show!

I think the NBL really needs a Friday or Thursday night FTA component to the Fox deal. Sunday's would be better suited just for a highlights show.

Don't forget, last season's friday night FTA game was rigged so that Perth was "always" on. Bloody Nick Marvin.