Under the two-year deal, fans will have access to the entire 2019-20 Hungry Jack's NBL season for free, with 67 games broadcast on SBS VICELAND - an 86% increase in free-to-air coverage compared to the 2018-19 season – and all 126 games available live and free on streaming platform SBS On Demand.

Your point?

NRL player Brad Fittler.

Your point?

That you posted incorrect information.

I added nothing to what's in the news article, it says in my post exactly what it says on the 7news website.

Which is that the NBL isn't getting money from a TV deal that would allow them to play behind closed doors. Which is true.

Wildcats renewal deadline passed before this hit, so they had everyone already locked in.

Which is that the NBL isn't getting money from a TV deal that would allow them to play behind closed doors. Which is true.

They don't have one they can lean on, which is what the article actually says.

Yes, they do as I posted it was a two year agreement.

Zodiac, I believe the points are that:

1. the broadcast deal might not be honoured (years ago, Ten failed to deliver on many agreed aspects of their deal with the NBL); and/or

2. the absent TV broadcast revenue not being received by the NBL is a barrier to medium-term viability, since there could similarly be no ticket sales i.e. where would the NBL's revenue come from?

There is no point it's muckraking by Smith and or a rival network.

1. Aside from the 2 year contract SBS Viceland are still showing replays of NBL games every weekday during the off-season hardly the actions of a broadcast partner wanting to sever ties.

2. The NBL is funded by LK an absence of funds from a TV deal or no ticket sales (individual club problems) is hardly a barrier to the league surviving. The league continues as long as LK wants it to. Nothing this clown Kings owner says has anything to do with that.

"The NBL is funded by LK an absence of funds from a TV deal or no ticket sales (individual club problems) is hardly a barrier to the league surviving."

I think you're just arguing for the sake of it now if you think a lack of revenue isn't a barrier to the league's viability.

"The league continues as long as LK wants it to."

Exactly... If clubs have no revenue, how do they field teams? By extension, if the NBL struggles for revenue, how does LK prop up ALL the clubs?

No, the point is that the AFLs and NBAs of the world have million/billion dollar TV deals that make a closed-door season viable for them. The NBL does not, and thus cannot go forward unless fans can purchase tickets.

It's not rocket science people.

That was me forgot to put my name in.

People not understanding "lean on". Yes, they have a broadcast deal but it doesn't make the league any money. The NBL needs fans for the teams to be viable. Larry can't prop every individual team up on his own, and even if he technically could afford to, I think that would be just a little too much to ask - especially when considering that we don't know when fans could practically return to games and how long this issue will linger on for.

The NBL needs fans for the teams to be viable.

Larry can't prop every individual team up on his own, and even if he technically could afford to, I think that would be just a little too much to ask

"Are you actually unaware how much LK underwrites the league and it's teams?"

No. Are you actually unaware that there's a limit to LK's wealth and willingness to lose money, and that these limits could be tested if clubs had zero revenue?

I'm not arguing with you any longer you and I both know LK could finance the running of this league including all 9 teams on his own for decades if he wishes.

Coronavirus may be a barrier to the league going ahead next season money from TV deals or no fans in attendance are not.

I don't know that Zodiac, but curious how you do.

I wasn't intending to argue - just elaborate on Kobe's posts.

Much like everyone else on here, I don't know that the league will fold, but LK's financial commitment could be tested (understandably so given the current economic climate), which really isn't an outrageous statement.

So the worst case scenario presented here is that the league folds. The NBL would be considered a vulnerable business with its model in this climate.

if the league folds, that will obviously be a disaster for the sport through all levels from top to bottom, not just the NBL only.

Therefore, what is a reasonable alternative to the worst case scenario? Take a year off entirely then come back the following year? Play a mini-season in say February which might serve as some kind of placeholder competition, just to ensure some revenue is made, then restart properly the following year?

Surely we aint folding! But I am very concerned that we might if things dont go back to normal this year.

Paul Smith went the unsustainable route by doing things like buying billboard ad space for millions in only his first season. He'll be the first to bail out if times get tougher but in the meantime he why not camouflage his all-in by declaring to the media that it's the league's fault. No one forced you to spend the amounts you did.

Paul Smith went the unsustainable route by doing things like buying billboard ad space for millions in only his first season. He'll be the first to bail out if times get tougher but in the meantime why not camouflage his all-in by declaring to the media that it's the league's fault. No one forced you to spend the amounts you did.

It's simple.
There is no point in a closed competition. End of story.
If restrictions have not lifted to allow crowds into games, then the season will be delayed or postponed until they are lifted. If that appears unlikely, then they will skip a season.

"There is no point in a closed competition. End of story."

Agreed. Players have already agreed to a hefty pay cut, my guess is that the front office of many clubs are going to be decimated in the near future.

Sucks.

NBL has the advantage of scale over NRL and AFL.

Fewer players. Lower costs. Easier to adapt. Australia might be seen as a safer place for imports to play, compared to US and Europe.

All sports will have to adapt.