Celtics extend broadcasting deal with CSNE, get stake in the network...

[Roy H.]

The Celtics just boosted the value of the franchise tremendously, I think:

The Boston Celtics, one of the NBA’s storied franchises, are finalizing a lucrative media rights package with Comcast SportsNet New England that will extend their current deal by 20 years with a big jump in its annual rights fee, as well as give the team a stake in the network.

Multiple sources said that the Celtics and Comcast are close to a long-term media rights deal despite the NBA lockout that has thrown the league into economic uncertainty.

The proposed deal, which could be finalized in the next few weeks, would extend the Celtics’ media deal to 2038 from the current agreement that runs through 2017. In addition, the team would take up to a 20 percent equity stake in the regional sports network (RSN) and receive a healthy increase in its annual rights fee.

The Celtics currently get between $15 million and $20 million annually, which is considered below market for such a strong franchise.

Link

This deal should solidify the Celtics' financial footing, regardless of the new CBA.  Of course, with increased revenue sharing and a proposed hard cap, this could have a lesser impact than it otherwise might have.  However, it's good to see the franchise earning more, especially if that can be re-invested into the team.

[Roy H.]

Looking it up, it's pretty crazy how disparate local TV ratings are for some franchises.  Here's the top six:

L.A. Lakers    278,000
Chicago    141,000
Boston            118,000
New York    115,000
Miami            85,000
San Antonio    85,000

... and the bottom six (ratings for Toronto & New Orleans weren't available):

New Jersey    22,000
Sacramento    22,000
Oklahoma City    19,000
Memphis    17,000
Milwaukee    16,000
Charlotte    11,000

I find that incredible.  On average, on 11k households watch a Bobcats game?  I really had no idea that the numbers were that small.  I guess I'm around too many diehards, who are watching the majority of Celts games.

[bdm860]

The Lakers stats really surprise me.  I think the general opinion (especially around here) is that people only go to the Lakers games to be seen, not because they care about the game, but even without all those people going to Lakers games for the exposure, they have a ton of people watching at home where nobody sees them.  And they're in first by such a huge margin, basically double the next closest team.  Impressive.

I would say San Antonio proves a small market team can thrive if managed right, but then you see the numbers for OKC, Memphis, and Milwaukee, all good teams on the rise with marketable stars but they have just dismal ratings.  How can you ever expect a team to sell out a 20,000 seat arena, when there's less than that many people watching at home (although if there's 15k already at the game, then I guess you technically have enough demand, but just barely).

Definitely interesting stuff, but now what would really be interesting would be to see the year-by-year trends per team.  I would love to see how the Celtics viewing numbers went from the '80's when they dominated to the mid-to-late '90's when they sucked to the early 2000's when there was some excitement, to the mid '00's when they sucked again, to the present.  Now that would be some truly interesting stuff.

[bdm860]

I find that incredible.  On average, on 11k households watch a Bobcats game?  I really had no idea that the numbers were that small.  I guess I'm around too many diehards, who are watching the majority of Celts games.

What's really sad about Charlotte is that the Hornets were at the top in the league in attendance for like their first 10 years in the league.  According to wikipedia they led the whole NBA in attendance for 8 of their first 10 seasons.  At one point, they sold out 358 consecutive games—the equivalent of almost nine consecutive seasons.  To me it looks like George Shinn really made the people of Charlotte bitter to NBA basketball, and they never came back around with the new team, ownership, and Michael Jordan.  It's a shame too because it looked like a great NBA city for a while.

[Fan from VT]

The Lakers stats really surprise me.  I think the general opinion (especially around here) is that people only go to the Lakers games to be seen, not because they care about the game, but even without all those people going to Lakers games for the exposure, they have a ton of people watching at home where nobody sees them.  And they're in first by such a huge margin, basically double the next closest team.  Impressive.

I would say San Antonio proves a small market team can thrive if managed right, but then you see the numbers for OKC, Memphis, and Milwaukee, all good teams on the rise with marketable stars but they have just dismal ratings.  How can you ever expect a team to sell out a 20,000 seat arena, when there's less than that many people watching at home (although if there's 15k already at the game, then I guess you technically have enough demand, but just barely).

Definitely interesting stuff, but now what would really be interesting would be to see the year-by-year trends per team.  I would love to see how the Celtics viewing numbers went from the '80's when they dominated to the mid-to-late '90's when they sucked to the early 2000's when there was some excitement, to the mid '00's when they sucked again, to the present.  Now that would be some truly interesting stuff.

I would guess that a lot of the negative perception of LA fans is vastly unearned, and is just used as "fan warfare," in that we hate their team, so we tend to go beyond the court (especially when the lakers win) and criticize players/fanbases to mke us feel more superior in our own fandom (probably unearned). I would guess that LA has plenty of true NBA fans who like to watch games. They may not all be LA fans, either, to be fair.

Also, I do wonder if the LA ticket being so hard to get increases ticket prices: after all, if true fans are priced out on a consistent basis by status fans, then those true fans will watch at home, boosting ratings a little.

[twinbree]

I find that incredible.  On average, on 11k households watch a Bobcats game?  I really had no idea that the numbers were that small.  I guess I'm around too many diehards, who are watching the majority of Celts games.

What's really sad about Charlotte is that the Hornets were at the top in the league in attendance for like their first 10 years in the league.  According to wikipedia they led the whole NBA in attendance for 8 of their first 10 seasons.  At one point, they sold out 358 consecutive games—the equivalent of almost nine consecutive seasons.  To me it looks like George Shinn really made the people of Charlotte bitter to NBA basketball, and they never came back around with the new team, ownership, and Michael Jordan.  It's a shame too because it looked like a great NBA city for a while.

I find the Bobcats franchise quite sad. The poor management and mediocrity of the team isn't doing anything to draw back fans who soured on the NBA after the Hornets left. The team seems to be going nowhere in the near future and few bright spots in their shot history. Other struggling teams have something - promising young talent, glory days to relive, dedicated fans something. Bobcats have nothing. Sad to say that of a team associated with Jordan.

On topic. I like this. Financially I like what the franchise will look like going forward. Makes it easier to deal with roster uncertainty and to hope for good Celtics basketball when the lockout ends.

[BballTim]

I would say San Antonio proves a small market team can thrive if managed right, but then you see the numbers for OKC, Memphis, and Milwaukee, all good teams on the rise with marketable stars but they have just dismal ratings. 

  I'd say all San Antonio proves is that a small market team can thrive if it gets multiple franchise players in the lottery and wins multiple titles. Give them 3-4 years without TD and see whether they thrive or not.

[LB3533]

How does having a hard cap help a small market team not become small market?

Nothing really changes....you don't magically make more population...do you hand out free TVs with only that one channel showing them the games?