As the highly anticipated Game 7 of the NBA Finals approaches this Sunday night, the spotlight is not just on the competing teams but also on the league and its broadcast partner, ESPN. In a conversation between The Athletic’s sports media columnist Richard Deitsch and sports business editor Dan Shanoff, they discussed the expectations and pressures these entities face in delivering an unforgettable experience for fans.
Shanoff kicked off the conversation by stating, “It’s a cliché, but it’s also true — the two greatest words in sports are ‘Game 7.'” He questioned the extent of the pressure on the NBA and ESPN to present a broadcast worthy of such a moment, or whether the inherent drama of a Game 7 makes it nearly impossible to mess up.
Deitsch referenced a famous monologue by Al Michaels prior to his coverage of the Miracle On Ice game, where he conveyed the significance of such rare sporting events: “What we have at hand, the rarest of sporting events — an event that needs no buildup, no superfluous adjectives.” This sentiment holds for all Game 7s and championship games across major sports, where the interest is innate.
He emphasized that the broadcaster must significantly articulate the monumental stakes of the game, underscoring its importance not just for the teams involved but within the broader historical context of the NBA Finals. Deitsch suggested that the ABC pregame show should heavily feature a reflection on the most recent Game 7 in Finals history, enhancing the event’s importance.
In discussing the broadcasting crew, which includes Mike Breen, Doris Burke, and Richard Jefferson, Deitsch acknowledged that while there is pressure on them to capture the game’s pivotal moments, the responsibility also lies with the producer and director. Notably, this team has a unique connection to the last Game 7 in NBA Finals history, with Breen providing play-by-play commentary, Burke serving as the sideline reporter, and Jefferson having played in the game for the Cavaliers.
Deitsch remarked on the significance of this point, noting, “What’s unique about this broadcast is that it is likely the last time we see them as a trio calling the NBA Finals.” He articulated that for ESPN, success would be defined as a broadcast where conversation afterward centers around the game rather than the broadcast itself.
The NBA has been notably responsive to audience feedback regarding its broadcast presentation. Recently, the league made adjustments, such as adding digitized Finals logos to the court and reinstating televised player introductions, which had been absent for over a decade. Deitsch and Shanoff pondered the rationale behind these changes, with Deitsch stating, “The NBA was reactive here, but it’s better to be reactive with a popular change than not to react at all.”
Recalling a podcast discussion with Jon Lewis, the editor of Sports Media Watch, they noted how the ABC broadcast of these Finals felt similar to any other postseason game. Deitsch emphasized that player introductions enhance the perception of a game’s significance, comparing it to the theatricality often seen in professional wrestling, where entrance music generates excitement among fans.
As mentioned, Game 7 embodies a significant event. Front Office Sports’ Colin Salao pointed out that the previous four Game 7s in the NBA Finals experienced a 65 percent rise in viewership compared to other games in the series. This trend could suggest that Sunday’s match might attract just under 20 million viewers, potentially making it the most-watched Finals game of the 2020s. However, it is unlikely to match the viewership of the iconic 2016 Game 7 between the Cavaliers and Warriors, which drew 31 million viewers.
Reflecting on the potential viewership for this year’s Game 7, Deitsch mentioned his initial predictions for the series and suggested that while Pacers-Thunder would be a compelling matchup, the small-market representation may hinder overall viewership success. He noted that if the series progressed to seven games, it might surpass the viewership of this year’s Ohio State-Notre Dame title game, which garnered 22.1 million viewers.
However, based on the viewership metrics from the first six games, he expressed skepticism that this series has built enough momentum to achieve that figure. Deitsch predicted that rather than a substantial 22 million viewers, Game 7 would likely attract between 15-18 million viewers.
Regardless of the final numbers, both the NBA and ESPN can take solace in the fact that the average viewership for the series will not be as disappointing as it would have been had the series concluded swiftly.
In essence, as fans gear up for what promises to be a dramatic Game 7, the collective hope of the league and broadcast affiliates is to create a memorable event that resonates well beyond the final buzzer.
image source from：nytimes
