Logo image
Keeping politics out of the game: why socially divided messages are not good for television ratings
Thesis   Open access

Keeping politics out of the game: why socially divided messages are not good for television ratings

Martin Lee Jr.
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
03 Mar 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001377
pdf
Lee_Martin_20221.56 MBDownloadView

Abstract

Sports administration National Basketball Association Television broadcasting of sports Political participation--Public opinion Professional athletes
During the early 2020s, several politically charged strikes and protests by NBA players impacted the viewer experience. This research seeks to find if these actions by NBA players, as noble a cause as they may be deemed, could impact the future of live sports ratings and the financial health of the NBA on television. This research examines several real-life cases in which the NBA has found itself at the center of politically charged national and global debates, a relationship that has launched the NBA into the spotlight and drawn deep criticism. The researcher seeks to demonstrate whether the NBA should stay out of politics and stick to basketball and the overall fan experience or if fans are accepting of this blurring of lines between players' personal political causes and the game.

Metrics

50 File views/ downloads
68 Record Views

Details

Logo image