The Big Aristotle didn’t hesitate to call out the current state of the media and ESPN. A major shift began with the rise of social media. It gave athletes and celebrities a new way to connect with fans more directly than before. With a simple finger flick, they can now reach a wider audience than most traditional media outlets. And the Big Aristotle is all for it.
O’Neal has his own podcast and does his job well at the TNT studio. So, he knows a thing or two about it. He even went so far as to say that one of America’s most reputable sports networks might not have many viewers as podcasts continue to grow due to the many approaches they can have.
“Podcasts are taking over the world because everybody’s doing something different. Draymond and Baron is doing way different than we’re doing. Stak five and Matt Barnes doing way different. Like it’s just different. It’s entertaining. That’s why you got these guys doing these big podcast deals. Nobody’s watching ESPN and all that anymore and people need to wake up,” O’Neal said on the show.
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This stems from the discussion surrounding the current NBA season, which witnessed a decline in viewership. The match between Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves saw a 17% decrease against last year’s opener between New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Then both of Wednesday’s games on ESPN saw a dip. 51% for the San Antonio Spurs and OKC Thunder. Shaq believes the games require diversification in skill execution to draw in the viewers, thus drawing an example from the variety in podcasts, keeping the audience from major networks.
TNT’s broadcast of the Spurs vs. Mavericks game had a 0.7 rating, marking a 38% drop compared to the 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks game. TNT’s viewership took a 30% hit. A contributing factor to this decline might be assumed to be the lack of star power. ESPN, meanwhile, saw a boost last year with the debut of Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama.
However, this season, several star players haven’t made an appearance in the games mentioned above, mostly due to injuries. Notable absences include Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, and Paul George. The schedule is packed but fans are seemingly disappointed by the absences of the star players or the uncertainty of their presence.
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This isn’t the only issue troubling the Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal, who seemingly isn’t ready to let go of his job at TNT.
Shaquille O’Neal is hopeful about Inside the NBA
The NBA on NBC is certainly exciting for fans who find it fascinating and nostalgic. However, Inside the NBA has been a staple for several years, and many aren’t ready to say goodbye. Well, neither are the analysts working for Turner.
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With TNT left out of the NBA’s deal this year, the chances of its return are very slim. But that hasn’t crushed the hopes of the Inside crew. “But this last year is gonna be a phenomenal year, you know Chuck is gonna go crazy, I’m gonna go crazy. It’s gonna be fun. Hopefully this is not the last year,” Shaq said on The OGs podcast with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.
Regardless, we will keep seeing the legend sharing his insights in his podcasts. As the sports podcast market now claims nearly 29% of the total podcast market. Fans show a strong demand for more in-depth stories and perspectives. Just as the NBA is implementing changes for the next All-Star Game after the lackluster 2024 All-Star games, the league might also consider making a change that can help players avoid injuries and boost their viewership.