Part 4/8:
A closer examination of basketball ratings history reveals that the noted decline in NBA viewership began around the year 2012. At this time, the league was undergoing shifts in star power and team dynamics that influenced how games were broadcast and consumed. Viewer engagement fell precipitously by approximately 40-45% from 2012 to 2019, with notable milestones such as the bubble playoffs yielding surprisingly low numbers for such a critical phase in the league's season.