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Report: Orlando Magic seeing biggest TV ratings drop in NBA

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Nov 19, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (30) controls the ball against Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) as guard Justin Anderson (1) looks on during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (30) controls the ball against Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) as guard Justin Anderson (1) looks on during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic’s season is disappointing in many ways. The Orlando Magic have reportedly seen one of the biggest drops in television ratings this year.

The Orlando Magic entered the season with big promises to make the Playoffs. The team hoped the transformation of its roster would lead to results on the court. It would certainly placate a restless fan base currently in its longest Playoff drought in franchise history.

Things did not work out that way. The team is 21-37 at the All-Star Break and 6.5 games out of the Playoffs. Worse still, the team has fallen to 14th in the Eastern Conference and is looking at a top-five Lottery spot for the fourth time in five years.

This is not the season the Magic envisioned. And while attendance has been fine to this point, the Magic’s gamble on the court is going to affect things off the court. Season ticket renewals are up soon and there is plenty of dissatisfaction with the product.

A sign of that is in television ratings.

After seeing television ratings increase last year with the promise of the Playoffs and a lot of youth early in the season, TV ratings on FOX Sports Florida have seen a 50 percent drop this year, according to John Ourand and John Lombardo of Sports Business Daily. Only the Dallas Mavericks have seen a sharper decline in television ratings this year.

Orlando has the third worst television ratings in the league this year, ahead of only the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets.

This is not a complete surprise. The Magic saw falling TV ratings after the Dwight Howard trade. But that was largely expected. TV ratings are typically tied to winning. The teams with the best average rating are the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Winning draws attention and eyeballs. And that is the one thing the Magic are not doing well.

So too does hope and surprise. The Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams that have seen the largest percent change increase in television ratings this year.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

The Magic are a bit short on that too. The team was meant to be a finished product and has settled at the bottom of the standings. And the team’s style of play — or lack thereof — certainly does not get fans to tune in.

The Magic are not alone, though. The league as a whole has seen a 15 percent total drop in television ratings, the report says. And 20 teams are reporting a ratings decrease. Some of this is normal as interest rebounds after the All-Star Break. It does not seem to be a general point of concern around the league.

Orlando has remained relatively healthy business wise throughout the rebuild. The team experienced expected television ratings drops and attendance drops through the last five years.

This year does feel a bit different. There is a little more fan restlessness and the promise of the Playoffs have led to more disappointment. Fans are not going to tune in every night to see a team playing this poorly.

This could be one of the motivating factors for the team as they begin to figure out where they go next and how they build moving forward. The team has to spark interest in the team again.

Next: Orlando Magic should value continuity heading into Deadline

Of course, the best way to do that is to win.