NBA viewership this season was flat compared to the 2021-2022 campaign, with regular-season matchups across ABC, ESPN and TNT averaging 1.6 million viewers. That figure remains up big from two seasons ago (1.35 million), when the season began just before Christmas and ended in mid-May. This season is also up 3% from 1.55 million for the 2019-20 season, which was paused for months at the end due to the pandemic. Four seasons ago, the NBA averaged closer to 1.79 million.

The continued shrinking of the TV universe (broadcast and cable) meant NBA games saw its best share of the U.S. audience on record, and up 11% from last season. NBA games across ABC, TNT and ESPN also saw viewers watch for 43 minutes on average this season, the longest time spent viewing yet. NBA games on RSNs this season saw share rise 17%.

The NBA’s Instagram account generated over 13 billion video views this regular season, the most of any account on the platform. The NBA is now No. 8 among all brands on the platform in terms of followers. On YouTube, the league’s official channel this season became the first pro sports league account to surpass 20 million subs.

For a breakdown by networks of the NBA's viewership numbers for the 2022-23 season, see tomorrow's edition of SBJ Daily.

The Univ. of Florida is "revamping and streamlining its fundraising collective" by launching Florida Victorious, a new nonprofit organization that will "work closely with the school’s University Athletic Association to raise money that should assist all 19 sports, most notably football" with NIL deals. Florida Victorious, founded by Miami businessman and UF alum Jose Costa, "consolidates the Gator Collective and the more exclusive Gator Guard," which had required a $1M contribution annually. 

Florida Victorious will have membership options that "range from $15 to $250 a month, with more than 90% of revenues going to student-athletes." The organization also has "an advisory board that includes mega-donors" Gary Condronand Hugh Hathcock as well as former UF football players Anthony Richardson, Danny Wuerffel and Trey Burton; UF graduate and ESPN personality Laura Rutledge; and former UF basketball player and current ESPN analyst Patric Young (AP, 4/11).

Philadelphia's Big 5 men's basketball teams will move to a new format, a tournament to be known as the Big 5 Classic this coming season. Wells Fargo Center will "host next season’s final-round tripleheader on Dec. 2." The tournament format is a "huge break with tradition, doing away with the Big 5 round-robin." Part of the change in format includes Drexel becoming a "full Big 5 partner now, for men and women," with the school becoming an "equal partner in revenue sharing." The setup "now will have two pods," one with Temple, La Salle and Drexel, and the other with Penn, St. Joseph’s and Villanova. Each school will "host one game and play a road game in group play." The new Big 5 is "expected to include a women’s tournament starting in 2024-25" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/11). The triple header championship to be held at Wells Fargo Center this December will be run by Comcast Spectacor’s events division, Spectacor Events and Entertainment (SBJ).

GameSquare, the parent company of Complexity, has completed its merger with Engine Gaming and Media and will fold the data analytics company under its banner. The intent to merge was made public by the companies in December 2022. The move will include GameSquare’s addition to the Nasdaq and TSX Venture Exchange under the $GAME ticker symbol. GameSquare executives and investors rang NASDAQ's opening bell this morning to celebrate the deal.  

The move positions GameSquare as a more comprehensive offering, as the company will now offer end-to-end solutions across media, esports and influencer relations. Complexity’s majority investor is Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and the organization boasts Leonard Fournette and Trevon Diggs as content creators. Complexity competes in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rocket League, Valorant and Halo.

Chicago this afternoon was awarded hosting duties for the 2024 Democratic National Convention, with the Bulls and Blackhawks' United Center scheduled to hold the "main events." An estimated 50,000 people "are expected to attend the 2024 event." The city also "offered the Wintrust Arena for ancillary events." The United Center was the "home of Chicago’s last presidential convention in 1996" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/11). Between NASCAR and the convention, Chicago’s hospitality industry "should have good momentum and some busy weeks to look forward to" (TWITTER, 4/11).

The USGA has released a new mobile app that includes live score tracking of tournaments, live streaming from the US Open and US Women’s Open, advanced statistical analysis of the pros, ticketing and GPS wayfinding. Deloitte, which has collaborated with the USGA since 2014, developed the app and renewed its sponsorship agreement as the organization’s official digital transformation partner.

A stated goal of the app was to produce more content from all 15 USGA championship events as well as create an enhanced, unified and direct-to-consumer experience across all digital properties, such as the new app and the updated website.

The LPGA tonight is debuting the second episode of its "All-Access" series on its official website and YouTube page. Airing at 8pm ET, the "Drive On: LPGA All-Access" touches on various storylines from the recent Drive On Championship held March 23-26 in Arizona. Storylines featured in the second episode include Lilia Vu coming off a win in Thailand, Leona Maguire defending her title in Arizona, Mina Herigae marrying her caddie Travis Kreiter and Maria Fassi competing in front of her family and friends. The LPGA contracted production company toldright for the series, which has 10 episodes planned in its debut season.

WNBA Phoenix Mercury C Brittney Griner is "ready to share the 'unfathomable' experience" she faced spending nearly 10 months in a Russian penal colony. In a statement today through Alfred Knopf, Griner announced that she will detail that time in an upcoming memoir, set to release in the spring of 2024. Griner: "I am grateful to have been rescued and to be home. Readers will hear my story and understand why I am so thankful for the outpouring of support from people across the world." Knopf: "At the heart of the book (is) the personal turmoil she experienced ... and the resilience that carried her through the day of her return to the United States last December" (ESPN.com, 4/11).

Audacy’s 2400Sports podcast studio has partnered with the WNBA to launch “Queens of the Court with Jordan and Swoopes,” a new podcast hosted by journalist Jordan Ligons Robinson and former WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes. The weekly show will combine news and information, interviews, and deep dives on the history of the league and the game of women’s basketball (Audacy).

“I really believe that what changed the context for the Yankees in paying Aaron Judge was the emergence of Steve Cohen as the owner of the Mets because all of a sudden the context in which Hal Steinbrenner was making this decision changed dramatically” -- ESPN’s Buster Olney, on the Yankees paying Judge a massive contract in the off-season despite not giving out many large contracts in recent years ( “SportsCenter,” ESPN, 4/11).

“Maybe they’ve given these guys too much power, maybe Trae thinks he’s (a superstar). But I don’t think a superstar would have behaved in this manner” -- FS1’s Shannon Sharpe, on Hawks possibly looking to trade G Trae Young after reports he has become difficult to deal with ( “Undisputed,” FS1, 4/11).

“I can’t say it was voted the best in Double-A so much as I was going through my records and chose it. Every day you can choose something different at every level and teams get mad at you when you pick something else ... (but) I’m the expert here” -- MLB.com’s Ben Hill, on compiling his minor league baseball ballpark guide and naming the spicy chicken donut sandwich from the Double-A Eastern League Hartford Yard Goats as the best concession food ( “MLB Central,” MLB Central, 4/11).

With the NBA gearing up for the 2023 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel, the league has released a new brand spot titled “Playoff Mode.” The spot celebrates the time of the season when players raise their game to another level to win the NBA’s ultimate prize -- the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

$73.8M  -- The total payroll of the Rays, the first MLB team to start a season 10-0 since the 1987 Brewers. This total ranks 28th in the league, $270.8M behind the Mets, the highest payroll (Spotrac).