NBA TV's "The Starters" is "growing quickly in popularity," with viewership this season having increased by 24% and podcast downloads up 22%, according to Jonah Bromwich of the N.Y. TIMES. NBA TV said that it will "continue to raise the show's profile," which is available to stream live and download as a podcast but "exists primarily as a television broadcast" shown weeknights on the net. The show -- originally started in '06 by three Canadian basketball fans and named "The Basketball Jones" -- "occasionally feels less rich to longtime fans of the podcasts." The hosts are "part of a wave of podcasting personalities jumping to television, including the soccer commentators 'Men in Blazers." But "The Starters" hosts "acknowledge that the shift can be challenging." Co-host Phil Elder (known professionally as J.E. Skeets) said, “They’re two completely different mediums. Everyone was telling us, ‘It’s not the same, it’s not the same.’ Well it’s not the same because it’s a TV show we’re making.” But "The Starters" have not "abandoned podcasting." This season they "introduced 'The Drop,' a weekly, podcast-only show." NBA TV said that "The Drop" is downloaded 70% "more frequently on average than the podcast" of "The Starters" TV show (N.Y. TIMES, 2/9).
