NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the lack of fans in venues during the recently completed season "hurt" TV viewership, a "downturn that has pulled all ports down by double digits compared with previous levels," according to Dade Hayes of DEADLINE. Bettman, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in a virtual panel hosted by the Paley Center "addressed the impact of COVID-19 on their sports as well as TV ratings, rules changes and plans for next season." Bettman said that the NHL's drop was "partly a function of the fact that fans in the stadiums and arenas give the game an energy, which actually comes through on television." Silver "chalked up the 49% drop" in NBA Finals viewership to "competition from sports like the NFL as well as basketball contesting its championship at a time when viewers were unaccustomed to hoops." Manfred said, "To get through the year without fans is a tremendous burden." But he added that conversations with other commissioners about navigating the pandemic had a "positive impact on baseball." Bettman said the commissioners kept in touch to get "a sanity check" and seek "some reassurance that we all had the same view of the world." The NBA and MLB "expect a significant number of fans to attend games" next season, and the NHL is exploring multiple scenarios (DEADLINE.com, 11/10).
