BLEACHER REPORT's Jared Zwerling wrote the NBA's "opportunity for bigger expansion in India comes with several main advantages that China didn't have more than a decade ago," including TV exposure and "U.S.-based leadership and social media" from Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive. NBA India Managing Dir Yannick Colaco said the league is "seeing triple-digit increases" through its partnership with Sony Six, India's exclusive NBA broadcaster. Last season, Sony Six "showed three games per week," but "now that number is 14." Sony Six, which "sees its strongest demographic between 15 and 24 years old, will air the playoffs and the NBA Finals" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 4/1).
LESS IS MORE? In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel wrote under the header, "NASCAR, Please, Less Can Be More." There is "room to move to eliminate a handful of races without damaging the fan base, or the integrity of a season." Driver Kyle Busch said, "I am for shortening the schedule. I think most of the drivers would agree." Engel noted reducing the schedule would be a "major pain," as it would involve "changing TV contracts, relationships with tracks, and a reduction in revenue streams." But it could "potentially make a NASCAR race a bigger draw again because fans could no longer take for granted there is another race coming up in 20 minutes" (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 4/1).
GROWING THE GAME: In Miami, Michelle Kaufman writes MLS is considered "a step below" leagues like the EPL, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga, but David Beckham "believes the U.S. league is getting stronger every year and perceptions overseas are changing." Beckham said, “Before I moved to the Galaxy nine years ago, we never really heard about any of the teams, never really saw anything on the news. Now, there’s constant feeds on SkySports, about certain players, and games. That’s been a great thing." He added, "We’re talking about a league that’s only been going for 20 years. It takes time to get to the level of these European leagues. But will it get there? Yeah, I 100 percent believe they will" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/30).
