By Douglas Ernst - The Washington Times - Friday, August 14, 2020

Mark Cuban says critics of the NBA’s Black Lives Matter activism should focus on Fox News’ ratings before the league.

The Dallas Mavericks owner says a 4% dip in ratings for the league has far more to do with Joseph R. Biden’s presidential campaign than politicized programming alienating fans.

“Lol. You do realize that was the day @JoeBiden picked @KamalaHarris?” the billionaire tweeted at Fox Sports Radio’s Clay Travis on Thursday. “Nothing makes a Fox News viewer want to get lied to more.”

Cuban’s comments failed to take into account strong ratings for baseball and hockey despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Similarly, NASCAR enjoyed the third-and-fourth most-watched sporting events televised last weekend.

“Explain why advertisers pay 3x or more for a prime time @Nba spot over a Fox News Spot?” the billionaire added. “And who has had advertiser boycotts?”

Mr. Travis countered by comparing the league’s ratings versus those for Fox stars Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson.

“Head to head on Monday night on cabl: Tucker Carlson viewership: 4.5 million. Lakers-Nuggets viewership: 1.5 million. Head-to-head on Tuesday night: Sean Hannity: 4.6 million, Blazers-Mavs: 930k,” Mr. Travis tweeted. “Yikes, NBA.”

Critics of the NBA’s Black Lives Matter messaging include President Trump, who Mr. Cuban has regularly criticized over the years.

“People are angry about it,” Mr. Trump tweeted about the league. “They don’t want — they have enough politics with guys like me, they don’t need more. The NBA is in trouble. I think it’s in big trouble, bigger trouble than they understand.”

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

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