People are overhyping this. The ratings have sharply declined for BIG3 since it started airing:

Quote:The BIG3 has had four telecasts to date on FS1 -- all on a one-day tape delay -- and the viewership for the three-on-three basketball series has been declining since debuting June 26. The four telecasts to date have averaged 228,000 viewers, with the most recent broadcast July 17 down 63% from the debut. That initial Monday telecast from 8:00-11:00pm ET averaged 400,000 viewers for an event held in Brooklyn. The second telecast from Charlotte on July 3 was down 41% from that initial broadcast (235,000 viewers). The third episode from Tulsa on July 10 dropped to 129,000 viewers. The average of 228,000 viewers is above what FS1 averaged for its Big East men’s conference tournament games this year (212,000 viewers).

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily.../Big3.aspx