[Alberta's Child]

The network will make more money from selling airtime during the NBA Finals to a larger market audience (i.e., LA, Chicago or NY).

Tnat would be a valid argument, except that the advertising time for the NBA Finals was probably sold out within a week after the network was awarded the Finals.

[Icthus]

You may be right.....isn't it possible they sell a blocks of airtime at the beginning of the season.....then sell the rest of the airtime to the highest bidder? Let's face it, TV is there to make money, not just entertain.