NBL issues ‘please explain’ to protect controversial broadcast feature
The NBL issued a “please explain” to Adelaide 36ers head coach Trevor Gleeson after he went without his live microphone during the second half of his side’s embarrassing loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Gleeson discarded the microphone at half-time to give his team a much-needed spray and left it off for the remainder of the game.
Trevor Gleeson has been asked to explain why he removed his microphone. Daniel Pockett
What initially appeared to be a silent protest spurred the NBL to investigate the incident and crack down on the removal to protect its broadcast product.
Ultimately, the league duly accepted Gleeson’s explanation that it was an innocent mistake, and that he simply forgot to turn it back on, with the league confirming that it has given out fines to coaches about microphone usage this season.
The league recently demonstrated its unwavering stance on live audio when Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian was fined $775 for directing expletives at Phoenix guard Owen Foxwell.
That exchange was clearly captured on the live broadcast, reinforcing the NBL’s refusal to back down despite mounting pressure from within the sport to scrap the microphones altogether.
Although there was an amicable resolution to Gleeson’s case, the incident highlights the underlying tension surrounding the mandatory broadcast tool.
In-game coach microphones have been widely praised as one of the NBL’s premier initiatives, offering fans unprecedented behind-the-scenes access.
Yet, it remains a major sore point among the coaching fraternity.
Under current guidelines, live microphones are active during select time-outs. Coaches are fully briefed prior to each season and are aware their audio could be broadcast live, though feeds are strictly muted during the final two minutes of a game.
While some coaches are happy to provide fans with these rare insights, many believe any audio captured during time-outs should be vetted and edited into a delayed package, similar to the NBA’s “sounds of the game” segments.
Implementing this, however, would require expensive new technology and specialised broadcast expertise. Despite ongoing calls from coaches to scrap or modify the innovation, the NBL has stood firm on its policy for years.
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