Well the consumer still ends up paying for that in the form of a cable bill. Broadcasting companies are forced to air WNBA games per the contract that air time ends up being a net negative the cost gets bundled into the bill.
It seems pretty clear that the financials of the WNBA are not good. If the numbers reported here and elsewhere are correct, the league has been in business 22 years, is still not profitable, and has to be supported by the NBA to the tune of about $10M per year to remain running. Clearly the long-term existence of the WNBA is going to depend on one of three things: Increased profits, reduced costs, or the continuation of the support of the NBA.
I'm with you that far. I'm even with you so far as to say that if the NBA decides it is no longer worth making the financial investment in the WNBA that it currently does make, that the WNBA will have to sink or swim.
But I think it's a step too far to suggest that the NBA
should not make that financial investment. It's their money, and they should do what they see fit with it. And while it might be true, complaining that this money ultimately comes from your cable bill is, dare I say, a pretty petty complaint. As of a few years ago, NBATV was available in over 53 million households, meaning that your share of supporting the WNBA via your cable bill comes up to less than 19 cents per year. Are you really so upset at the NBA propping up the WNBA that you're willing to cancel NBATV over those 19 cents? Somehow I don't imagine you are. But if you're not, then where are we going here with this discussion?