ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 4: Jamel Artis #0 of the Orlando Magic talks with the media after the game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 4, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Orlando Magic’s losing expectedly had an effect on the number of people watching. The Magic had the second-lowest TV ratings in the NBA.

The NBA saw local TV ratings and national TV ratings rise during the 2018 season. The Orlando Magic were not beneficiaries of this continuing interest in the league.

According to information gathered by John Ourand and John Lombardo of the Sports Business Journal, the Magic had the second-worst local TV ratings in the entire league. That includes the fourth-biggest decline in ratings from last year for the entire league.

None of this is entirely surprising. At the last rating report from the All-Star Break last season, the Magic had the second-biggest drop in television ratings, a nearly 50 percent drop from the previous season. This came after some strong showings early in the season when there was still some optimism.

But the ratings dropped from there as the games had less and less meaning. This is all normal and expected.

Magic officials will say the drop in TV ratings is expected. Television ratings typically track with a team’s overall performance. The Golden State Warriors have the highest local television ratings in the league for the third straight year. The Brooklyn Nets have the worst in the league.

The report shows the Magic got a 0.48 rating on FOX Sports Florida in the local market. That was a 25 percent drop from last year’s already low numbers.

A good broadcast can only take you so far. David Steele and Jeff Turner are widely considered among the best broadcasts in the league. But ultimately the product on the floor matters more.

To be sure, the Magic’s 25-win season hardly inspired much reason to watch for fans. The team seemed to be angling for lottery picks from January on. That will make it harder for fans to sit down and watch the games or invest in the results.

While the Magic attendance at the Amway Center remained strong. The Magic were 16th in the league in total attendance according to Basketball-Reference. Their 734,531 total attendance was up from last year’s 727,875. The team still fills the building.

But obviously, interest is still something that is difficult to measure. And television ratings certainly suggest how fans are engaging with the team and the interest fans have.

If Orlando starts winning again, it seems like this trend would turn around. For now, the Magic have not given their fans much reason to watch.

Even with the league showing a three-percent rise in local TV ratings, the Magic are still struggling to get the eyeballs. Winning seems like the best solution.