Fox Sports 1 is unlikely to take down ESPN or Turner Sports in the pursuit of an NBA TV package, but the network is reportedly in talks for a limited slate of games.
The Big Lead reported Wednesday that Fox Sports “in the midst of negotiating” a television package with the NBA. Any negotiations would presumably be informal; the NBA has yet to officially begin talks with incumbents ESPN and Turner Sports.
Citing a source within Fox Sports, the report said FS1 is “most likely” to air games one night per week, “probably Saturday night” (TBL, 5/21). That echoes previous reporting by Sports Business Journal writer John Ourand, who has predicted more than once that FS1 would pick up a Saturday night package.
Fox Sports has never had a national NBA package, though its various RSNs have televised local NBA games for years. The new NBA television deal kicks in with the 2016-17 season.
(Wed. news from The Big Lead; additional info from Sports Business Journal [1], [2])
