TNT will begin airing NBA broadcasts comprised exclusively of former players. In other news, the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement is now official, and ESPN has reached an agreement to start carrying Golden Boy boxing cards.
TNT to Launch “Players Only” NBA Coverage
- Starting next month, TNT’s Monday night NBA doubleheaders will be comprised exclusively of former players. Under the banner Players Only, coverage will include Brent Barry and Greg Anthony in play-by-play roles, Lisa Leslie and Dennis Scott as sideline reporters, and Chris Webber hosting studio coverage alongside Isiah Thomas and Baron Davis. The Players Only broadcasts will run from February 27 through March 27, with TNT using its traditional NBA broadcast teams on Monday games before and after. TNT previously experimented with an all-player broadcast in 2013, with Webber, Reggie Miller and then-analyst Steve Kerr working a Thunder/Warriors game. (Turner Sports)
NBA CBA Now Official
- NBA owners and the National Basketball Players Association have officially signed the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, the sides announced Thursday. The deal was announced and ratified last month. The new deal will go into effect July 1 and run through at least the 2022-23 season, during which either side can opt out of the agreement. Among the notable changes, the regular season has been lengthened to “approximately” 177 days, a week longer than the current 170. That is in line with previous reports that the league would move up the start of its season. In exchange, training camp and preseason will shortened by a week. (NBA [.pdf] via Bleacher Report 1/19)
ESPN Reaches Deal With Golden Boy Boxing
- ESPN has reached a multi-year agreement with Golden Boy Productions to carry live fights on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, it was announced Thursday. Under the deal, a total of 18 fight cards will air on one or both networks this year, followed by 24 next year. ESPN was able to reach a deal with Golden Boy despite having previously agreed to an exclusive agreement with Premier Boxing Champions. As ESPN.com noted Thursday, the PBC’s exclusivity was voided in an antitrust lawsuit last year. (ESPN.com 1/19)
