The new 3-on-3 basketball league BIG3 is headed to Fox Sports. In other news, NBC Sports is rebranding two of its Comcast SportsNet outlets, and IndyCar could look at some nontraditional partners as it searches for a double-digit increase in rights fees.
BIG3 League Headed to Fox Sports
- Fox Sports announced Wednesday has acquired rights to BIG3, an Ice Cube-founded 3-on-3 basketball league that will debut in June and feature former NBA stars such as Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups. Fox Sports 1 will air games each Monday night during the season on a one-day tape delay. The championship game will air live on the FOX broadcast network August 26. BIG3 is not the first upstart basketball venture to get network exposure; ESPN owns rights to The Basketball Tournament and the old Slamball league aired on CBS and Versus. (Fox Sports)
NBC Renaming California RSNs
- NBC Sports Group is rebranding its California-based regional sports networks from “Comcast SportsNet” to “NBC Sports,” it was announced Thursday. Starting April 2, the networks will be known as “NBC Sports Bay Area” and “NBC Sports California.” The Comcast SportsNet name had already been officially shortened to CSN. It was not immediately clear when or if the rebrand will apply to the other NBC-run RSNs. (NBC Sports Group Press Box 3.22)
IndyCar Seeking Jump in Rights Fees, May Look to Nontraditional Outlets
- IndyCar is seeking “a double-digit increase in rights fees” in its new television contract, Sports Business Journal reported this week, though CEO Mark Miles told the publication that increasing the sport’s exposure is still the highest priority in negotiations. With Fox Sports reportedly not interested in IndyCar rights and CBS rarely a player in any negotiations, IndyCar is expected to “test interest among nontraditional players like Amazon, Google and Facebook” if and when ESPN and NBC’s exclusive negotiating window expires. (SBJ 3.20)
