The NBA is preparing contingency plans to assume local rights from Diamond Sports Group; ESPN’s Brian Boucher is leaving for TNT; ESPN’s Wendi Nix is no longer with the company; and more.
NBA preps to take over local rights from Diamond, just in case
The NBA is prepared to take over local broadcasting rights from bankrupt Bally Sports operator Diamond Sports Group should the need arise, The Athletic reported Tuesday, with league and team officials having already reached out to local affiliates in markets around the country. As has become a common practice in local sports broadcasting — including Bally Sports — the league’s plan would be to distribute games via both direct-to-subscriber and linear options.
Diamond has assured the league that it has enough capital to honor its contracts through the coming season, and that is said to be the NBA’s preference. Diamond has thus far relinquished rights to two teams — the Diamondbacks and Padres of Major League Baseball — and lost rights to a third, the NBA’s Suns. The Suns, Jazz and NHL Golden Knights have all reached deals this year to distribute games through streaming and over-the-air broadcast television. (The Athletic 8.29)
ESPN’s Boucher leaves for “Inside the Glass” gig with TNT
ESPN NHL analyst Brian Boucher has departed the network to join TNT as the network’s lead “Inside the Glass” analyst, replacing Keith Jones, who left to join the Philadelphia Flyers at the end of last season, the New York Post reported Tuesday.
Boucher will reunite with former NHL on NBC colleagues Kenny Albert and Eddie Olczyk on TNT’s top NHL broadcast team, a higher-profile role than he had in two years with ESPN as a studio and secondary game analyst. He is one of two analysts to depart ESPN in the offseason, along with the laid-off Chris Chelios. (NYP 8.29)
ESPN host Nix out, replaced by Riggs on CFB Live
ESPN college football host Wendi Nix is no longer with the company and her role as host of College Football Live will be assumed by Kelsey Riggs. Nix hosted College Football Live since 2020 after losing her NFL Live hosting role to Laura Rutledge and previously served as co-host on Sunday NFL Countdown. She had been with ESPN since 2006.
For the up-and-coming Riggs, College Football Live is just one of new assignment this season. She is also slated to become host of ACC Huddle on the ACC Network. (ESPN PR)
Plus: CFB in theaters, ESPN exec shuffle, ACC meeting
— ESPN has reached a deal with Theater Sports Network to distribute up to 75 college football games through movie theaters this season, including the College Football Playoff and a weekly ACC game, it was announced Tuesday. Playoff games had already been available in theaters. The ACC games will be available only in away markets, or both markets in the case of a neutral site game. (ESPN PR)
— ESPN has named coordinating producer Amanda Gifford a VP/production in charge of college football, partially filling the vacancy left by the abruptly fired Lee Fitting. Gifford, who has been with ESPN since 2004, was most recently in charge of ESPN Radio and its various live events. (SBJ 8.29, ESPN PR)
— An ACC meeting to discuss — and potentially vote to approve — the additions of Stanford, Cal and SMU was postponed Monday due to a shooting incident on the North Carolina campus and there has been no immediate make-up date set.
