ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro discusses potential future deals with leagues; TNT Sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser talks about the future of “Inside the NBA;” and new media rights deals for two leagues. Plus news on Netflix, Michael Jordan, Michael Malone and Ron Darling.
Pitaro discusses potential future league deals with company
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said Tuesday that the company would have interest in reaching a deal with other leagues similar to that which it reached with the NFL last month, so long as it make business sense. Pitaro’s comments, which he made during an interview with Michael McCarthy at the Front Office Sports Tuned in Summit, echoed remarks he made earlier this month.
ESPN’s pending nonbinding agreement the National Football League would give the league a 10% equity stake in the network in exchange for certain media assets, such as NFL Network, and linear distribution rights to NFL RedZone.
“We have been speaking to the league for many years on these deals, primarily the equity deal, but also the other components — very happy that we got them done, but they were very complex deals,” Pitaro said. “That being said, look, if there’s an opportunity with another league that we think it makes good business sense for us and also is beneficial for the sports fan, we’re of course going to pursue it.”
Pitaro also discussed the criticism ESPN has received over changes to NFL RedZone that the network has nothing to do with. “It was interesting for us on the outside to watch this and to read about some of it on social,” Pitaro said. “But again, the deal hasn’t closed yet, and even when it does close, we are not operating RedZone. The NFL continues to own and operate the RedZone product.”
Silberwasser discusses ‘Inside the NBA’
Speaking at the Front Office Sports Tuned In Summit, TNT Sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser indicated that the company may have interest in any upcoming NFL international package. Silberwasser: “The NFL is one of the most or the most important league in the United States. I understand that they’re looking at international development as well, and us as a company, we have a pretty big international presence as well, but we will see.”
Any deal, he said, would have to be “right for us and for the league.” TNT Sports recently struck a three-year content partnership with the NFL.
Despite its loss of the NBA, Silberwasser said TNT Sports now has 50 percent more hours of sports on the calendar with acquisitions such as Roland Garros, NASCAR and Unrivaled.
As for “Inside the NBA,” the TNT-produced NBA studio show that will begin airing on ESPN/ABC this season, Silberwasser said he can “guarantee everybody that it’s going to be the same show, it’s going to be the same values and the same DNA that the show had before.”
LOVB, NWSL reach new media rights agreements
The National Women’s Soccer League announced Tuesday that it has expanded its media rights deals with CBS Sports and ESPN mid-cycle and added a new deal with Victory+. Under the new deals, ESPN/ABC will carry 16 more games per season, CBS will add 20 additional games on CBS Sports Network and five more on a platform to be announced, and Victory+ will carry 25 Sunday night games.
The new deals come as the NWSL prepares to expand from 14 to 16 teams next season with the additions of Boston Legacy FC and the Denver Summit FC.
Separately, Versant has announced a multiyear media rights agreement with League One Volleyball to carry games on USA Network in primetime Wednesday nights. The agreement will also include live primetime coverage of the LOVB playoffs, including the championship match on USA Network. The deal marks the second for the spin company ahead of its spinoff from NBCUniversal after taking part in an agreement with the USGA.
“Our partnership with LOVB is the latest example of Versant’s commitment to highlighting premier women’s sports leagues on our networks and further establishes USA Network as a destination for top-tier sports programming,” said Versant SVP of strategy and business Celia Kohl.
Plus: Netflix, Michael Jordan, Michael Malone, Ron Darling
- Netflix has announced that its broadcast teams for the NFL Christmas Day doubleheader will consist of play-by-play announcers Ian and Noah Eagle for the second consecutive season. Ian will work alongside Nate Burleson and Matt Ryan for the Cowboys-Commanders game, while Noah will be paired with Drew Brees.
- NBC Sports president Rick Cordella said at the Front Office Sports Tuned In Summit that viewers can expect to see NBC NBA contributor Michael Jordan on Opening Night. Further information about his role as a special contributor, which was announced at the NBCUniversal Upfront in May, has not been revealed.
- Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is joining “NBA Countdown” this season, Pitaro said during his interview appearance. Malone joined the show as a guest analyst for the Western Conference Finals last season.
- TNT Sports has reached a multiyear contract renewal with Ron Darling under which he will continue to call Major League Baseball games on TBS, according to Mike Mazzeo of Sports Business Journal. In addition to his national responsibilities, Darling also calls New York Mets games on SportsNet New York.
