According to the Sports Business Daily, the NBA is close to signing an eight-year agreement with ESPN/ABC and TNT. “No other network has ’emerged as a serious competitor.’ Sources said that the new rights fee will top the current $765M annual average. The new agreement will include int?l rights and rights to show highlights via broadband, mobile and VOD.”
The deal will be announced during the NBA Finals.
Through the completion of the deal, ABC will have aired the NBA for fourteen years (more than the 12 years NBC carried the league, and fewer than the 17 years CBS owned the rights).
From the Sports Business Journal:
The biggest holdup appears to be over an additional package of digital rights that the NBA is making available that includes NBA.com and NBA TV. Turner executives were in NBA offices last week talking about that package, which would involve producing some aspect of those entities. One scenario being discussed has Turner increasing its involvement in the management, programming and operations of NBA TV, including sharing talent, infrastructure and distribution leverage. Already, Turner?s parent company, Time Warner, holds a small stake in NBA TV, and Turner operates a broadband channel, TNT Overtime, on NBA.com.
It is expected Turner will retain its exclusive NBA coverage on Thursday nights. As in the past, the package is believed to include WNBA games, as well. No details on the NBA Development League were available.”
See also: “Poor ratings will not have impact on NBA TV deal negotiations.” “NBA likely to stay with ABC.“, “NBA to sell itself.“
