The NBA Draft is scheduled to air on ABC, at least for now. Plus: Major League Baseball is reportedly set to propose a 78-82 game regular season; the French Open could get pushed back again; and more.
ABC scheduled to air NBA Draft for first time
ABC is scheduled to simulcast the June 25 NBA Draft, though it is not clear whether that would remain the case if the event is postponed, as is expected. The broadcast network has never before carried the NBA Draft, but it has simulcast ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage the past three years. The past two years, ABC has aired its own separate production of the NFL Draft tailored to non-sports fans. [ESPN Press Room]
MLB reportedly set to propose half-season that starts in July
A 78-82 game Major League Baseball regular season could begin in early July with teams playing in as many home stadiums as possible and solely facing teams in their geographic region, according to a “rough outline” reported by The Athletic. Per the report, MLB will discuss its plans with team owners on Monday and, should the owners approve, submit a proposal to the players on Tuesday.
The MLB Postseason would expand from five to seven teams per league, as was discussed prior to the pandemic earlier this year. [The Athletic 5.9]
French Open could be pushed back another week
The French Open, which has been postponed to September 20-October 4, could be pushed back a week further, according to the president of the French Tennis Federation. Tournament organizers are reportedly considering whether to stage the event without fans in attendance. [AP via ESPN.com 5.10]
Plus: Bundesliga, Jordan, PGA Championship
The planned resumption of the German Bundesliga next weekend will air solely on FS1, FS2 or Fox Soccer, with no matches set for the FOX broadcast network, according to World Soccer Talk. … ESPN will air a 1984 North Carolina-Maryland men’s college basketball game featuring Michael Jordan on Sunday (3 PM ET), with ACC Network set to carry more of Jordan’s collegiate games next Saturday. … ESPN2 will televise old PGA Championship rounds this week, including the final round of Tiger Woods’ 1999 victory on Friday night. The PGA Championship was supposed to take place this week before being postponed to August, with the ESPN networks airing coverage for the first time since 1990. [World Soccer Talk 5.8, ESPN PR 5.6, 5.8]
