All Things Sports Media Thread!!

wth is this lol

Screenshot 2024-04-20 at 22-49-00 Matt Barnes The Sage Steele Show.png
 


What to expect in the NBA’s next media deal: Amazon, NBC contenders to join

In TV rights negotiations, the NBA is seeking new decade-long — or longer — contracts that will alter how it traditionally delivers games, with streaming becoming the principal distribution method, according to league and television executives briefed on the plans.

While the incumbents, ESPN/ABC and TNT Sports, remain intensely interested and very well could retain their rights, it is nearly assured that a new tech partner will join the mix, with Amazon Prime Video the perceived favorite.

Meanwhile, NBC, which aired the Michael Jordan era that elevated the league, covets returning the NBA to its broadcast network and streaming service, Peacock.

On Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET, the exclusive financial negotiation window between the NBA, ESPN and TNT Sports will officially close, allowing league commissioner Adam Silver and his top lieutenants to talk specific contract details with other potential partners, which, besides Amazon and NBC, could include Google/YouTube, Netflix and Apple.

There will be at least three separate packages, which is the NBA’s preference, but the idea of four has not been ruled out, those briefed on the discussions said.

The notion that a pure streamer, like Amazon, could have significant games, including conference finals and perhaps even the NBA Finals at some point over the life of a long-term deal is a possibility, according to executives briefed on the NBA’s discussions.

The NBA Finals’ main broadcasts currently air on ABC, while the conference finals are on ESPN and TNT. Both networks want to retain them.

“We continue to have productive discussions with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery on a renewal of our media deals,” an NBA spokesperson said in a statement.

The ongoing negotiations are much more complex than in 2014 when, months before the exclusive negotiating deadline, ESPN and TNT both re-upped for a combined $2.6 billion, on average, per season over nine years.

When the NBA is finished with the new deals, it is expected to set its course globally and locally for the future. The league would like contracts for 10 years or maybe longer, according to executives briefed on the league’s thinking, because of the array of companies in the marketplace, which the NBA believes may shrink as streaming continues to replace cable television.

The NBA will broach the idea of partnering with ESPN, Amazon, Apple, Google/YouTube TV — maybe more than one of them — to potentially offer local games direct to consumers. However, one prominent model being contemplated would not offer exclusive rights to these outlets, according to executives briefed on the plans.

For example, in New York, the Knicks are available on cable through MSG Network or with MSGN’s direct-to-consumer subscription app. The NBA could try to sell Knicks games directly to fans on a local level, as a season pass or per game. MSGN offers the same type of service, but also includes other programming.

The NBA’s idea would be to have as many fans have access to the games as possible as cable diminishes.

The NBA timed all of their television deals, domestically and internationally, to end after the 2024-2025 season. This includes NBA League Pass, and its Cloud services, which are currently with Microsoft Azure.

On top of this, with Caitlin Clark’s arrival with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA, the anticipation of a ratings boom off the record-setting numbers for her NCAA Tournament games could result in an upgraded portion for the women’s game, which averaged $40 million per year over the life of its last deal and is currently at around $65 million for this season. The WNBA has more currency in these negotiations than the last ones by a wide margin.

The WNBA is part of the calculus as the league likes to cite that its 230 nights of national windows average more than a million viewers each. The NBA has held steady this year with an overall increase of 1 percent, averaging 1.6 million viewers per game.

Hovering over all the talks is the uncertainty for media companies, such as Disney, the parent of ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery, which has TNT under its umbrella. They are all emphasizing their streaming products. TNT Sports has Max and Bleacher Report at its disposal.

Later this fall, ESPN, TNT Sports and Fox Sports will present a joint direct-to-consumer option that is expected to cost between $40-$50 per month, while ESPN will have its own full direct-to-consumer service in 2025 that is expected to be in the $25-30 per month range.

ESPN and the NBA have talked about the league taking a minority equity stake in the network, but that is on the backburner until the rights deals are completed, according to executives briefed on the talks.

Meanwhile, Amazon Prime Video appears to be exactly what the NBA is looking for in a new partner, with its worldwide reach of 200 million viewers, according to its latest shareholder letter, its success with the NFL “Thursday Night Football” package, and its desire to be a part of the league. Amazon is only interested in being involved with a regular- and postseason package of high-level games, according to executives briefed on their thinking.

NBC wants back in on the NBA. While all the negotiations will come down to the final billions, NBC executives, including NBC Universal chairman Mark Lazarus, who formerly was with TNT when it brought in the NBA, has long ties with top league officials.

The incumbents, ESPN, with the playoffs and NBA Finals, and TNT, with the playoffs and the All-Star weekend, want to keep their top inventory but could balance a lesser increase with the creation of a more enticing third package that another entity pays for. The In-Season Tournament, created this year, was designed in part to add more attractive games.

While Netflix, Apple and Google/YouTube are all potential partners, they are seen as less likely for the traditional game packages.

The NBA may also try to steer fans to its games through social media. When users post, the NBA could attempt to have links back to its NBA app, which it envisions as a potential front door to all its games, driving people to authenticate their passwords or possibly to buy individual games.

In the new digital age, the NBA’s next deals will be about tomorrow, not yesterday. As of Monday night, they are free to talk fully with everyone who wants to be involved in what’s next.
 

I mean they wouldn't have a shot if Embiid wasn't averaged 32-9-6 :lol:, they lost 2 very winnable games but it wasn't for a lack of trying/stepping up from Embiid. Their net rating is -73 when he's off the floor and +13 when he's on...

He also took over the play-in game against the Heat down the stretch.

Pablo's usually more nuanced and not really the hot take kinda guy so a little surprised that that's his take 2 games in
 


after the initial shoulder shove

fitna be extra incensed every time I see this 7 ft ***** *****ing

Wouldn’t be the worst thing now if he does irreparable damage to that one knee REGARDLESS of series outcome.

Fingers🤞something buckles every time he jumps.
 
On the heels of an amazing season and now a good start to the post.
Thibs can easily spot the weakest of the litters in practice. That was prolly Korner Kev’s biggest problem at the time. He was supposed to be a project from the start but literally wasted his first couple years before the org got srs. He was just too raw and wrong for NYC in the lottery. Then I saw him a professional athlete training w/ college athletes or some bull**** like that & I knew he ain’t have it. The last curse of Phil Jackson who was never gonna be anything froze in the lights. All these NBA lights seem too bright for the French Prince. Don’t help neither he’s built with the integrity of a crêpe.

Only the strong survive & this team has everything it needs to win it all at full strength. JB is just now entering his prime & Deuce is getting the sazon I been begging for. Coach also has his ways & Deuce is as old school a pg Thibs could cook up in a lab or in his wettest of dreams. That’s 48 minutes of 🐾 *** bustin’ 🐾 if needed. Smiling ear to ear watching them close out the game on the court together, was I. Maxey can’t do it by himself & that’s all they got haha.

🙏 Mitch isn’t gone for the rest of what’s left. He can rest up another game if needed from the way it looks. Wouldn’t mind another hero every game. OG & Precious shut off Embiid’s water when iHart gets subbed by the refs. All the while Deuce kept Maxey type quiet there to end the quarter as well. That’s their whole team haha.

Knicks would be juggernauts if Jericho magically became the enforcer no one believed he could be. He may be standing back & by but he’s also watching & learning. Has to be learning what it takes to survive in the real land of giants. Mitch was also able to jump out the roof & move a bit quicker when he was #26 but he was getting bodied where it mattered most. Couldn’t stay out of foul trouble like Sims is today. Now he [Blockness] getting cheap shots & more from an all time great big cuz he’s a top tier defender on the block. Sims moves great defensively so he’s got a chance here to develop if he’s patient or ends up in a trade package who knows.
If there’s 2 things this coach values most it’s taking care of the ball & protecting the paint so the roster gonna reflect that. They’ve developed these two 2nd round draft picks into playoff-caliber rotationals. Very good stuff outta the big apple of late.
 
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