After the new $2.64B, four-year TV deal between the NBA
and its partners, NBC and Turner, Richard Sandomir of the
N.Y. TIMES asks, "Can the [NFL] expect a similar leap when
its network negotiations begin next month?" NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue: "It will have no direct effect
on our negotiations. It's a great set of contracts for
them. It shows the strength of the NBA. We're each dealing
with different television realities. ... What drives the
negotiations is not the salivation of the owners [over the
NBA deal], but the intelligence of the negotiators in the
room." NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the NBA
deals "show the marketplace is healthy and if you have a
well-run sport, you can maximize your presence in the
marketplace." As far as any potential impact on future NHL
TV rights deals, Bettman said, "As long as there's money
left over, we'll be happy" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/13).
ONE MAN'S VIEW: In Dallas, Kevin Blackistone commented
on the sports TV marketplace after the NBA deal: "It's what
they call in economics inelastic demand. ... No, there
really isn't any basis for the forecasts that a financial
doomsday is in the immediate future for sports. ... And this
week's deal won't be the biggest for long. The next NFL
deal ... will be the most mind-boggling thing you've seen"
(DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/13)....AD AGE's Chuck Ross reports
that NBC "is considering a radical new plan" that would "tap
into affiliates' profits to help defray the anticipated
cost" of renewing its NFL contract. The plan calls for NBC
to "take a certain percentage of the profits" local affils
make selling ad time on NFL broadcasts. The percentage
"would be based on a sliding scale ... factoring in the size
of the market and whether it has a team" in the AFC. Ross
writes that "[a]ffiliates are likely to balk at the plan if
NBC tries to implement it." Ross adds that it is "also
possible NBC will follow a more traditional approach, asking
all affiliates to give up some time" for extra network
advertisements (AD AGE, 11/10 issue).
