PolyGram Video inked a deal with the NBA for
distribution rights to the league's video programming in the
U.S. and Canada, according to Paula Bernstein of the
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. PolyGram will "acquire the NBA's
current catalog of titles as well as all forthcoming home
video productions." The companies "plan on releasing up to
eight videos a year" beginning this season. PolyGram will
be in charge of marketing and promotions in conjunction with
NBA Entertainment. NBAE's video distribution deal with CBS
Fox expired in August, and NBAE President Adam Silver said
that the company "decided not to renew" because there "is
some uncertainty about what CBS Fox is going to be."
PolyGram Video President Bill Sondheim "would not say what
would become of the NBA deal" if parent company PolyGram
Filmed Entertainment was to be sold. NBA Exec VP & CMO Rick
Welts: "Once you make a deal with us, I'm afraid you might
be in business with us for a long time." PolyGram Video
will release the WNBA Championship video, as well as "other
WNBA programs in the future." PolyGram distributes home
videos for MLB and the NFL (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/14).
RSN REPEATS: The cancelation of the first two weeks of
the NBA's regular season has led Fox/Liberty's group of 22
RSNs that show NBA games to replace them with repeats of old
NBA games. Sources of DAILY VARIETY's John Dempsey said
that the RSNs "will not lose money," as they have clauses
that say if NBA games don't take place, "no matter what the
reason ... the team doesn't get paid." Dempsey reports that
"most" cable operators "will not get reimbursed" by the
RSNs, even though repeats "will be lucky to pull one-fifth
of the viewership of a live NBA game." Some cable systems
which "had the foresight to insist on an indemnity clause
for undelivered NBA games will collect a game-by-game
rebate" from RSNs (DAILY VARIETY, 10/14). See (#9).
TANGLED WEB: The NBA "is expecting a drop in visitors"
to NBA.com because of the lockout. NBA Dir of Internet
Services Stefanie Scheer: "That's why we've been trying to
develop new things for the site. We want to keep people
coming. The Web site is up there 24 hours a day, seven days
a week, no matter what else is going on." New features will
be available in the next three weeks (TORONTO STAR, 10/14).
