Stern: Revamped NBA TV In Line With Future Of Broadcasting

In an extensive interview with NBA Commissioner David Stern, MULTICHANNEL NEWS DAY asked if the league was leaning toward revamping its NBA TV rather than creating a new cable net (All Sports Network) "because operators weren't willing to launch ASN." Stern: "The operators were telling us that their strategic goals were not being met by another basic service, that they wanted something that would reflect well on digital penetration — reducing digital churn — and perhaps involve their commitment to high definition and meet FCC chairman Michael Powell's vision for the emerging technology. This is a one-two-three opportunity." More Stern: "Given the state of the industry with the battering of the stock prices and pressures on cash flow, operators needed something that can help them deliver the promise and potential of digital." MND asked, "Will you pull the NBA TV service out of the 'NBA League Pass' out-of-market package, where it is currently offered as a pseudo barker channel?" Stern: "It remains to be seen. It's almost conceivable that there could be three different feeds — one in standard definition, one in high definition and one for the barker channel." Stern added AOL Time Warner's $45M investment will translate to an 11% ownership stake. He also said the carriage fee for which the league is currently asking is $0.25 but said, "We're in negotiations with operators about the service" (MULTICHANNEL NEWS DAY, 6/28).