Stern Confident Cable Partners Will Pay Rights Fee Increase

NBA Commissioner David Stern “fully expects the NBA to get a fee increase over the $400[M] per year it currently receives from ABC/ESPN and the $366[M] it gets from Turner three years from now when the next TV rights deal takes effect,” according to John Consoli of MEDIAWEEK. Stern “plans to start talks with both ESPN and Turner about ways to broaden their relationship.” He indicated that the partnerships “will evolve into much more than just TV exposure, alluding to wireless, broadband, video on demand and various other ways that the rightsholders can cover their broadcast fees with the league.” The NBA is “already preparing ways to drive traffic to Disney theme parks, such as relocating the NBA draft camps there.” ESPN Exec VP/Programming & Production Mark Shapiro “agrees with Stern that future rights agreements must extend beyond TV.” Shapiro: “Every new rights deal we do includes not only TV but wireless, broadband, video on demand, radio, print and other media rights.” Turner Sports President David Levy said “the many different media touch points that Turner has to offer — like theatricals, AOL, HBO, book publishing, VOD, print products — in addition to TV, will all play a role” in the company’s next NBA deal (MEDIAWEEK, 7/11).