2K Cancels "College Hoops" As EA Sports Eyes Exclusive CLC Deal

Take-Two Drops Plans To Release "College Hoops 2K9"

Take-Two's 2K Sports videogame brand has cancelled plans to release its “NCAA College Hoops 2K9” title next November “amidst rumors that [EA Sports] is attempting to secure" an exclusive licensing deal with the Collegiate Licensing Co., according to Kris Graft of NEXT-GEN.biz.  A Take-Two spokesperson said 2K Sports “has decided not to continue negotiations” with the CLC for a license for the franchise. Graft noted the move “is a blow to 2K Sports, which needs any and all means to become a more meaningful business."  An exclusive deal with the CLC "would be in the vein of [EA Sports'] exclusive deal with the NFL.” An EA Sports spokesperson said in an e-mail the company “has no comment about our NCAA license or ongoing negotiations with the CLC” (NEXT-GEN.biz, 1/14).