In L.A., Joe Flint noted among the "major priorities" facing Turner Broadcasting System President David Levy, besides landing better programming, is "locking down a renewal of TNT's deal with the NBA." The net's current deal "still has two seasons to go after this season," but FS1 has made "no secret of its desire to get the NBA." Levy said, "I certainly hope to continue that relationship. ... We're pretty entwined with the NBA." However, he acknowledged that the next deal "won't be cheap." Levy: "There is definitely going to be an increase" (LATIMES.com, 4/14).
QUALIFYING OFFER: USA TODAY's Nate Ryan notes the May 3 qualifying session for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway "will be televised live" by Fox. NASCAR officials believe it will be the "first time a qualifying session aside from the Daytona 500 ever has been aired live on network TV." The move is the "most emphatic endorsement yet of NASCAR's move to knockout qualifying." The new format has been "embraced by drivers and fans," and that has been "reflected by burgeoning crowds and TV viewership" (USATODAY.com, 4/16).
NOT COMPLETELY DISAPPEARING: In Buffalo, Alan Pergament noted despite Sabres TV analyst Mike Robitaille giving a "tearful goodbye at the end of his final MSG post-game show Sunday night," he is not retiring "in the traditional sense." Robitaille said that he expects to continue his "Roby Radio" show on WGR-AM for "four or five Wednesdays" during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He "plans to be back on WGR at least for his hour show in the fall and might also appear on MSG next season on an emergency fill-on basis." Robitaille: "This is a semi-retirement. I'll just have enough to do on TV to have a parking pass" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 4/15).
