One way in which the Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons' owners may "seek to join forces -- in addition to sharing an arena for hockey and basketball -- is combining team media rights through" the launch of an RSN, similar to YES Network in the N.Y. market, according to Frank Witsil of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. The RSN could also "include new teams," such as the MLS franchise that Pistons Owner Tom Gores and Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert are looking to land for downtown Detroit. The Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons currently have deals with FS Detroit, but merging rights "could give Detroit teams advantages, and potentially leverage, in negotiating more lucrative multimillion-dollar TV contracts for media rights." But how soon such an RSN "could be formed, and how much of a benefit it would be to the participating teams, is unclear." Palace Sports & Entertainment Vice Chair Arn Tellem said, "Nothing has been finalized." FS Detroit Senior VP & GM Greg Hammaren said, "I'm in constant contact with all the parties here and I don't anticipate any announcement about media-rights joint venture. That would not be possible under our current contracts. I can tell you that. These contracts go into the next decade -- and they are staggered." Hammaren "declined to discuss the terms of any of the existing contracts, including when exactly they are set to end." Previous reports have put the Tigers deal at about $50M a year, with the Red Wings and Pistons at about $25M each (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/23).
