After "months of wrangling and litigation" with
SportsChannel Bay Area, the Warriors will announce today
that they have signed a two-year deal that will give
SportsChannel the broadcast rights to 30 games a season,
according to Susan Slusser of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The
"primary sticking point" throughout the negotiations was the
right of first refusal, an option that SportsChannel has had
in the past with the Warriors and with other pro teams.
Warriors Owner Chris Cohan had "refused to grant that right"
to SportsChannel and at one point, the team considered
looking "elsewhere" for its home broadcasts. Slusser: "The
Warriors won the battle: SportsChannel does not have the
right of first refusal in future years and did not receive a
longer deal in return for giving up that right, as
SportsChannel officials had hoped" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/7).
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM: Barring a "last-second"
deal between the Rockets and Fox Sports Southwest, tonight's
Trail Blazers-Rockets game will not be televised in Houston,
according to David Barron of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Sources
said Fox Sports Southwest has offered the Rockets a five-
year contract that would total "between" $25-30M. Officials
on both sides would not comment (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/7).
