Fox Exec Chair Lachlan Murdoch said that it is "still an 'open question' whether the company will buy back" the 22 RSNs it is set to transfer to Disney after its deal closes at the end of this year. Murdoch said that Fox "'will be inquisitive' in looking at the possibility of buying back the sports assets" (REUTERS, 11/1).
ON THE WAY OUT: In DC, Jacob Bogage notes Forbes "cut ties with a contributing columnist and sports economics professor last week after a dispute over his piece about WNBA player salaries." David Berri argued in an opinion piece that WNBA players "should earn higher salaries to boost their star power." The NBA "voiced concerns with the piece to Forbes editors." As the "conflict between writer and outlet unfolded, Forbes took down the piece and dismissed Berri." A Forbes editor said the article was "misleading" and "sloppy." He also called it "polemic" and "just bad reporting." The piece "compared the earnings of WNBA stars to the NBA G League’s new one-year 'select contracts,' worth $125,000 for elite post-high school prospects" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/2).
MORE EYEBALLS: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal notes the NBA G League Windy City Bulls "reached an agreement with NBC Sports Chicago to televise 17 home games this season, a dozen of them live." Eight "live games and all of the tape-delayed telecasts" are scheduled to run on the RSN, with the others on NBC Sports Chicago Plus. All telecasts will be "rerun at least once after the original presentation." Games also will "continue to be available through the G League’s official online streaming platforms" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/2).
