AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The gray area of who’s in and who’s out is the holdup for now. Sources said the league -- which declined comment -- envisions a scenario in Year 1 where local telecasts for at least 25 teams are streamed and geofenced exclusively in one place. Meanwhile, perhaps four more franchises (minus the Raptors, who have an ironclad deal with Rogers Communications) could simulcast games in the hub and arrive full-time later in waves. That would make 29. The more teams, the merrier. Sources believe if the NBA can offer YouTube 29 clubs, it will want roughly $1.2B in return. Then, the league would siphon off rights fees to each team individually, based on market value. For instance, the Heat and Sixers would get a larger piece of the $1.2B pie than the Grizzlies or Pelicans but likely less than the Lakers and Knicks (two unknowns who we’ll get to). The NBA media rights deal 2.0 is all about local broadcasts and the cha-ching that could come with it. Sources tell SBJ that the NBA and YouTube remain in advanced talks about a 2027-28 aggregated hub for 20 to 25 teams -- and eventually 29 of the league’s 30 clubs -- for a potential price tag north of $1B. Some in the industry expect either a deal or a stalemate by possibly this fall -- the latter of which could open the door for DAZN, ESPN or Amazon. But as of now, sources contend YouTube (whose head of sports and live partnerships, Jen Chun, spent nine years at the league office) is the favorite to acquire the moving target that is local NBA TV. But if the NBA can only provide 25 teams or fewer in aggregate, sources said YouTube may offer in the $850M range instead of the $1B-plus. Either way, YouTube would hope to earn much of its money back through subscriptions, with likely a nine-year deal (including a five-year option) that would expire just as the league’s 11-year, $77B media national deal ends.

Sports Business Journal


I don't know how you guys feel about it, but this streaming of all sports is getting expensive and is off the rails.