Brace yourselves, NBA fans.
Because it’s looking like a serious possibility that the NBA broadcasting rights go back to NBC.
The league’s broadcast rights are up for grabs after the 2024-25 season, and there’s now a report from Sports Business Journal that “Sources continue to insist Comcast’s NBCUniversal will capture the third NBA package — and likely unveil a ‘Basketball Night in America’ telecast.”
This would be great news if you’re like me and your childhood basketball watching on NBC was surrounded by the sounds of John Tesh’s Roundball Rock. But it could mean the end of Inside the NBA, which would be devastating, although here’s more from SBJ:
Reports surfaced last month that incumbent WBD exited its exclusive negotiating window with the league believing it could match any bid from NBC or the like, dollar for dollar. However, sources reiterated Wednesday that the NBA believes a dollar-for-dollar match is not enough, that NBC is an over-the-air network with multiple broadcast windows and an RSN infrastructure that WBD cannot replicate.
“NBC has made their bid, and they’re not budging,’’ a media industry source said. “So it’s over, right? And Warner Bros. is saying, ‘We’ll match it,’ and (Commissioner Adam Silver) is probably saying: ‘It’s not matched.’ ’’
Those two aforementioned rivaling thoughts were on the minds of NBA fans, though:
Gaining "NBA on NBC," and it's iconic theme music back, but losing "Inside The NBA," on TNT. https://t.co/NlSSrZYslH pic.twitter.com/RBNgXx28Dn
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) May 9, 2024
As nostalgic as the return of NBA on NBC would be, it's not worth it to lose Inside the NBA https://t.co/5596GiZpQJ
— Prince J. Grimes (@pgprincej) May 9, 2024
When we get the NBA on NBC back but lose the greatest sports show in history… https://t.co/CqTaAsUvxo pic.twitter.com/ktUUj3Twnm
— JDeck (@JD60pe5) May 3, 2024
End of an era. Please match. NBA on NBC at the cost of TNT is not worth it https://t.co/IR0kXl3KJB
— Across The Cavs (@AcrossCavs) May 9, 2024
NBA on NBC theme coming back or keeping Inside the NBA on TNT? https://t.co/hyQwZmMm3b pic.twitter.com/SCp7irG72e
— Jace (@BasedJace_) May 9, 2024
I would love nothing more than NBA on NBC to come back with their theme song, but would hate to lose Inside The NBA… Tough scene https://t.co/mQeX1SXE1c
— Seejo Valacheril (@SeejoV) May 9, 2024
