Verizon is “close to completing an NBA content-rights deal” that would “include intellectual property and other traditional sponsorship rights but is centered on content — which Verizon wants for over-the-top programming efforts, especially its recently launched go90 product,” according to sources cited by Lefton & Lombardo of Sports Business Journal.
A Verizon-NBA deal would “almost certainly not include live NBA games,” as those rights are owned by ESPN/ABC and Turner.
That means it will “likely be shoulder programming and lifestyle programming that would be part of the Verizon-NBA content, and possibly games from the other basketball inventory controlled by the NBA: the WNBA, the D-League and USA Basketball.”
Even if no live games are involved in the deal, “how longtime NBA digital and TV rights holder Turner will feel about the league adding another content partner remains to be seen.” Nonetheless, the forthcoming deal is “a harbinger of what’s ahead in terms of hybrid agreements, as wireless service providers morph into content providers.”
Credit to the Sports Business Journal who originally published this article
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
