Michael Jordan #23 and Scottie Pippen #33
Nathaniel S. Butler
Within the pantheon of theme songs for TV sports activities, “Roundball Rock,” John Tesh’s anthem that accompanied Nationwide Basketball Affiliation video games on NBC till 2002, is arguably the best.
If NBCUniversal wins the rights to air the NBA once more, it will have an opportunity to convey again the long-lasting tune, the composer instructed CNBC in an electronic mail.
Comcast’s NBCUniversal has made a proposal that averages $2.5 billion per yr to as soon as once more purchase NBA rights after dropping them 22 years in the past to Disney, in response to individuals acquainted with the matter. The Wall Road Journal first reported the main points of NBC’s bid.
The NBA desires three media companions this time round, and is near offers with each Disney and Amazon for 2 of the packages. The third one will probably go to Warner Bros. Discovery or NBCUniversal, however not each, mentioned the individuals, who requested to not be named as a result of the talks are personal.
Warner Bros. Discovery continues to be in talks with the league to maintain the rights. Nonetheless, NBCUniversal’s supply greater than doubles the $1.2 billion that Warner Bros. Discovery at present pays. That could be too dear for Warner Bros. Discovery, whose market capitalization of $18 billion is dwarfed by Comcast‘s $150 billion.
Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Government Officer David Zaslav has preached a message of monetary self-discipline since taking on the corporate, together with by slashing jobs and chopping spending on content material, to cut back debt and increase free money move. He is mentioned he isn’t eager about being within the “rental enterprise,” as is the character of licensing sports activities rights, although he has additionally expressed optimism about retaining NBA rights.
Spokespeople for Warner Bros. Discovery, NBC and the NBA declined to remark.
The rights to ‘Roundball’
Nostalgic NBA followers affiliate “Roundball Rock” with “The NBA on NBC” and an period outlined by Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls’ dominance and the voices of Bob Costas and Marv Albert. USA Right now voted it No. 1 in a 2017 rating of “The 25 biggest sports activities TV themes.” The Ringer printed an oral historical past article about its origin, and NBC’s “Saturday Evening Reside” did a complete sketch about it.
The tune has not heralded the beginning of an NBA recreation since 2002, when NBC broadcast its final league contest. Fox Sports activities acquired the rights to the theme to make use of for school basketball for the 2018-19 season, however a era of followers nonetheless affiliate the tune with NBC.
If NBC Sports activities wins the rights, it is free to as soon as once more license “Roundball Rock” from Tesh, who owns the tune, the composer mentioned in an e-mail.
TV Persona John Tesh visits Hallmark Channel’s “House & Household” at Common Studios Hollywood on March 06, 2020 in Common Metropolis, California.
Paul Archuleta | Getty Pictures
Fox’s deal for “Roundball Rock” does not preclude any media firm from utilizing the tune for NBA video games, Tesh mentioned.
Media corporations usually purchase the rights to the tune in three-year increments, Tesh mentioned. He declined to say how a lot he is paid as a result of the contracts embody non-disclosure agreements, however Tesh famous he is additionally compensated with royalties primarily based on the quantity of occasions it will get performed. The Ringer reported in 2020 that Tesh’s jingle aired an estimated 12,000 occasions throughout the 1990 to 2002 period on “NBA on NBC.”
“It is humorous how individuals struggle for the tune,” Tesh mentioned. “In 1990, it was simply one other theme. Now the web is stuffed with individuals enjoying the tune on Ukulele, Casios and educating it on guitar. We nonetheless play the tune at each live performance and present the YouTube movies of those individuals.”
If the NBA airs on NBC once more, it will begin within the 2025-26 season. And relaxation assured, followers: “Roundball Rock” is out there.
— CNBC’s Lillian Rizzo contributed to this report
— Disclosure: Comcast is the guardian firm of NBCUniversal and CNBC.
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