Latest news with #Pitaro
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What's next for TNT's 'Inside the NBA' as it transitions to ESPN? Will there be changes to the landmark show?
After 35 seasons, "Inside the NBA" as we know will be no more. The iconic studio show will sign off for the last time on TNT at the conclusion of the Eastern Conference Finals series between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. It's the end of an era that's significant to NBA fans of all ages. But fret not, loyal viewers. "Inside the NBA" isn't going away. It's just moving to a new location at ESPN. ESPN acquired the rights to "Inside the NBA" in a landmark November deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to broadcast the show on its networks. In return, TNT Sports will take over exclusive rights to a slate of Big 12 football and men's college basketball games from ESPN in addition to a deal that it previously had in place with the network for rights to College Football Playoff games. In short, "Inside the NBA" will carry on next season despite the end of TNT's 35-year run covering the NBA. Probably/hopefully not? ESPN and chairman Jimmy Pitaro wanted "Inside the NBA" for a reason. ESPN is not very good at producing NBA studio shows. For pretty much its entire existence as an NBA partner, ESPN has failed to produce a show that's compelling, much less one that captures the zeitgeist like "Inside the NBA." Instead, the quality of the ESPN product has generally ranged from functional to must-mute. The struggles aren't from a lack of trying. ESPN has rotated in and out a cast of hosts, analysts and reporters while trying to find the right formula. None of the efforts has produced more than moderate success, despite significant high-level talent in the rotation. So Pitaro reached a reasonable conclusion. If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. Or trade for 'em, at least. Once it became clear that TNT was, in fact, getting out of the NBA business for the first time since 1989, Pitaro came up with one of the more brilliant, yet obvious ideas in recent sports media: obtain the rights to "Inside the NBA" and put it on the air as is. It was an idea with two significant impacts: Upgrade the product around ESPN's NBA broadcasts. And, more importantly in the grand scheme, give a lifeline to "Inside the NBA," which was previously on track to become an all-too unfortunate casualty of the latest NBA media rights shuffle. By all accounts — including directly from ESPN — it sounds like "Inside the NBA" will continue to run largely as is. In its announcement about acquiring the rights to the show, ESPN made clear that "Inside the NBA" will continue to be produced by TNT Sports. "TNT Sports will continue to independently produce Inside the NBA from its Atlanta-based studios over the term of the agreement," ESPN's announcement from November reads. It will feature the same cast and production team and will continue to be produced out of Turner's Studio J in Atlanta. ESPN and ABC will simply license the show for broadcast on its own networks. But surely ESPN will want to put its own fingerprints on the show, right? There's no way the "worldwide leader" won't want to tinker with it, at least a little bit. The Athletic's media reporter Andrew Marchand, who's covered the show's transition from TNT to ESPN, doesn't think so. Here's what he told "The Dan Patrick Show" in November. "I don't think that's gonna happen," Marchand said of ESPN tinkering with the show. Marchand went on to cite other high-profile acquisitions under Pitaro like "The Pat McAfee Show" that runs largely untouched by ESPN management, and the network's decision to allow Peyton Manning to broadcast his "Monday Night Football" "ManningCast" out of his garage in Denver. "I think that's the Pitaro playbook," Marchand continued. "If I'm a producer there, I'm kind of saying, if I'm in Bristol, 'what are we doing? We can't get this right. The big boss keeps outsourcing our programming. That's not a good sign.' "But it's not the same Bristol. ... [Pitaro's] going out and getting what he wants, especially in terms of the on-air people." The people Pitaro wanted, in this instance, were Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal. And he's got them. Johnson was reportedly staying at TNT whether or not "Inside the NBA" continued. Barkley was signed to a long-term deal with TNT before the ESPN acquisition and has since reaffirmed his commitment to the network. O'Neal has signed a new deal to remain with the network since ESPN licensed the show. And Smith is expected to remain on the show on a multiyear deal, according to CNBC. When exactly and for how long "Inside the NBA" will air isn't entirely clear. But some important details are, including the "Inside the NBA" crew covering the NBA Finals for the first time. ESPN provided a framework of a schedule in its acquisition announcement: "The legendary 'Inside the NBA' studio team will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including ESPN's pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals, NBA playoffs, all ABC games after January 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season and other marquee live events." ESPN also announced that its in-house studio shows "NBA Countdown" and "NBA Today" will continue to air. So "Inside the NBA" isn't fully replacing ESPN's NBA studio coverage. So does this mean that "Inside the NBA" won't air before Christmas outside of opening week? That wouldn't make much sense given the October start to the NBA's regular season. "They can't get rid of us."Our first moment together after we found out Inside the NBA will live on — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 28, 2025 It's possible that some of those early-season broadcasts could fall under the umbrella of "other marquee live events" and potentially include the NBA Cup that runs from mid-November through mid-December. But none of that is confirmed as of yet. Smith recently raised concerns about giving up schedule control to ESPN in an interview with the New Yorker. "We have the same crew of people doing the show," Smith said. "But the timing: are we a half hour now? Are we forty-five minutes? Fifteen minutes? "Those are the things that you can control when you own your I.P. But we don't. That was the only part that made me uncomfortable and disheartened, because I felt that the four of us should have went into ABC to negotiate that deal. I'm not saying that our executives don't know how to do that, but we are the I.P. now." So not everything will remain the same. And there will inevitably be some unexpected surprises given all the new moving parts. But the big picture is clear. We're not mourning the end of "Inside the NBA" this week with the conclusion of the Eastern Conference finals. We're just welcoming a new chapter. And that's great news for those of us who love the NBA.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What's next for TNT's 'Inside the NBA' as it transitions to ESPN? Will there be changes to the landmark show?
After 35 seasons, "Inside the NBA" as we know will be no more. The iconic studio show will sign off for the last time on TNT at the conclusion of the Eastern Conference Finals series between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. It's the end of an era that's significant to NBA fans of all ages. But fret not, loyal viewers. "Inside the NBA" isn't going away. It's just moving to a new location at ESPN. ESPN acquired the rights to "Inside the NBA" in a landmark November deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to broadcast the show on its networks. In return, TNT Sports will take over exclusive rights to a slate of Big 12 football and men's college basketball games from ESPN in addition to a deal that it previously had in place with the network for rights to College Football Playoff games. In short, "Inside the NBA" will carry on next season despite the end of TNT's 35-year run covering the NBA. Probably/hopefully not? ESPN and chairman Jimmy Pitaro wanted "Inside the NBA" for a reason. ESPN's not very good at producing NBA studio shows. For pretty much its entire existence as an NBA partner, ESPN has failed to produce a show that's compelling, much less one that captures the zeitgeist like "Inside the NBA." Instead, the quality of the ESPN product has generally ranged from functional to must-mute. The struggles aren't from a lack of trying. ESPN's rotated in and out a cast of hosts, analysts and reporters while trying to find the right formula. None of the efforts has produced more than moderate success, despite significant high-level talent in the rotation. So Pitaro reached a reasonable conclusion. If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. Or trade for 'em, at least. Once it became clear that TNT was, in fact, getting out of the NBA business for the first time since 1989, Pitaro came up with one of the more brilliant, yet obvious ideas in recent sports media: obtain the rights to "Inside the NBA" and put it on the air as is. It was an idea with two significant impacts: Upgrade the product around ESPN's NBA broadcasts. And, more importantly in the grand scheme, give a lifeline to "Inside the NBA," which was previously on track to become an all-too unfortunate casualty of the latest NBA media rights shuffle. By all accounts — including directly from ESPN — it sounds like "Inside the NBA" will continue to run largely as is. In its announcement about acquiring the rights to the show, ESPN made clear that "Inside the NBA" will continue to be produced by TNT Sports. "TNT Sports will continue to independently produce Inside the NBA from its Atlanta-based studios over the term of the agreement," ESPN's announcement from November reads. It will feature the same cast and production team and will continue to be produced out of Turner's Studio J in Atlanta. ESPN and ABC will simply license the show for broadcast on its own networks. But surely ESPN will want to put its own fingerprints on the show, right? There's no way the "worldwide leader" won't want to tinker with it, at least a little bit. The Athletic's media reporter Andrew Marchand, who's covered the show's transition from TNT to ESPN, doesn't think so. Here's what he told "The Dan Patrick Show" in November. "I don't think that's gonna happen," Marchand said of ESPN tinkering with the show. Marchand went on to cite other high-profile acquisitions under Pitaro like "The Pat McAfee Show" that runs largely untouched by ESPN management, and the network's decision to allow Peyton Manning to broadcast his "Monday Night Football" "ManningCast" out of his garage in Denver. "I think that's the Pitaro playbook," Marchand continued. "If I'm a producer there, I'm kind of saying, if I'm in Bristol, 'what are we doing? We can't get this right. The big boss keeps outsourcing our programming. That's not a good sign.' "But it's not the same Bristol. ... [Pitaro's] going out and getting what he wants, especially in terms of the on-air people." The people Pitaro wanted, in this instance, were Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal. And he's got them. Johnson was reportedly staying at TNT whether or not "Inside the NBA" continued. Barkley was signed to a long-term deal with TNT before the ESPN acquisition and has since reaffirmed his commitment to the network. O'Neal has signed a new deal to remain with the network since ESPN licensed the show. And Smith is expected to remain on the show on a multiyear deal, according to CNBC. When exactly and for how long "Inside the NBA" will air isn't entirely clear. But some important details are, including the "Inside the NBA" crew covering the NBA Finals for the first time. ESPN provided a framework of a schedule in its acquisition announcement: "The legendary 'Inside the NBA' studio team will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including ESPN's pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals, NBA playoffs, all ABC games after January 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season and other marquee live events." ESPN also announced that its in-house studio shows "NBA Countdown" and "NBA Today" will continue to air. So "Inside the NBA" isn't fully replacing ESPN's NBA studio coverage. So does this mean that "Inside the NBA" won't air before Christmas outside of opening week? That wouldn't make much sense given the October start to the NBA's regular season. "They can't get rid of us."Our first moment together after we found out Inside the NBA will live on — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 28, 2025 It's possible that some of those early-season broadcasts could fall under the umbrella of "other marquee live events" and potentially include the NBA Cup that runs from mid-November through mid-December. But none of that is confirmed as of yet. Smith recently raised concerns about giving up schedule control to ESPN in an interview with the New Yorker. "We have the same crew of people doing the show," Smith said. "But the timing: are we a half hour now? Are we forty-five minutes? Fifteen minutes? "Those are the things that you can control when you own your I.P. But we don't. That was the only part that made me uncomfortable and disheartened, because I felt that the four of us should have went into ABC to negotiate that deal. I'm not saying that our executives don't know how to do that, but we are the I.P. now." So not everything will remain the same. And there will inevitably be some unexpected surprises given all the new moving parts. But the big picture is clear. We're not mourning the end of "Inside the NBA" this week with the conclusion of the Eastern Conference finals. We're just welcoming a new chapter. And that's great news for those of us who love the NBA.
Business Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Disney unveils new ESPN streaming service for US$30 a month
[NEW YORK] Walt Disney said its new sports streaming platform will be called ESPN, the same as its popular cable-TV channel, and cost US$30 a month. The new product, unveiled at a media event on Tuesday (May 13) in New York, will give the roughly 60 million US households that do not have a traditional pay-TV package the option of watching the channel's marquee sporting events such as Monday Night Football, US Open tennis and college football online. The platform is set to go live later this year. The 'unlimited' plan will give fans access to all of ESPN's traditional TV networks, including ESPN2, ESPNU and others, in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+ and more, covering 47,000 live events a year, on-demand replays and original programming and studio shows including SportsCenter. 'It's going to redefine our business,' said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. 'Fans have never been able to buy our networks directly before.' ESPN has been working on the product for more than two years. It will host all of the cable network's programming as well as experiences related to the company's daily fantasy sports and sports betting. Disney will also offer the new ESPN as part of a bundle with Hulu and Disney+ for US$36 a month, with a promotional price of US$30 monthly for the first year. 'It will be the ultimate sports destination,' Pitaro said. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up For months, the media and industry observers had been referring to the new product as 'ESPN Flagship', a name that many thought would stick. But Pitaro said, 'we kept coming back to those four letters,' as a reason to keep the original moniker. The company will continue to offer its ESPN+ streaming service, which has programming different from the main channels. As more viewers move away from cable subscriptions and traditional TV networks, media companies such as Disney, Comcast and Paramount Global are racing to make more sports available for streaming. Industry observers have long feared that a standalone version of ESPN, the most-watched sports channel, would lead to an even greater wave of cable-TV cancellations. To prevent that, Disney chief executive officer Bob Iger has said customers who already get ESPN through a cable or satellite-TV subscription will also get the streaming version at no additional cost. But by bundling ESPN with Disney+ and Hulu for only US$6 a month more than the standalone sports site, Disney is clearly trying to steer consumers to the combined offering. The industry has been moving towards more packaged deals in recent years, in part because subscribers are less likely to cancel if it means losing multiple services. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Geetha Ranganathan said Disney's pricing structure hits the 'sweet spot' and could boost profit. There could be wide uptake for the new ESPN streaming platform, especially the bundled offering with Hulu and Disney+, she said. 'That could generate US$3 billion or more in annual high-margin revenue by 2026 if it garners 10 million subscribers.' At the event on Tuesday, ESPN highlighted the central role National Basketball Association (NBA) games will play on its upcoming streaming platform. Disney joined Comcast and last summer in signing a US$76 billion media rights deal with the league that kicks off with the new season in October. Comcast's NBC is also making NBA games a major focus for its Peacock streaming platform. Disney previously worked with Fox and Warner Bros Discovery on creating a sports streaming joint venture called Venu Sports, which would have pooled content from their networks, including ESPN, and cost US$43 a month. The planned offering sparked a lawsuit from competitor FuboTV, which argued it would block rivals and raise prices for consumers. Fox is planning to launch a new streaming service combining its news, sports and entertainment content before the NFL and college football seasons this fall. BLOOMBERG
Axios
13-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
ESPN chairman says network still interested in MLB deal despite opt-out
ESPN remains interested in a potential Major League Baseball distribution package, especially one that includes streaming local games, despite recently opting out of its national package with the league three years early, chairman Jimmy Pitaro said Tuesday. Why it matters: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has been clear that he believes the regional sports network model that baseball relied on for decades to distribute local games can't be fixed. He instead wants to nationalize the league's local rights under one streaming entity when the majority expire in three years. Catch up quick: ESPN and MLB "mutually agreed" to end their 35-year national TV rights deal after this season, the league announced in February. MLB has called ESPN's demand to reduce rights fees "simply unacceptable" while ESPN reportedly believes it's overpaying the league by more than $300 million. The latest: Speaking to reporters at a press event in New York City, Pitaro said ESPN is "ready to listen when the league is ready to have a conversation" about a new distribution deal that could include local rights. "We are not in conversations with them," he said. "I'm assuming — I don't know for sure — they are out there testing the market, which is their right to do," Pitaro added. "But we love the game of baseball, and we would like to figure something out with them, ultimately ... And yes, that includes local in-market games." The big picture: MLB sees its ESPN breakup and the chaotic bankruptcy of RSN group Diamond Sports (now known as Main Street Sports Group) as a broader opportunity to overhaul its entire distribution strategy. Its national media rights expire this year and its local broadcast rights expire in 2028. State of play: MLB is currently in talks with several networks — including NBC Sports, Amazon and Netflix — about new deals to air its national TV rights package through 2028, per Puck. Those talks, which appear preliminary, could also set the MLB up for a larger discussion about simplifying its local rights with one streamer when its national rights expire. In November, Amazon struck a deal for MLB games produced by local RSNs, making them available to Prime Video subscribers as an add-on. The agreement was part of a broader deal to help Diamond emerge from bankruptcy. NBC's parent company Comcast owns some RSNs that carry MLB games. Netflix currently has no baseball rights, but is looking to invest in sports as it beefs up its live content portfolio. Of note: Fox, one of MLB's national TV partners, is reportedly interested in renewing its deal until 2028, as is ESPN, whose agreement would need to look different for both parties to get onboard. Warner Bros. Discovery's TBS is the MLB's other national TV partner. WBD CEO David Zaslav has indicated that the company doesn't plan to invest much more in sports rights outside its current deals. In recent months, the league has started to secure more local streaming rights through that could help it build a national package. The league is reportedly considering a deal to license its out-of-market game package to networks and/or digital platforms. In March, MLB struck a deal to stream local games for the Athletics, Giants and Phillies during the 2025 season. It inked a similar deal with the New York Mets and SportsNet New York the month prior. Zoom out: MLB's international ambitions could also factor into its streaming partnership conversations, a source told Axios. Streamers with an international presence could present an interesting opportunity for the league as it looks to grow its fanbase abroad. This year, MLB said 28% of its Opening Day players represented 18 different countries and territories outside of the U.S. In March, MLB's Tokyo Series became the league's biggest standalone international event in its history. The league has its eyes on broader expansion opportunities in other parts of Asia, the U.K. and Latin America. Its international audience, a source said, often follows the diversity of the league's players. What they're saying:"The explosion in popularity in Korea and Japan is going to create an opportunity to fundamentally change the way we sell our media rights," Manfred told The Athletic in March. "We've traditionally sold them in (individual) countries, and I think in 2028 they will be sold as part of an international package that will help us drive our media revenue in general." What to watch: In order to fully nationalize the league's local sports rights deals, Manfred needs buy-in from teams in bigger, more lucrative markets.
Hamilton Spectator
13-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
ESPN says its direct-to-consumer streaming service will debut in September at $29.99 a month
NEW YORK (AP) — ESPN said Tuesday that its new all-encompassing streaming service will take on a familiar name — ESPN — and launch in September at an initial price of $29.99 per month. The service will enable consumers to view all of ESPN's various networks, including ones devoted to the SEC, Big 10 and ACC college leagues, as well as content from the current ESPN+ streaming service, which will be folded in to the new product. The network also promised enhancements to its ESPN app for mobile devices, including using artificial intelligence to create a personalized 'SportsCenter' for consumers that concentrates on news and highlights for their favorite teams, sports and athletes. September will represent a big moment for ESPN on par with the cable sports network's launch in 1979, the introduction of ESPN2 in 1993 and launch of the website two years later, said Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN chairman. The exact date it will become available will be announced later. It's also a pivotal development in the accelerating industry shift from television to streaming. ESPN and its sister channels will remain available on cable and satellite systems. After kicking around several ideas for what to call the service, which was known informally as 'Flagship' during the developmental stages, Pitaro said executives decided to keep it simple. 'There's power in our name and there's trust in our name,' he said. All live events shown on ESPN networks, along with sports shown on broadcast sister ABC-TV, will be available through the streaming service. So will its other programming, like 'SportsCenter', 'Pardon the Interruption,' 'First Take,' 'The Pat McAfee Show,' 'NFL Live' and original films. ESPN announced Tuesday that a former network personality, Rich Eisen, will bring his daily program to ESPN even as he continues to work at the NFL Network. ESPN's streaming service will be available for $299.99 per year. The Disney-owned network said it will also allow people to bundle ESPN along with Hulu and Disney+ for $35.99 a month — or $29.99 a month for the first year. Although consumers will be able to buy the more limited slate of programming available now on ESPN+ for $11.99 a month, Pitaro said ESPN decided against offering other lower-cost alternatives containing some, but not all, of the company's various services. It would be too confusing for consumers, he said. Pitaro said ESPN remains open to other acquisitions or partnerships to build programming. That includes potentially taking on some struggling regional sports networks that show baseball, even though ESPN decided earlier this year to opt out of the final three years of its contract to show Major League Baseball at the end of this season. 'When the league is ready to have a conversation, we are ready to listen,' Pitaro said. ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and
