Michael Jordan #23 and Scottie Pippen #33
Nathaniel S. butler
Among the series of theme songs for TV games, “Roundball Rock”, John Tesh’s anthem, which accompanied National Basketball Association games on NBC until 2002, is arguably the greatest.
The composer told CNBC in an email that if NBCUniversal wins the rights to air NBA reruns, he will have a chance to bring back the iconic tune.
Comcast’s NBCUniversal has offered an average of $2.5 billion per year to once again acquire the NBA rights after losing them 22 years ago. disney, according to people familiar with the matter. wall street journal first reported Details of NBC’s bid.
The NBA wants three media partners this time, and is close to deals with both Disney and Amazon for two packages. will probably go third warner bros discovery or NBCUniversal, but not both, said the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private.
Warner Bros. Discovery continues to negotiate with the league to retain the rights. Still, NBCUniversal’s offer is more than double the $1.2 billion currently paid by Warner Bros. Discovery. This could be too costly for Warner Bros. Discovery, which has a market capitalization of less than $18 billion Comcastis $150 billion.
David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, has a message financial discipline Since taking over the company, efforts to reduce debt and boost free cash flow have included cutting jobs and cutting spending on content. He has stated that he has no interest in the “rental business”, as is the nature of licensing sports rights, although he has Also expressed optimism about retaining the NBA rights.
Spokespeople for Warner Bros. Discovery, NBC and the NBA declined to comment.
‘Roundball’ rights
Nostalgic NBA fans associate “Roundball Rock” with “The NBA on NBC” An era defined by Michael Jordan, the dominance of the Chicago Bulls, and the voices of Bob Costas and Marv Albert. USA Today voted this Number 1 in the 2017 ranking of the “25 Greatest Sports TV Themes”. The Ringer published a oral history Articles about its origin, and NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” made a complete sketch about this.
The song has not started the beginning of an NBA game since 2002, when NBC broadcast its last league contest. Fox Sports acquired the rights to the theme for use college basketball for the 2018–19 season, but a generation of fans still associate this tune with NBC.
If NBC Sports wins the rights, it is once again free to license “Roundball Rock” from Tesh, who owns the song, the musician said in an e-mail.
TV personality John Tesh visits Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 06, 2020 in Universal City, California.
Paul Archuleta | getty images
Fox’s deal for “Roundball Rock” does not prevent any media company from using the song for an NBA game, Tesh said.
Media companies typically buy song rights in three-year increments, Tesch said. He declined to disclose how much he is paid because the contract contains nondisclosure agreements, but Tesh said he is also compensated with royalties based on the number of times he plays. The Ringer informed of In 2020, Tesh’s jingle aired an estimated 12,000 times on “NBA on NBC” from 1990 to 2002.
“It’s funny how people fight over songs,” Tesh said. “In 1990, it was just another topic. Now the Internet is full of people playing songs on ukuleles, Casios, and teaching guitar. We still play songs at every concert and show YouTube videos of these people. “
If the NBA airs reruns on NBC, it will begin in the 2025–26 season. And rest assured, fans: “Roundball Rock” is available.
— CNBC’s Lillian Rizzo contributed to this report
– Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC.
WATCH: Battle for the NBA: NBC vs. Warner Bros. Discovery