It has officially been 20 years since the "NBA on NBC" went off the air

[TMC]

On June 12, 2002, NBC had its final NBA telecast (Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Jersey Nets) after broadcasting the league for 12 years:

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NBC reportedly interested in reacquiring NBA rights

NBA rights are in high demand.

[TJ]

It doesn't seem like that long ago. They need to bring back the "Roundball Rock" theme by John Tesh.

[TMC]

NBC reportedly planning to outbid WBD for NBA rights

NBC is reportedly prepared to pay a hefty $2.5 billion annually to broadcast a package of NBA games.

By Sam Neumann on 04/29/2024

Comcast’s NBCUniversal is reportedly throwing down the gauntlet in the NBA media rights battle.

According to the Wall Street Journal, NBC is reportedly prepared to pay a hefty $2.5 billion annually to broadcast a package of NBA games. This comes as Warner Bros. Discovery continues to fight tooth and nail to maintain its current rights, but NBC is planning to double Warner’s TNT’s average fee of $1.2 billion under its current deal.

Despite its long-standing partnership with the NBA, WBD couldn’t reach a new deal before the exclusive negotiation window closed last week, thus opening the door for NBCUniversal to make a historic bid. And NBC’s reported bid includes both regular season and playoff games, and they would not only plan to air these games on its flagship NBC network but also on its streaming platform, Peacock.

NBCUniversal holds a major advantage with its bid. They’ve discussed carrying two prime-time games a week, a strategy WBD can’t match since it doesn’t own a broadcast network.

WBD has the right to match any third-party offer, according to the WSJ. This means they’re currently making “last-ditch efforts” to retain NBA rights.

Here are more details from the WSJ’s reporting and how Disney fits into this:

While TNT boasts a strong lineup with March Madness, NHL and NASCAR, losing the NBA could be a financial game-changer. The NBA was a major draw for distributors, justifying a premium for carrying Warner Bros. Discovery channels. Without it, they may face pressure to lower carriage fees, impacting the overall revenue.

The WSJ also points out that losing the NBA rights would be a major blow to Warner Bros. Discovery’s upcoming sports streaming venture with Disney and Fox.

[TMC]

More than nostalgia: How NBC thrived and ESPN failed with the NBA

by Jon Lewis 2 weeks ago

With NBC seemingly poised to return to the NBA for the first time since 2002, there has been much discussion of nostalgia. Did NBC really do such a great job as the NBA’s lead broadcast partner, or did the network simply ride the wave of the Michael Jordan era?

To be sure, there was no shortage of ‘right place, right time’ involved in the success of the NBA on NBC, and once that luck ran out, the network was quick to cut ties, lowballing the league in a negotiation that began literally a week after 9/11. Yet to attribute those glory days to Jordan alone is to ignore the various aspects of NBC’s approach that elevated the league as a television property.

Perhaps the best way to understand why the NBA on NBC is so well-remembered — nearly 25 years after the network aired its most recent game — is to examine the coverage provided by its successor, ESPN/ABC.

[TMC]

It's now official, the NBA on NBC is back!

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2022 at 12:00pm PDT

Cue the music:

[Mario500]

" 'Roundball Rock': John Tesh talks about how NBA on NBC theme came to be" (article)

Will the NBA on NBC theme return? John Tesh discusses his beloved song's comeback
The song has spawned a "Saturday Night Live" sketch and has its own Wikipedia page, and it's now set to make it's long-awaited return to the NBA on NBC.

[TMC]

NBA's $76 billion media rights deal will lead to fewer new TV shows, fewer reruns and lower residuals

The league's $76 billion worth of long-term rights agreements ... TV shows ordered, and fewer reruns, which will result in lower residuals.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Mario500

" 'Roundball Rock': John Tesh talks about how NBA on NBC theme came to be" (article)

John Tesh reveals a new version of "Roundball Rock" for the return of the NBA on NBC

The composer debuted what he called a "shredded version" of his iconic theme song on The Dan Le Batard Show this morning. “We went back into the studio and got me on Hammond organ and a guitar player named Andrew Synowiec, which was pretty incredible, and the rest of my band,” Tesh said. “I wrote an extra piece to put on the end of Roundball Rock, and then we did what’s known as the shredded version. So get ready, because here’s the first time anybody other than the people in the recording studio are hearing it.”

[TMC]

• What were the biggest marketing mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest creative mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest personnel mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest technical mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest financial mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest scheduling mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest on-air presentation mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by TJ

They need to bring back the "Roundball Rock" theme by John Tesh.

Thats not the only thing buddy

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

• What were the biggest marketing mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest creative mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest personnel mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest technical mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest financial mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest scheduling mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?
  
• What were the biggest on-air presentation mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC (1990-2002)?

What were the biggest marketing, creative, personnel, technical, financial, scheduling, and on-air presentation mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC from 1990-2002 respectively?

Marketing Mistakes

The NBA on NBC era benefited immensely from Michael Jordan's star power, driving unprecedented ratings (e.g., the 1998 Finals averaged an 18.7 household rating, a record). However, NBC and the league's heavy emphasis on large-market teams like the Bulls, Lakers, and Knicks created perceptions of favoritism, alienating fans of smaller-market franchises. This "big-market bias" in game selection and promotion led to backlash, with fans accusing the NBA of prioritizing ratings over parity. By the late 1990s, as Jordan's influence waned, NBC failed to pivot marketing toward emerging stars like Kobe Bryant or Tim Duncan, contributing to a 42% drop in regular-season ratings from the mid-1990s to 2001. Post-Jordan, promotional efforts felt stagnant, relying too heavily on nostalgia rather than fresh narratives, which hurt viewer retention.

Creative Mistakes

NBC's broadcasts were lauded for innovative elements like John Tesh's "Roundball Rock" theme and Bob Costas's eloquent intros, but creative missteps included an overreliance on Jordan-centric storytelling, which overshadowed other rivalries and players. The 1999 Finals (Spurs-Knicks) drew dismal ratings (down 40% from 1998) partly due to lackluster promotion of non-star-driven series. Additionally, the pregame show "NBA Showtime" (hosted by Costas, then Hannah Storm) struggled in its later years, attempting to mimic TNT's "Inside the NBA" with segments like "24 Seconds of Hell" featuring Jayson Williams—discontinued abruptly in 2002 after Williams's arrest for murder charges, leaving a void in engaging content. Critics noted that NBC's montages and features became formulaic, failing to capture the league's post-Jordan diversity.

Personnel Mistakes

The most infamous personnel blunder was the handling of Marv Albert, NBC's lead play-by-play voice since 1990, who was fired in 1997 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault in a sexual misconduct scandal (involving biting a woman during an encounter). This forced Bob Costas—a studio host with limited recent basketball calling experience—into the role, disrupting continuity; Costas called the 1998-2000 Finals but was criticized for a less energetic style suited to baseball. Albert's rehiring in 2000 was awkward, leading to team flux (e.g., rotating analysts like Isiah Thomas and Doug Collins). The 2002 addition of Jayson Williams to the pregame show backfired spectacularly when he was arrested mid-season, tarnishing NBC's image. These scandals and abrupt changes eroded the "voice of basketball" stability that defined the era.

Technical Mistakes

While NBC's production was generally polished (e.g., high-quality graphics and camera work), technical shortcomings were evident in playoff broadcasts. The lack of instant replay review for buzzer-beaters—exposed in controversial calls like the 2002 Western Conference Finals Game 7 (Kings-Lakers, where disputed fouls favored L.A.)—highlighted NBC's inability to leverage technology for accuracy, as the network relied on real-time feeds without modern verification. Early-season broadcasts occasionally suffered from scheduling conflicts, such as last-minute swaps (e.g., replacing Wizards games when Jordan was injured in 2002). Audio issues were minor but noted in fan recollections, like inconsistent crowd noise mixing during high-stakes moments. Overall, these reflected broader NBA technical gaps rather than NBC-specific failures, but they amplified viewer frustration in pivotal games.

Financial Mistakes

NBC's biggest financial error was lowballing the NBA in 2002 negotiations, bidding only $1.3 billion over four years ($330 million annually) amid post-Jordan rating declines and the XFL's $35 million flop. This undervalued the league's potential, allowing ESPN/ABC and TNT to secure a $4.6 billion package ($766 million/year combined). Earlier, the 1990 deal ($600 million over four years) was profitable initially but ballooned costs as ratings peaked; by 2000-01, NBC lost $100 million, and projections hit $200 million for 2001-02 due to unhedged ad revenue drops. Failing to secure cable synergies (NBC had limited outlets like CNBC) left them vulnerable, ending a lucrative 12-year run that generated billions but ended in regret—Stern later noted NBC's bid was "no better than 50-50" from the start.

Scheduling Mistakes

The 1998-99 lockout—lasting from July 1998 to January 1999—was the era's scheduling catastrophe, wiping out 32 games per team (first half of the season) and the All-Star Game, shortening the year to 50 games. NBC lost prime holiday slots (e.g., Christmas Day broadcasts since 1947) and early revenue, with the compressed schedule leading to fatigue and anomalies like the 8th-seeded Knicks reaching the Finals. Post-lockout, NBC's rigid Sunday doubleheaders clashed with NFL overruns, forcing tape-delayed starts or preemptions. In 2001-02, over-reliance on Jordan's Wizards for viewership caused abrupt swaps (e.g., a March Wizards-Magic game replaced last-minute), disrupting flow. These issues, exacerbated by labor strife, contributed to a 35% Finals ratings drop from 1998 to 2001.

On-Air Presentation Mistakes

NBC's presentations were iconic but not flawless; a notable gaffe was Bob Costas talking over the 1998 Bulls championship celebration for over two minutes, drowning out the on-court joy in favor of analysis—a stark contrast to Marv Albert's respectful silences in prior Finals. The 1993 Eastern Finals Game 5 intro mocked Patrick Ewing's missed rebounds with dramatic close-ups and somber music, bordering on insensitive. Late-era experiments like the "Miller Genuine Moments" historical segments felt disjointed, interrupting game flow. Graphics occasionally cluttered screens (e.g., excessive stat overlays during fast breaks), and the 2002 Finals farewell montage—while emotional—prioritized nostalgia over live energy, signaling closure prematurely. These lapses, though rare, contrasted with the era's high standards, drawing criticism for prioritizing production flair over raw emotion.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

What were the biggest marketing, creative, personnel, technical, financial, scheduling, and on-air presentation mistakes that were made during the production of the NBA on NBC from 1990-2002 respectively?

What are the biggest factors that hurt the NBA on NBC's telecasts (1990-2002)?

[TMC]

This video essay explores how NBC's 1990s NBA coverage transformed basketball into a cultural phenomenon. The analysis examines the network's creative choices, from graphics and music to commentary style, showing how these elements crafted a compelling narrative around a legendary player. The impact of this partnership on the sport's global image is discussed.

[TMC]

Bob Costas leads ‘Sunday Night Basketball’ open in first ‘NBA on NBC’ appearance since 2002