2024 NBA Offseason News

[Roy H.]

It's weird to me that WB would be "matching" a streaming deal, but the expectation is that TNT would still air broadcasts.  I would assume that matching would mean streaming the games on HBO Now or something, rather than via cable.

There are other aspects not mentioned, as well.  Part of Amazon's appeal (presumably) was capturing a live football audience.  WB can't offer that. 

[Moranis]

I watched all the playoffs games on Max. Worked quite well.

[Who]

Memphis Grizzlies

G: Ja Morant, S Pippen Jr
G: D Bane, M Smart
F: GG Jackson
F: J Jackson Jr, S Aldama
C: Zach Edey, B Clarke

Others: V Williams II, LaRavia, Konchar, J Wells

It is not that bad of a team.

Four legit bigs. Zach Edey looked legit in SL. JJJ as ring leader. B Clarke as above average backup big. Aldama showed some progression last season. Four rotation players. Good big man rotation.

Scottie Pippen Jr continues to develop. Him and Smart is a strong backup backcourt behind Morant and Bane. Strong backcourt.

GG Jackson has a lot on his plate and little quality behind him. Memphis will probably go small with three guards a lot. GG Jackson was inconsistent but dynamic as a rookie.

I am looking forward to this team next year.

[celticinorlando]

Games broadcast over the air on

NBC, ESPN and TNT

Stream over peacock and hbo max

Can?t see the nba pushing tnt out

[Kernewek]

The NBA's getting sued over using copyrighted music on social media (again).

TL;DR: the argument is that adding things like copyrighted songs to Instagram posts that are used for
commercial purposes runs afoul of the law.

Independent music labels, such as Kobalt Music, Artist Publishing Group, and Prescription Songs, are suing 14 teams for copyright infringement, alleging teams used songs in social media videos without their permission, including the Knicks, Sixers, and Suns.

The lawsuits were filed in 14 separate cases by the same attorneys Friday. The five companies accused each team of using copyrighted music on social media to ?increase viewership? and ?engage its fanbase.?

Spokespeople for multiple teams named in the lawsuit and the NBA league office did not immediately respond to Front Office Sports? requests for comment.

Each case is seeking up to $150,000 in damages for each infringement, an injunction against further infringement and attorneys fees. Totaled up among the 14 teams and the plaintiffs could be rewarded millions of dollars, depending upon the total number of posts that qualify for infringement.

While the 14 lawsuits are all slightly tailored for each team, the main allegation is the same: Teams stole music they knew they were supposed to pay for. The case against the Knicks specifically accuses them of using songs by ?New York legends? Jay-Z and Cardi B. The complaint against the Hawks mentions ?Atlanta?s own? OutKast and Migos.

The lawsuits also target the Cavaliers, Magic, Nuggets, Blazers, Pacers, Heat, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Kings, and Spurs.

https://frontofficesports.com/nba-music-lawsuits-copyright/

[celticsclay]

Memphis Grizzlies

G: Ja Morant, S Pippen Jr
G: D Bane, M Smart
F: GG Jackson
F: J Jackson Jr, S Aldama
C: Zach Edey, B Clarke

Others: V Williams II, LaRavia, Konchar, J Wells

It is not that bad of a team.

Four legit bigs. Zach Edey looked legit in SL. JJJ as ring leader. B Clarke as above average backup big. Aldama showed some progression last season. Four rotation players. Good big man rotation.

Scottie Pippen Jr continues to develop. Him and Smart is a strong backup backcourt behind Morant and Bane. Strong backcourt.

GG Jackson has a lot on his plate and little quality behind him. Memphis will probably go small with three guards a lot. GG Jackson was inconsistent but dynamic as a rookie.

I am looking forward to this team next year.

It seems like Scottie pippin jr has turned himself into a solid bench player but he gets .00006% of the coverage of Bronny who is years away from that. I?m surprised pippin jr doesn?t get a little more pub he has been overachieving from where he started as a prospect. Ironically the lakers let him go for nothing

[bdm860]

The NBA's getting sued over using copyrighted music on social media (again).

TL;DR: the argument is that adding things like copyrighted songs to Instagram posts that are used for
commercial purposes runs afoul of the law.

Independent music labels, such as Kobalt Music, Artist Publishing Group, and Prescription Songs, are suing 14 teams for copyright infringement, alleging teams used songs in social media videos without their permission, including the Knicks, Sixers, and Suns.

The lawsuits were filed in 14 separate cases by the same attorneys Friday. The five companies accused each team of using copyrighted music on social media to ?increase viewership? and ?engage its fanbase.?

Spokespeople for multiple teams named in the lawsuit and the NBA league office did not immediately respond to Front Office Sports? requests for comment.

Each case is seeking up to $150,000 in damages for each infringement, an injunction against further infringement and attorneys fees. Totaled up among the 14 teams and the plaintiffs could be rewarded millions of dollars, depending upon the total number of posts that qualify for infringement.

While the 14 lawsuits are all slightly tailored for each team, the main allegation is the same: Teams stole music they knew they were supposed to pay for. The case against the Knicks specifically accuses them of using songs by ?New York legends? Jay-Z and Cardi B. The complaint against the Hawks mentions ?Atlanta?s own? OutKast and Migos.

The lawsuits also target the Cavaliers, Magic, Nuggets, Blazers, Pacers, Heat, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Kings, and Spurs.

https://frontofficesports.com/nba-music-lawsuits-copyright/

I'm not going to act like this is an original thought from me, but let me paraphrase a couple of reddit comments I saw on this earlier:

Article says "independent music labels" but then lists Jay-Z, Cardi B, OutKast, and Migos as the artists affected.

This is the rich suing the rich, but trying to frame themselves as the little guy.

Not that that makes it okay for the NBA, basically they were using songs they never licensed in their promo videos on various social media channels.

[Donoghus]

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
?
3m
ESPN Sources: New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has agreed on a three-year contract extension that?ll take him through the 2027-2028 season. A two-time NBA coach of the year, Thibodeau has led the Knicks to consecutive conference semifinal berths.

[Donoghus]

https://frontofficesports.com/nba-rejects-tnt-sports-bid-chooses-amazon-for-national-media-rights/

In just 48 hours, the answer to TNT Sports and parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has arrived from the NBA: thanks, but no thanks.

The league has rejected Monday?s attempt from TNT Sports to exercise its matching rights and supplant a rival bid from Amazon for a piece of the league?s national media rights. In conveying its decision, the NBA said TNT Sports and WBD failed to meet the terms of the rival bid from the online streaming and retail giant.

?Warner Bros. Discovery?s most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video?s offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon,? the league said. ?Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans. Our new arrangements with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable and streaming package that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements.

?All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience,? the NBA said.

The league?s statement was part of an official, and expected, announcement of the 11-year, $76 billion set of rights deals with Disney, NBC Sports, and Amazon. The NBA had intended to make that statement before Friday?s start of the Paris Olympics, and NBC Sports parent Comcast essentially jumped the gun Tuesday with its quarterly earnings. NBC Sports on Wednesday confirmed that is bringing back the celebrated ?Roundball Rock? theme song that was part of its NBA coverage in the 1990s.

TNT Sports Showdown
The league?s moves now set up a high-stakes battle between the NBA and TNT Sports that could ultimately reach a courtroom, and the saga is still far from over. Industry sources said it?s now expected that the parties will now move to mediation in an attempt to resolve the issue.

But as has been the case since the NBA completed its agreements with Disney, NBC Sports, and Amazon, the TNT Sports situation is premised on WBD pushing to stay in business with a league partner clearly looking to take its games elsewhere.

TNT Sports has been targeting Amazon?s ?C? package with the NBA, a set of rights estimated at $1.8 billion per year and including a conference final every other season, early-round playoffs in line with what is currently on NBA TV, weekly regular-season broadcasts, the Emirates NBA Cup, and WNBA rights, among other assets.

[Kernewek]

The NBA's getting sued over using copyrighted music on social media (again).

TL;DR: the argument is that adding things like copyrighted songs to Instagram posts that are used for
commercial purposes runs afoul of the law.

Independent music labels, such as Kobalt Music, Artist Publishing Group, and Prescription Songs, are suing 14 teams for copyright infringement, alleging teams used songs in social media videos without their permission, including the Knicks, Sixers, and Suns.

The lawsuits were filed in 14 separate cases by the same attorneys Friday. The five companies accused each team of using copyrighted music on social media to ?increase viewership? and ?engage its fanbase.?

Spokespeople for multiple teams named in the lawsuit and the NBA league office did not immediately respond to Front Office Sports? requests for comment.

Each case is seeking up to $150,000 in damages for each infringement, an injunction against further infringement and attorneys fees. Totaled up among the 14 teams and the plaintiffs could be rewarded millions of dollars, depending upon the total number of posts that qualify for infringement.

While the 14 lawsuits are all slightly tailored for each team, the main allegation is the same: Teams stole music they knew they were supposed to pay for. The case against the Knicks specifically accuses them of using songs by ?New York legends? Jay-Z and Cardi B. The complaint against the Hawks mentions ?Atlanta?s own? OutKast and Migos.

The lawsuits also target the Cavaliers, Magic, Nuggets, Blazers, Pacers, Heat, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Kings, and Spurs.

https://frontofficesports.com/nba-music-lawsuits-copyright/

I'm not going to act like this is an original thought from me, but let me paraphrase a couple of reddit comments I saw on this earlier:

Article says "independent music labels" but then lists Jay-Z, Cardi B, OutKast, and Migos as the artists affected.

This is the rich suing the rich, but trying to frame themselves as the little guy.

Not that that makes it okay for the NBA, basically they were using songs they never licensed in their promo videos on various social media channels.

That's a pity comment but I would say that of that group Jay-Z is the only one who qualifies as 'NBA rich'.

[SparzWizard]

I'm all for NBA getting sued or taken to court. Lousy officiating has cost people millions and billions and it goes into their pockets. Lousy commissioner with their ridiculous policies and views. It's why I never support NBA products. I take a knockoff jersey that looks like the real deal than an actual NBA licensed jersey.

Still supporting the Boston Celtics and always though.

[Donoghus]

Good visual on the new TV rights (before possible litigation)

[Donoghus]

And here comes the lawsuit...

https://x.com/WALLACHLEGAL/status/1816868886727266763

http://BREAKING: TBS and Warner Brothers Discovery have just filed a lawsuit against the NBA in New York County Supreme Court over the league?s rejection of WBD?s attempted match of the Amazon media rights bid

[bdm860]

Good visual on the new TV rights (before possible litigation)

I found it a little odd that they'd call out who gets the rights to the last day of the regular season, also the graphic makes it seem like the last day of the regular  season is a special event like Christmas Day games.  The last day of the season is often filled with glorified G-League games.

And the last day of the season has historically always been on Sunday, which Disney already has, so it's just redundant.

The first day of the regular season or MLK Day are much bigger events in the NBA.  While they're always on the same days too (Tuesday for start of season, Monday for MLK Day), those are actual special events that I could see the broadcast partners bidding for.

[Donoghus]

Sounds like Tirico is going to be the A team announcer for NBC. Assume Breen will remain A team for ESPN/ABC.  Hopefully, Amazon snags Harlan as their A team guy.  It'd be a real shame to have NBA telecasts without Harlan.

There's also a report that ESPN is going to make a run at the entire "Inside the NBA" crew.  Given how bad the NBA on ESPN shows have been, I'd take this in a heartbeat although it'd be weird as heck seeing that crew on ESPN/ABC.