TBS, MLB Announce Rights Deal for

[Craig Th 0]

From MediaWeek.com

 

Turner Broadcasting's TBS has officially reached an additional TV rights agreement with Major League Baseball that will enable it to televise the 2007, 2009, 2011 and 20013 National League Championship Series and the 2008, 2010 and 2012 American League Championship Series.

 

No dollar amount was announced but sources said TBS paid between $45 million-$50 million for the latest rights. MLB reportedly had opened negotiations seeking $70 million.

 

TBS had signed an earlier deal with MLB to carry all of the Divisional Series playoff games from 2007-2013, and also won the rights to a new, non-exclusive Sunday afternoon package.

Fox previously won the TV rights to the ALCS and NLCS games in the alternating years between 2007 and 2013 that TBS does not have. Fox had said it would be interested in the remaining ALCS and NLCS games, as did ESPN and Comcast's Versus, but Turner apparently was willing to pay more for the rights.

 

From MLB's standpoint, though, it may not have been all about money. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said the deal with Turner made a lot of sense synergistically since Turner would be airing all the Divisional Series games. Carryng the League Championship Series games on the same network would "make a great deal of sense," particularly from a promotional point of view.

 

Earlier this year, MLB had also mentioned that it might also want to co-produce with a network a nightly baseball results show, similar to Baseball Tonight on ESPN. That does not appear to be part of this package, even though Tim Brosnan, executive vp of business for MLB, praised Turner's production skills. "We're excited that Turner has exhibited an eye for great pre-game and post-game shows for all of the sporting events it telecasts," said Brosnan.

We expect Turner to produce some really good [pre-game, post-game] shows for the fans." He added that MLB and Turner "are in discussions as to what shape these shows will take."

 

With all of the baseball rights deals done, including the previously announced new Sunday package with Turner, MLB is still not ruling out starting its own Baseball Channel. Although plans were quietly put on hold a while back, Selig said the creation of its own baseball network "is something very much under consideration and review." Selig added that there is "no timetable" for it, and "we will make those decisions in the coming months."

 

David Levy, president of Turner Sports, said no decisions have been made on the announcing teams for all of its new baseball, but added, "we will try to find the best, high caliber and unique talent out there."

[Guest Felonies!]

I like TBS as the home of the Braves, and Fox sucks major dick, but doesn't it seem odd that the championship of the 130-year-old National League is being determined on the Everybody Loves Raymond channel?

[devo 0]

That's a valid point, but many Fox affiliates show that (along with much worse) on a regular basis as well.

[bob_barron 0]

Why would Fox be willing to give up the AL? They have the two marquee teams and probably the next WS champs.

 

The NL has the Cardinals.

[Guest Felonies!]

That's a valid point, but many Fox affiliates show that (along with much worse) on a regular basis as well.

But at least Fox is an over-the-air network, albeit a joke of one. Also,

 

"Good news! With the NLCS on TBS, we'll finally be free of the overexposed Joe Buck!"

"Oh good! I was getting so sick of that mediocre vanilla announcer who only got this far because of his last name. Who's working the NLCS?"

"Chip Caray!"

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I like TBS as the home of the Braves, and Fox sucks major dick, but doesn't it seem odd that the championship of the 130-year-old National League is being determined on the Everybody Loves Raymond channel?

Why not? In their past they frequently aired championship bouts for a title that dated back to Abe Lincoln!

[Guest Felonies!]

Not the same, since boxing is a niche thing and baseball is supposed to be our #2 sport at the very least. You kind of expect postseason baseball to be on over-the-air channels. I don't know, I just don't think TBS has the same status as a major cable station that it used to have. Furthermore, we all think of it as The Braves Station, (hey that's TBS too! Was this an ad campaign?) so putting national coverage in place of what was basically local coverage seems like a real step down.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Not the same, since boxing is a niche thing and baseball is supposed to be our #2 sport at the very least.

 

I'm guessing Al was making a joke about the WCW title and how the announcers would claim that it had existed since the days of Abe Lincoln.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Correct sir.

[Guest Felonies!]

Ohhh. I thought TBS had boxing for a while. I know you're somewhat of a boxing fan.

[iggymcfly 0]

It's funny. Sometimes I forget that this is even a wrestling forum. I was just thinking "wow, how weird is that that alkeiper used to be into wrestling".

[Black Lushus 0]

It's funny. Sometimes I forget that this is even a wrestling forum. I was just thinking "wow, how weird is that that alkeiper used to be into wrestling".

 

I just hope he's still into porn.

 

Anything other than Fox is fine by me, I really don't like Joe Buck...their football coverage is shitty too.

 

(by the way, yes, BL watches baseball, just not enough to participate in threads...GO METS!)