Coda
by Staff -- Multichannel News, 11/16/2009 2:00:00 AM
NBA, Roku In Hoop Talks
Saratoga, Calif. — The National Basketball Association and Roku may look to make a fast break from the Web to the television as part of an agreement to move the league's broadband out-of-market game package to the big screen.
The technology company is in discussions with the league about distributing its $149.95 “NBA League Pass Broadband” package directly to subscribers' television sets through Roku's broadband-connected set-top box, according to sources close to the situation. The package provides subscribers with up to 40 NBA games a week, including live-game digital video recorder functionality, a full-season archive to view games on demand, live home and away audio broadcasts of every game and the ability to watch multiple live games at the same time.
The deal would be similar to Roku's agreement this summer with Major League Baseball's Internet-TV service, MLB.TV. With that deal, MLB.TV subscribers purchasing the $99 Roku player could access up to 100 live games per week as well as on–demand games from the past week.
While talks have occurred, sources say a deal is not imminent. Neither Roku nor the NBA would officially comment on the matter.
In other NBA news, the league last week announced through its NBA Digital arm that it will offer a toggling computer companion to televised games.
NBA Digital officials say NBA TV Companion on NBA.com is a first-of-its-kind, live-game complement designed to enhance the TV viewing experience for fans, with both national games and local/regional telecasts. The new full-screen feature aspires to provide an in-arena experience, along with social media integration and video highlight packages that complement every live NBA telecast.
— R. Thomas Umstead
Dobbs, King: News at Seven
New York — CNN anchors made some news of their own last week, with Lou Dobbs abruptly resigning one day followed the next by word that chief national correspondent John King would helm a new weeknight show.
Dobbs served as anchor at CNN since 1980 and had become a lightning rod at the network due to his position on issues such as illegal immigration. He announced his resignation on his show, Lou Dobbs Tonight, saying his departure was effective immediately and that the Nov. 11 telecast was his last.
Dobbs said he is “considering a number of different options” for where he will end up, but wants to continue to advocate for issues he thinks are important.
The following day, the network announced that King, who hosts the Sunday morning State of the Union show, will host an hourlong, politically-tinged program set to air at 7 p.m. (Dobbs' former slot) sometime early next year. The show will present in-depth analysis and context to key political movements in Washington, according to network officials.
“The program will reflect what CNN is all about: straight facts from our anchors and the widest range of opinions from across the political spectrum,” Jonathan Klein, president of CNN/U.S., said in a statement.
— R. Thomas Umstead
New Digs For Uni Sports
Westlake, Calif. —Universal Sports, a joint venture of NBC Universal and Leo Hindery's private-equity firm InterMedia Partners, will consolidate its television and digital units into a 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility here, near Thousand Oaks. Employees and facilities currently located in Santa Monica and Glendale, Calif., as well as those in Bethesda, Md., will relocate to the new Universal Sports Campus in 2010; a sales staff will remain in New York.
The facility was built by Dole Food chairman David Murdock, who had planned to launch a network to support the endeavors of Dole Nutrition Institute and the California Health and Longevity Institute.
Universal Sports chairman and CEO Claude Ruibal said the network would look to tie into “great synergistic opportunities” with Murdock in the areas of health, nutrition and wellness.
— Mike Reynolds
Disney CFO Swap
New York — On a day when it reported fiscal fourth quarter results that beat analyst estimates on practically every front, The Walt Disney Co. said its longtime chief financial officer, Thomas Staggs, would step down to become chairman of Disney's Parks and Resorts division, and former Parks and Resorts chairman James (Jay) Rasulo would become CFO.
Last week's news came as Disney reported strong earnings growth despite the weak economy. Revenue was up 4% in the fiscal fourth quarter to $9.9 billion, and net income rose 18% to $895 million, or 47 cents per share.
— Mike Farrell
No related content found.
Featured Company
-
Telestream
Telestream products are used by the world's leading media and entertainment companies and corporations for transcoding and workflow automation. Telestream helps customers transform their media for multiplatform distribution to web, mobile, DVD, cable VOD, podcast and broadcast pl..more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
