The NBA's new television contracts, expected to be announced this week, will feature substantially more games on cable but far fewer on over-the-air television. ABC, expected to replace NBC next season as the noncable rightsholder, will carry up to 15 regular-season games, down from NBC's 34. ABC's games are expected to air at 3 p.m. Sundays.

ABC will carry The NBA Finals, but most playoff games will be shared between ESPN and TNT.

ESPN will carry games at least two nights a week, with Fridays and Sundays the most likely options.

TNT will carry two games a week (a Thursday doubleheader has been mentioned) and also is expected to get the All-Star Game. AOL Sports, a makeover of CNN/SI, will carry about 100 games and will be co-owned by the NBA and Turner.

ABC, ESPN and Turner Sports are expected to pay a combined $3.96 billion for rights over the next six years, compared with the current four-year, $2.4 billion deal with NBC and Turner. Brent Musburger, John Saunders and Mark Jones would be among the candidates for play-by-play duties on ABC and ESPN.

Via

General Basketball

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback