The NBA’s longest-running broadcast partner may finally be showing interest in the WNBA. More: Voice of the Yankees John Sterling Resigned, Charles Barkley’The CNN show was canceled; ESPN is working on a 30 For 30 documentary on Stuart Scott.
WBD interested in WNBA rights
Warner Bros. Discovery has expressed interest in acquiring rights to the WNBA, Athleticism reported Monday. The NBA’s longest-running broadcast partner for more than 40 years, WBD has never taken the WNBA beyond games broadcast on league-owned NBA TV.
The WNBA’s main rights deal with Disney is being negotiated as part of the NBA’s deal with the company, and it would seem likely that any deal with WBD would follow the same model. The WNBA also has separate deals with CBS Sports, Scripps (ION) and Amazon Prime Video.
The division formerly known as “Turner Sports” has been adding sports properties since the late 19th century. Jeff Zucker The WarnerMedia era – especially the NHL. Since the 2022 split and merger that brought the Warner Media networks under Discovery’s control, the property roster also includes Discovery’s pre-existing suite of international rights. Notably, WBD has already acquired WNBA rights in the UK and Ireland under the “TNT Sports” banner which it now uses on all national and international broadcasts.
Voice of the Yankees: Sterling retires effective immediately
Radio voice of the New York Yankees John Sterling retired effective immediately, the team announced Monday, ending his 35-year tenure with the team and 64-year broadcast career. Sterling said. Sports Illustrated Monday that he had wanted to retire “for a long time” and that he should have done so in March rather than come back for another season. Sterling: “I’ve been on the air since February 1, 1960, and I’m tired. »
Sterling joined the Yankees in 1989 after nearly a decade in Atlanta calling games for the Braves and Hawks. He previously called Bullets, Nets and Islanders games.
Barkley’s CNN show ends
The weekly Charles Barkley And Gayle King CNN’s talk show “King Charles” has ended after less than six months on the air, according to multiple reports Monday. According to New York Post, Barkley’s limited availability was an issue. CNN noted Monday that the show was always intended to air as a limited series.
CNN under the leadership of the time Chris Licht spent months pursuing Barkley for a prime-time role, part of what was envisioned as a reorganization of the network’s programming. By the time the series debuted — with King added at Barkley’s request — Licht had already been ousted from his position and the reorganization abandoned, leaving “King Charles” an awkward spot in what was otherwise pared-down news programming. conventional cable.
ESPN develops 30 For 30 on the life and career of Stuart Scott
ESPN announced Monday that it was developing a 30 for 30 documentary on the life and career of Stuart Scottsince a long time Sports center anchor died of cancer in 2015. The news was first reported by Deadline. The film, currently in production and without a specific release date, will focus on Scott’s style, cultural impact and personal struggles, including his seven-year battle with cancer.
One of the most notable Sports center anchors over the course of his career, Scott became as big a pop culture figure as anyone who ever anchored the show, at one point being spoofed on “Saturday Night Live.” His style, rich in slogans, was polarizing at the time (if not rare at that time of Sports center), but the criticism he faced during his career had largely faded by the time of his death. In the last months of his life, Scott gave a speech at the ESPYs that is remembered in much the same vein as Jim Valvano’speech at the event in 1993.
