William C. Maune
01-23-2002, 02:07 AM
"Cable channel CNN/SI, which debuted in 1996, announced it will cease telecasting sometime this year"
- From the January 21, 2002 edition of Sports Illustrated
In all likelihood the network will be replaced by something else from AOLTimeWarner as they would not want to give up the spot on people's cable systems. It is a lot easier to launch a new channel when people actually have access to it as opposed to trying to convince cable operators to carry a new channel. CNN/SI currently is not seen in a large number of homes, but it is certainly better than starting from scratch.
The big question is what will the network be? Previously there had been talking of AOLTimeWarner and the NBA co-launching a network to show NBA games and other NBA related programs, but today a very large NBA contract was awarded to Disney for games which will be shown on their ABC and ESPN networks. AOLTW could still make a deal for additional games, but the DIsney deal puts that in doubt. Other than this it is anybody's guess, but this would be yet another opportunity to start a Toonami network. Another possibility would be whatever top secret project Betty Cohen is working on. Of course it could always be another CNN network, movie channel, etc., but the chance of a Toonami network has slightly increased for the moment once again!
EDIT: Well, that didn't last long. The online edition of the Hollywood Reporter just updated for the day and the NBA has also struck a deal with AOLTW. More than likely now the new NBA channel will take the place of CNN/SI. Here is the full story:
5 nets on court for NBA deal
Jan. 23, 2002
NEW YORK -- The NBA's new television deal will spread about 250 games over five networks, raising the specter that the league's dwindling viewership could be fragmented further. After two months of negotiating, ABC/ESPN and AOL Time Warner have agreed to a six-year deal with the NBA starting with the 2002-03 season (HR 12/14). The estimated $4.6 billion-$4.7 billion pact, unveiled during a conference call with reporters Tuesday, calls for games to be split among ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, AOL TW's Turner Network Television and a newly formed NBA channel to be jointly owned by AOL TW and the NBA. ABC/ESPN will put up an estimated $2.4 billion, and AOL TW will put up about $2.1 billion. The NBA's current $2.6 billion, four-year deal with NBC and AOL TW's Turner Broadcasting expires at the end of the 2001-02 season. Aside from setting the most expensive NBA TV contract ever, the deal puts more games on television -- on more networks. With more telecasts, the question is whether the league's telecasts and declining ratings will be diluted further. NBA ratings on both NBC and TNT declined 25% last year.(Jim McConville )
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hollywoodreporter/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1276095
- From the January 21, 2002 edition of Sports Illustrated
In all likelihood the network will be replaced by something else from AOLTimeWarner as they would not want to give up the spot on people's cable systems. It is a lot easier to launch a new channel when people actually have access to it as opposed to trying to convince cable operators to carry a new channel. CNN/SI currently is not seen in a large number of homes, but it is certainly better than starting from scratch.
The big question is what will the network be? Previously there had been talking of AOLTimeWarner and the NBA co-launching a network to show NBA games and other NBA related programs, but today a very large NBA contract was awarded to Disney for games which will be shown on their ABC and ESPN networks. AOLTW could still make a deal for additional games, but the DIsney deal puts that in doubt. Other than this it is anybody's guess, but this would be yet another opportunity to start a Toonami network. Another possibility would be whatever top secret project Betty Cohen is working on. Of course it could always be another CNN network, movie channel, etc., but the chance of a Toonami network has slightly increased for the moment once again!
EDIT: Well, that didn't last long. The online edition of the Hollywood Reporter just updated for the day and the NBA has also struck a deal with AOLTW. More than likely now the new NBA channel will take the place of CNN/SI. Here is the full story:
5 nets on court for NBA deal
Jan. 23, 2002
NEW YORK -- The NBA's new television deal will spread about 250 games over five networks, raising the specter that the league's dwindling viewership could be fragmented further. After two months of negotiating, ABC/ESPN and AOL Time Warner have agreed to a six-year deal with the NBA starting with the 2002-03 season (HR 12/14). The estimated $4.6 billion-$4.7 billion pact, unveiled during a conference call with reporters Tuesday, calls for games to be split among ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, AOL TW's Turner Network Television and a newly formed NBA channel to be jointly owned by AOL TW and the NBA. ABC/ESPN will put up an estimated $2.4 billion, and AOL TW will put up about $2.1 billion. The NBA's current $2.6 billion, four-year deal with NBC and AOL TW's Turner Broadcasting expires at the end of the 2001-02 season. Aside from setting the most expensive NBA TV contract ever, the deal puts more games on television -- on more networks. With more telecasts, the question is whether the league's telecasts and declining ratings will be diluted further. NBA ratings on both NBC and TNT declined 25% last year.(Jim McConville )
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hollywoodreporter/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1276095