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In the pantheon of televised game theme songs, “Roundball Rock,” which ran alongside NBA games on NBC until 2002, John Desh's anthem looms large.
The composer told CNBC in an email that if NBCUniversal wins the rights to air the NBA again, it will have the opportunity to bring back the iconic tune.
Comcast's NBC Universal has made an offer of $2.5 billion a year to regain NBA rights after losing them to Disney 22 years ago, people familiar with the matter said. The Wall Street Journal First reported Details of NBC's bid.
The NBA currently wants three media partners, and Disney and Amazon are close to deals for two packages. A third could go to Warner Bros. Discovery or NBCUniversal, but not both, said the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private.
Warner Bros. Discovery continues to negotiate with the league to retain the rights. However, NBCUniversal's offer is more than double the $1.2 billion currently paid by Warner Bros. Discovery. That could be too expensive for Warner Bros. Discovery, whose market capitalization of $18 billion is dwarfed by Comcast's $150 billion.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslau has preached a message of financial discipline since taking over the company, including cutting jobs and spending on content, reducing debt and increasing free cash flow. He's not interested in being in the “rental business,” though he's not interested in licensing game rights. The NBA also expressed confidence in retaining the rights.
Warner Bros. Spokespeople for Discovery, NBC and the NBA declined to comment.
Nostalgic NBA fans associate “Roundball Rock” with “The NBA on NBC.” An era defined by the dominance of Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls and the voices of Bob Costas and Marv Albert. USA Today Voted it #1 on the 2017 ranking of “25 Best Sports TV Themes” by The Ringer Oral history Essay on its origin, and NBC's “Saturday Night Live” He did a whole painting about this.
The song hasn't heralded the start of an NBA game since 2002, when NBC aired its last league game. Fox Sports has acquired the rights to use the theme College basketball 2018-19 season, but a generation of fans still associate the tune with NBC.
If NBC Sports wins the rights, it will be free to re-license “Roundball Rock” from the song's owner, Desh, the composer said in an email.
TV personality John Desch attends Hallmark Channel's “Home & Family” at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 06, 2020 in Universal City, California.
Paul Archuleda | Good pictures
Fox's deal for “Roundball Rock” does not prevent any media outlet from using the song for NBA games, Desh said.
Media companies typically buy rights to a song in three-year increments, Desh said. He declined to say how much he is paid because the contracts include non-disclosure agreements, but Desh noted that he is compensated with royalties based on the patterns played. Ringer reported As of 2020, Desh's jingle has been aired 12,000 times on “NBA on NBC” from 1990-2002.
“It's funny how people fight over the song,” Desh said. “In 1990, it was another theme. Now the Internet is full of people playing the song on ukuleles and casios and teaching guitar. We still play the song at every concert and show YouTube videos of them.”
If the NBA returns to the air on NBC, it will begin in the 2025-26 season. And rest assured, fans: “Roundball Rock” is available.
— CNBC's Lillian Rizzo contributed to this report.
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC.
Watch: Battle for the NBA: NBC vs. Warner Bros. Discovery
