The Nba's New Tv Deal Includes Plans For Ads On Jerseys

Barry Petchesky, Deadspin [Article Link]




Advertisements on NBA uniforms are inevitable—the association logo is heading to the back of the uniform to make room, and the only reason a 2.5" x 2.5" ad patch wasn't on the front shoulder last year was because they couldn't agree on how to split up the money. But in case you were still clinging to the hope of aesthetics in the face of capitalism, you can give up: the NBA'smassive new TV deal specifically accounts for revenue from jersey ads.

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SportsBusiness Journal reports that media partners ESPN and Turner will share in the revenue from jersey ads, an agreement negotiated as part of the television contracts that will run through 2025. [Update, 9:35 p.m. EDT: The wording in the SBJ story has been revised, as has the quoted text below.]

According to sources involved in the discussions, if there's a national brand with a jersey deal that would have bought time on ESPN or TNT's NBA game telecasts — think Coca-Cola or Samsung — the two networks would get specific commitments from that company to also buy TV advertising during any nationally televised games featuring that sponsored team.

Sources familiar with the TV deals admit both networks pushed hard to be allowed to sell ads on team jerseys outright, but the league balked at handing over the potentially lucrative rights. Under the new TV deals, NBA teams maintain the rights to sell the jersey advertising, which has an estimated value ranging from around $800,000 for small-market teams like the Memphis Grizzlies to more than $10 million for large-market teams like the Los Angeles Lakers.​

The precise formulas for splitting up revenue from jersey patches haven't yet been worked out, but you can rest assured that as soon as they are, the discussion will progress to adding a second patch. And then a third. If you're willing to fight for the American model, where our ads are everywhere except on uniforms, the NBA is not the hill to die upon. Retreat to another sport, so you may fight again another day.

 

I wonder if it's connected to why they've been pushing the sleeved jerseys. More ad space...

 

I've known it was coming long enough that I don't really care. It's a 2.5" x 2.5" square.

One issue that Amare brought up, which is similar to what the NFL is going through now, is the conflict of interest as far as sponsors go.

If Amare is sponsored by X and it's competitor Y is sponsoring the NBA and is on the jerseys it could get shifty.

 

Absolutely hate this but surprised it's been avoided this long.

 

talk about a trashy move. buncha sellouts.

 

I really hate this idea by the league. But whatever makes them ton of money they'll do it no matter what.

 

All it takes is a viewer boycott. A couple games max should get the point across. Will the jersey you buy be ad free?

 

There is no way a viewer boycott happens because of this. No one is going to care about this within weeks of it happening.

 

I'm not going to boycott the NBA because of an ad on the jersey. I still went to CL while getting hit on by an Asian callgirl on the side of my screen, I think we can all handle a coke symbol or whatever it's going to be on it.

 

I absolutely HATE the idea of ads on jerseys. The league is going to be looking like soccer teams out there. But I'm not surprised, just another way to capitalize to make more money. And people wonder why they moved the NBA logo from the front of the jersey to the back. It's definitely not for "style."

 

im not rockin a Time Warner Lakers jersey

 

Hahaha

 

Nah it won't happen but it would work.

 

Ads on jerseys, fan of this I am not.

 

i really dont mind it at all, but im numb to it after watching soccer my whole life. there will be good and bad implementations of it, just like there are already good and bad designs; hopefully the lakers looks somewhat tasteful

 

It's gonna suck to look at, but we all knew it was coming. Certainly won't stop me from watching though.