Michael Jordan #23 and Scottie Pippen #33
Nathaniel S. Butler
In the pantheon of TV sports theme songs, John Tesh’s anthem “Roundball Rock,” which accompanied National Basketball Association games on NBC until 2002, is arguably the best.
If NBCUniversal wins the rights to broadcast the NBA again, there will be a chance to revive the iconic song, the composer told CNBC in an email.
Comcast-owned NBCUniversal has offered an average of $2.5 billion a year to regain NBA rights after losing them to Disney 22 years ago, according to people familiar with the matter. That’s what it means. The Wall Street Journal first reported details of NBC’s bid.
The NBA is seeking three media partners this time around, and is close to deals with both Disney and Amazon for two of the packages. The third deal is likely to go to Warner Bros. Discovery or NBCUniversal, but not both, said the people, who requested anonymity because the talks are private.
Warner Bros. Discovery continues to negotiate with the league to retain the rights. Still, NBCUniversal’s offer is more than double the $1.2 billion Warner Bros. Discovery is currently paying. That may be too high for Warner Bros. Discovery, whose $18 billion market cap dwarfs Comcast’s $150 billion.
Since taking over the company, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has delivered a message of financial discipline, including layoffs and reduced spending on content to reduce debt and increase free cash flow. I’ve been preaching. Although he has stated that he is not interested in the “rental business,” as is the nature of sports rights licensing. He also expressed optimism about retaining his NBA rights.
Spokespeople for Warner Bros. Discovery, NBC and the NBA declined to comment.
Nostalgic NBA fans associate “Roundball Rock” with “NBA on NBC.” An era defined by Michael Jordan, the dominance of the Chicago Bulls, and the voices of Bob Costas and Marv Albert. USA Today ranked it #1 on its list of 25 Great Sports TV Themes in 2017. The Ringer published an oral history article about its origins, NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” did a whole sketch about it.
This song marks the start of an NBA game for the first time since 2002, when NBC aired the last league game. Fox Sports acquired the rights to the theme for use during the 2018-19 college basketball season, but generations of fans still associate the song with NBC.
If NBC Sports wins the rights, it will be able to license “Roundball Rock” again for free from the song’s owner, Tesch, the composer said in an email.
Television personality Jon Tesh visits Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California on March 6, 2020.
Paul Archuleta | Getty Images
The deal between Fox and “Roundball Rock” does not prevent media companies from using the song at NBA games, Tesch said.
Tesch said media companies typically buy the rights to the song in three-year increments. Tesch said he also receives royalties based on views, although he declined to say how much he is paid because the contract includes a non-disclosure agreement. The Ringer reported in 2020 that Tesch’s jingle was aired an estimated 12,000 times on NBA on NBC from 1990 to 2002.
“It’s funny how people fight over this song,” Tesch said. “Back in 1990, it was just another theme. Now the internet is full of people playing it on ukuleles and Casios and teaching it on guitar. We still do. We play this song at every concert and show YouTube videos of these people.”
If the NBA returns to air on NBC, it would begin in the 2025-26 season. Please 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: Fight for the NBA: NBC vs. Warner Bros. Discovery
