NEWS: TNT Sports will carry College Football Playoff games over the next five years in a sublicense agreement with ESPN.

Details ...

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Two years ago, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav dunked on the NBA saying, “We don’t have to have the NBA.”

We’re about to find out if that’s true.

Andrew Marchand explains, from the archives:

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If WBD Sports loses NBA, I expect them to use the billions to make moves and retain their programming.

It's a big morning for sloppy aggregation.

The number for the ESPN deal with the NBA is still $2.6B per, according to sources.

Amazon has a framework agreement for a package, while NBC is moving toward a deal. WBD Sports has matching rights, which could lead to a fight. Column from 2 weeks ago

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.FOX Sports proudly congratulates FOX Sports: NFL analyst Greg Olsen, recipient of the #SportsEmmys Award for Outstanding Personality – Event Analyst! 🏈🏆

COLUMN: After puzzling decision to let go of Jeff Van Gundy, ESPN’s NBA broadcasts are worse off nytimes.com/athletic/55078…

Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson called 15 NBA Finals, which allowed them to develop a comfort level with one another and the audience.

And in the first year without the latter two, the difference is painfully obvious, writes Andrew Marchand.

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NEW COLUMN: Mike Breen is still going for 30, but is shooting too much post-JVG/MJax and new trio is not Finals ready yet

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Lakers have begun meetings to discuss head coaching job, interviewing JJ Redick, New Orleans’ James Borrego and Boston’s Sam Cassell, sources tell me and Jovan Buha. More interviews to come as part of thorough search.

The latest at The Athletic: nytimes.com/athletic/55091…

NEW COLUMN: One year after Jeff Van Gundy’s firing, ESPN's top broadcast doesn't sound like it should make it out of the second round.

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It's been one year since ESPN jettisoned Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson in favor of a re-imagined booth to call the NBA's biggest games alongside Mike Breen.

Twelve months later, the broadcasts are worse.

✍️ Andrew Marchand

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NEW COLUMN: Mike Breen is still going for 30, but is shooting too much post-JVG/MJax and new trio is not Finals ready yet

nytimes.com/athletic/55078…

Post-John Sterling Comp update:

In June, Brendan Burke & Rickie Ricardo will each call two Yankee series on WFAN.

Ricardo will do the Twins & Dodgers series (6/4-6/9), while Burke will call the Orioles & Braves (6/18-6/23)

I'll have a sports media column for you in the morning.

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Last year, for SNF on WNBC season opener, the Giants-Cowboys local NY number was 1.591 million, while for the Fox game in Nov., it was 1.456M.

“The Pacers aren’t exciting, I get it… but you still have to cover the game. You gotta be fair.”

Dan Patrick Show sounds off on ESPN’s coverage of Knicks-Pacers Game 7.

New York was very into the Knicks. Just in the NY demo, 1.1 million total viewers watched Game 7 on WABC-7, according to Nielsen.

The whole 7-game series with the Pacers was up 24 percent (897,000-723,000) compared to last year's Knicks-Heat second-rounder that went six games.