In a bid to bring back the iconic “Roundball Rock” theme song to the National Basketball Association (NBA) games, NBCUniversal has made an offer that averages $2.5 billion per year to acquire NBA rights. The bid comes after NBC lost the rights to Disney 22 years ago and now seeks to once again be part of the NBA broadcasting network. The NBA is looking for three media partners this time around, with Disney and Amazon close to sealing deals for two of the packages. The third package may go to either Warner Bros. Discovery or NBCUniversal.
NBCUniversal’s offer more than doubles the $1.2 billion that Warner Bros. Discovery currently pays for NBA rights. This significant increase in price may pose challenges for Warner Bros. Discovery, given its smaller market capitalization compared to Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal. Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO, David Zaslav, has been focusing on financial discipline and reducing debt, which may impact their decision to bid for the NBA rights.
“NBA on NBC” and the iconic “Roundball Rock” theme song are deeply nostalgic for NBA fans. Associated with an era of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ dominance, the theme song holds a special place in the hearts of fans. The song’s popularity has been recognized by outlets such as USA Today, which ranked it as the greatest sports TV theme. Despite not being used since 2002, the song continues to resonate with fans.
Composer John Tesh owns the rights to “Roundball Rock” and is open to licensing the song to NBC Sports if they secure the NBA rights. This arrangement would allow NBC Sports to once again use the iconic theme song in their broadcasts. While Fox Sports acquired the rights for college basketball, the association of the song with NBA games remains strong among fans.
If NBCUniversal wins the NBA rights, “Roundball Rock” could make a triumphant return to the NBA broadcasts starting from the 2025-26 season. The enduring popularity of the song, with Tesh noting its presence in concerts and online videos, showcases the lasting impact of this iconic theme song. For fans eagerly awaiting the return of “Roundball Rock,” the possibility of hearing it once again during NBA games is an exciting prospect.
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