NBA2k should go after NBC license

[Yallasama]

So NBA is finalizing a deal with ESPN, NBC & Amazon and TNT will lose their rights. Since NBA Live had full on ESPN presentation, I wonder if 2k could go after NBC licensing since it has the superior theme song and used to have the best presentation, colorful scoreboards and all. Would be great if 2k could secure that once it's up and running (2k26 earliest possibility).

[wrestlinggod1]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

I’m glad someone made a thread about this. I really wonder how TNT losing their NBA license will impact 2. We basically have the TNT presentation without the brand. The commentators, sideline reporters, I wonder if 2K will keep everyone or have to start fresh with NBC, considering Live has ESPN. Can’t wait to see!

[zello144]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

I like the presentation how it is currently. No affiliation to TNT or ESPN. It gives 2K a lot of flexibility and they can get people from both networks whenever they want. They need to continue to keep it neutral but going forward add some elements of NBC in it.

[Real2KInsider]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

1. NBC doesn't have the license yet, and TNT hasn't lost it yet.

2. NBC doesn't even have presentation besides a 90s jingle. Like what are we talking about here? Marv Albert retired. Bob Costas is 72. We know next to nothing about how they'd cover basketball games in the year 2025.

3. ESPN branding has done absolutely nothing for EA.

4. 2K have no reason to promote a brand other than themselves. They can have the TNT crew (which they will get to keep since they are all individually contracted), while also having ESPN personalities like Doris Burke. They can pass on someone like a Reggie Miller rather than being stuck with them due to a licensing agreement.

[vetmin]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

2. NBC doesn't even have presentation besides a 90s jingle. Like what are we talking about here? Marv Albert retired. Bob Costas is 72. We know next to nothing about how they'd cover basketball games in the year 2025.

I took OP to mean that 2K should take the opportunity of the impending NBA/NBC partnership to establish a 2K/NBC relationship as well (starting in 2K26, 2K27, or whenever is realistic), in order to have whatever the future TV presentation will be (once it’s established) and/or permission to recreate retro NBA on NBC presentation as well for a more realistic Eras experience.

That said…

4. 2K have no reason to promote a brand other than themselves. They can have the TNT crew (which they will get to keep since they are all individually contracted), while also having ESPN personalities like Doris Burke. They can pass on someone like a Reggie Miller rather than being stuck with them due to a licensing agreement.

…yeah, this. 2K does not seem to even have any sort of formal partnership with TNT, so I wouldn’t have much hope that they’d establish one with NBC. As you point out, it’s clear that the TV personality likeness rights are independent of any network, given the mix of network personalities already in the game, like Doris and others like DA who have stayed in the game despite leaving TNT. I’m guessing that the preponderance of TNT personalities in 2K may just be because 2K has had an easier time dealing with network exclusivity stuff when it comes to TNT as opposed to ESPN, but I’m just speculating there. In any case I would be surprised if the core personalities in the game change any time soon; Kevin Harlan, DA, Ernie + Shaq + Kenny, etc. have all built up such an extensive library of commentary that it would be a gigantic hassle to pivot to an entirely new crew.

EDIT: Sidenote, but if NBC chooses to revive Roundball Rock, I wonder how long it will stick around in 2K, given that 2K apparently worked directly with John Tesh on licensing it. 2K may have struck that deal at just the right time; hopefully it’s not just for a very limited time period.

[MiracleMet718]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

I don’t think 2k would lose the theme since John Tesh owns it an licenses it to whoever he wants. FOX Sports has been using it since 2018 and it still ended up in 2k anyway. As long as they pay him, I’m sure he’ll license it out again since it’s just a menu track and not used for intros or anything.

[jd@os]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

So NBA is finalizing a deal with ESPN, NBC & Amazon and TNT will lose their rights. Since NBA Live had full on ESPN presentation, I wonder if 2k could go after NBC licensing since it has the superior theme song and used to have the best presentation, colorful scoreboards and all. Would be great if 2k could secure that once it's up and running (2k26 earliest possibility).

I think when people are critical of NBC's presentation*, their assumption leads them to the NBA on NBC presentation that ran from 1990 to the early 2000s. But NBC Sports has regional presentation packages (Bay Area, Chicago, etc) that could give us an idea of how it could look in a video game (reminds me of NCAA Football 13 or 14 with it's usage of blocks). MLB The Show uses regional packages (like them or not, they're in the game).

But getting back to the NBA on NBC presentation (and not just the NBC Sports presentation which is a thing)....although known for Roundball Rock, it did have other elements that led to its presentation:

--the epic voice over before the game, showing players in slo-mo action and making it seem as if everything was on-the-line in a February matchup (NBA on CBS did this well for the playoffs); that's the NBA on NBC's presentation, while 2K's "version" is the music video before some games

--head-shots of players before tipoff to show the starting lineup; for instance, the presentation would show a team's two guards, two forwards, and center, followed by a live shot of the team's coach; that's the NBA on NBC's presentation, while 2K does the latter after player introductions

--a little stat such as a player's personal fouls would be displayed in-game, but a bigger stat such as a season average would prompt a cutaway with the player's head-shot and the averages, with their presentation's "blocky" style

--overlays and swipes; EDIT: you could tell some games in NBA 2K23's Jordan Challenge were "going for" the NBA on NBC's presentation look and they didn't have Roundball Rock

Other presentation packages have these elements, but like NBC, it's the style that makes it theirs.


*For instance, when I am critical of the NBA on NBC's presentation, I cite it not having the scorebug on display at all times.

[MiracleMet718]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

Not having the scorebug on the screen was the norm in the 90s though. That and the bottom line ticker didn’t become a thing until ESPN pushed it in the 2000s. I’d assume NBC will have an on screen scorebug in their new graphics for 2025.

[jd@os]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

Not having the scorebug on the screen was the norm in the 90s though. That and the bottom line ticker didn’t become a thing until ESPN pushed it in the 2000s. I’d assume NBC will have an on screen scorebug in their new graphics for 2025.

Yes--I was saying that when people criticize "NBC presentation", they often criticize the NBA on NBC presentation, maybe worse case not knowing and best case not acknowledging that there are current NBC Sports presentations, ie regional coverage. I offered my own critique which is the scorebug thing. I know it was the norm, and remember it appeared on certain occasions: field goals, missed free throws, etc, and it wasn't my most favorite thing in the world lol.

I hope that makes sense.

[Junior Moe]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

Personally, I’d rather 2K continue as the spiritual successor to TNT. It’s basically TNT now anyway. Just double down on it. I’m sure the NBA on NBC will be good whenever it starts but I’d rather 2K keep the current presentation and flesh it out more.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Real2KInsider]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

the epic voice over before the game, showing players in slo-mo action and making it seem as if everything was on-the-line in a February matchup (NBA on CBS did this well for the playoffs); that's the NBA on NBC's presentation, while 2K's "version" is the music video before some games

Just want to point out that Bob Costas penning a 60-second prelude explaining the dramatic tension of a sporting event is NOT something that can be effectively programed into a video game.

[jd@os]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

I never said that it should be programmed into a video game--I was saying that it was a component of the NBA on NBC's presentation (which was made up of more than just Roundball Rock).

Not Bob Costas, not 60 seconds, but 2K figured out how to program this into a video game:


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[Real2KInsider]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

Not Bob Costas, not 60 seconds, but 2K figured out how to program this into a video game:

For a "Moments", a scripted monologue based on a historical moment is certainly possible.
For your AVERAGE 2K game, it is not (at least not in a way players will find engaging / positive).
Which I assume is what was meant by "2K should get NBC's presentation".

Making this comp is honestly as stupid as comparing the presentation of say, Call of Duty's Campaign against it's Multiplayer.
Your eternal quest to contrarian me for god knows whatever reason continues.

I never said that it should be programmed into a video game--I was saying that it was a component of the NBA on NBC's presentation (which was made up of more than just Roundball Rock).

Ah yes well maybe re-read OP.

it has the superior theme song and used to have the best presentation, colorful scoreboards and all.

By all means, explain the notable differences between a 90s broadcast and what presently exists in game (or current broadcasts).

To me, the number of ways a modern broadcast is superior are nigh-immeasurable. And now that I've said that, it should give you the motivation to find a number of corner-case counter-examples.

[jd@os]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

I did re-read OP, and no where is it suggested that a 60-second prelude should be programmed into a video game. When referencing NBC, the OP mentioned 1) superior theme song, 2) having the best presentation, and 3) colorful scoreboards; I went on to touch on those aspects. The epic voice over was mentioned by me, not the OP, and again I never suggested it be programmed into a video game.

I don't have an eternal quest to "contrarian" you--you quoted and responded to me. I quoted and responded to the OP listing memorable things I remember about the NBA on NBC's presentation. If you feel as if that list shows how NBC's presentation was more than just a theme song, there's nothing I can do about that. If you feel as if that video I embedded shows how a person penning a prelude explaining the dramatic tension of a sporting event is indeed something that can effectively be programmed into a video game, there's nothing I can do about that. And note that I don't think your original stance that that can't be done is "as stupid as" whatever, because I'm not going to insult you or your take as being stupid (even though the video does disprove your original stance).

I know you see OS as "the streets" and not "welcoming" as you said before, but I see it differently. I see it as a place to discuss, inform, and share, and that's all I was doing my friend. And as I've said before, it's all good.

Thumbs up.

[vetmin]

Re: NBA2k should go after NBC license

Just want to point out that Bob Costas penning a 60-second prelude explaining the dramatic tension of a sporting event is NOT something that can be effectively programed into a video game.

For a "Moments", a scripted monologue based on a historical moment is certainly possible.
For your AVERAGE 2K game, it is not (at least not in a way players will find engaging / positive).

I disagree. Obviously it wouldn't be possible to achieve the full gravitas and situational appropriateness of an actual real-life intro like those old Bob Costas ones, but it would not be anything special to replicate it to the same degree that real-life in-game commentary is already replicated. In other words, we already accept that the in-game commentary is, say, only 60% as engaging as what we actually experience on TV, and a 60%-as-good dramatic intro is every bit as doable as that.

Technically there is nothing special to it; it's just the usual process of recording various canned expressions for different situations, then triggering them with conditional logic based on the teams involved and variables associated with them. I could write a little program myself to generate such monologues with canned snippets of text, which is technically no different than doing it with audio (i.e., instead of 'print "blahblah" if X=Y' the audio equivalent would be 'play blahblah.WAV if X=Y').

That said, there's no particular reason why 2K would go through the trouble of doing this, so they probably won't, but sometimes they randomly decide to add things that have seemingly little-to-no direct payoff, so who knows. My point is just that there's nothing technically special about implementing something like this in the game; it would just be one more commentary segment (on top of the halftime show and in-game commentary).