Willkommen » the London club. "Its a good point

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The NBA and its television partners couldnt wait to extend their contracts.The league renewed its deals with ESPN and TNT even though two seasons remain on the old ones. With potential competition from Fox looming, both networks were willing to pay generously to secure the rights long term.The NBAs annual revenue from the agreements will increase from $930 million to more than $2.6 billion, according to a person familiar with the terms. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the league did not announce financial figures.We ultimately made a decision that this was the right time to go, Commissioner Adam Silver said at a news conference Monday. These are extraordinarily healthy deals financially.The contracts will run an additional nine years through the 2024-25 season. The previous eight-year agreements end after 2015-16.We believe at the end of the deal it will feel inexpensive, ESPN President John Skipper said. Its hard to imagine.What was painful to imagine for both companies was life without the NBA.Each year the playoffs help TNT win nights of television during all-important May sweeps, said David Levy, president of Turner Broadcasting System.The basics wont change: The NBA Finals remain on ABC, ESPNs broadcast partner. ESPN/ABC and TNT will continue to split the conference finals.Broadcasting rights fees have been skyrocketing across all sports as live events become increasingly valuable to advertisers. Few viewers will DVR an NBA game, which means they cant fast-forward through the commercials.Theres never been a better time to be an owner of an NBA franchise a€” or, frankly, any professional sports team, said Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, chairman of the leagues media committee.Players may remember that comment when they negotiate the next collective bargaining agreement with owners, which could happen in 2017. Owners insisted they needed a new financial structure during the 2011 talks and emerged with a deal that slashed the players guarantee of basketball revenues.The whole thing that went on with the last negotiation process was the owners were telling us they were losing money. Theres no way they can sit in front of us and tell us that right now, Clevelands LeBron James said. After we continue to see teams selling for billions of dollars, being purchased for $200 million, signing for $550, $750 and $2 billion and now (Mikhail) Prokhorov is possibly selling his majority stake in the Nets for over $1 billion. That will not fly with us this time.The league has relationships with both Fox and Comcast, NBCs parent company, which locally televise teams games on their regional sports networks. If the national contract had gone to the open market, NBC also could have pursued a return to NBA coverage to boost its 24-hour sports cable channel, NBCSN.Silver said the league took into consideration the potential interest of tech companies such as Google and Apple that could eventually bid on sports rights and change the model for how fans watch games.But for the next decade and beyond, the NBA is sticking with what works.I dont think we left any money on the table, Silver said. Were confident that we maximized what our opportunity was in the marketplace.For ESPN, the value of the deal goes beyond games, though there are more of those, too: ESPN and ABC are adding 10 regular-season matchups, bringing their total to 100.The network also gets expanded rights to air highlights and will significantly expand its NBA studio shows. The goal is to make basketball a year-round topic of conversation as the NFL has become on ESPN.To that end, the agreement adds the NBAs Summer League and its developmental league. The network also extends its WNBA contract through 2025 and increases its offerings for ESPN International.And then there are the plans for a new service for mobile devices that ESPN will run, with the NBA receiving equity interest. Details on that have yet to be determined.ESPN now owns rights to the NBA, NFL, Major League Baseball, college football playoffs and four of the five power conferences through at least 2021. Only the Big Ten contract ends soon among the networks biggest sports properties.It will be at least another decade before Fox can try to put a substantial dent in ESPNs head start.TNT, meanwhile, cant offer its own 24-hour sports channel to the NBA. But it has deep business ties to the league through managing its digital properties, which includes NBA TV and NBA.com.The new deal includes expanded digital rights for Bleacher Report, the sports website acquired by Turner, TNTs parent company. TNT will televise an additional 12 games with playoff implications over the second half of the season on nights other than its traditional Thursday, bringing its total to 64.TNT will also air a new post-season awards show.When the NBA negotiated its last CBA, the union secured the ability for either side to opt out in 2017 so players could gauge the effects of the next television deals on revenue. One reason James signed for only two years with the Cavaliers was an expectation that the salary cap would rise significantly with more TV money pouring in, increasing maximum salaries.Silver said he would start discussions with National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts about the transition to a much larger cap.In a statement, Roberts called the new contracts good news for all of the stakeholders in the business of the NBA.Our job will be to ensure that the players receive their fair share of the results of their efforts, she added, and that we do everything possible to maintain the growth and popularity of the game.___AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Independence, Ohio contributed to this report. Will Grier Jersey . Lynn was tied for 16th entering the fourth round, six shots behind leader Paul Waring. He started with two birdies and added three more on his last five holes at the Oceanico Victoria course for an 18-under total of 266. Jordan Scarlett Jersey . Sijsling, ranked 74th in the world, was leading 6-0, 4-1 when his Italian opponent called it quits after just 39 minutes on court. In a match pitting together two qualifiers, Michal Przysiezny of Poland defeated local favourite Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) for only his second Tour win of the season. http://www.cheapcarolinapanthersjerseysauthentic.com/. Liriano pitched in and out of trouble in his duel with Josh Beckett, and Ike Davis homered to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 Friday night. Cam Newton Jersey . -- Washingtons Bradley Beal seemed to make every shot he took in setting a career high with 37 points. Cheap Carolina Panthers Jerseys .com) - DAngelo Harrison posted 21 points to guide No.LONDON -- Arsenal prevented Manchester City from going top while keeping up its own pursuit of the title with a spirited fightback to draw 1-1 in the Premier League on Saturday. Mathieu Flaminis second-half equalizer for Arsenal ensured Chelsea remains at the summit despite a shock 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace before the clash of the title challengers at the Emirates Stadium. With Arsenal still reeling from a demoralizing 6-0 loss at Chelsea and a late collapse to draw with Swansea in midweek, another setback beckoned when David Silva completed a counter-attack to put third-place City in front in the 18th minute. But conceding early made Arsenal more assertive and Flamini turned Lukas Podolskis cross into the net to level eight minutes into the second half. "We were a bit nervy at the start, insecure in our attitude by our last two results but when we were 1-0 down you could see the team was ready for a fight," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "We have gone through a nightmare last week and of course you could see with the 2-2 against Swansea the team was on the floor and hugely disappointed, but despite that we responded very well today." Nerves, though, seem to inflict this Arsenal squad too regularly, leaving the squad fourth but now five points behind Chelsea. "Maybe it is very difficult to explain mental insecurity," Wenger said. But it could determine which team emerges victorious in May. Although City is two points behind Chelsea in third behind Liverpool, it has two games in hand on the London club. "Its a good point because we played two games away this week against Manchester United and against Arsenal and to get four points from six against two big teaams is not bad," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said.dddddddddddd This was a result that will have restored morale at Arsenal just when it seemed the teams title prospects were evaporating after the defence was breached early on the break by Citys impressive attacking unit. Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski conceded possession all too easily in the City half, allowing Yaya Toure to set Silva off on a rampaging run from the halfway line. The Spain midfielder bamboozled Arsenals defence as he cut in from the right and released Edin Dzeko. Although Dzeko hit the post, Silva was well place to clip the rebound beyond Wojciech Szczesny from close range. But there would be no capitulation by Arsenal this weekend. If anything, Arsenal displayed more fighting spirit and control in midfield while searching for the equalizer. It didnt take Arsenal long after the break to end Citys five-game run without conceding in the league. Santi Cazorla signalled Arsenals intent by testing Joe Hart before Flamini knocked the ball past the City goalkeeper from close range. "We saw in the first half there was the opportunity to create some goals so we came out in the second half and tried our best," Flamini said. "We had the chance to score a goal and we tried to score another for the victory, but we missed the opportunity." Harts agility prevented Arsenal from claiming all three points, using his legs to block Podolski, while Cazorla saw a free kick headed wide by Olivier Giroud to leave Arsenal with just two points from three games. But, even for a side without a league title in a decade, its far too soon to write off Arsenal when the top four all remain in contention for the trophy. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '