Image Source: NBA
[Saba Sports News] NBC is making a strong push to acquire NBA media rights from TNT, raising speculation about the return of the iconic “Roundball Rock” theme song. Composer John Tesh confirmed on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” that NBC has reached out about reviving his famous score. Tesh revealed that an orchestra is set to record an updated version next month and that NBC might use “Roundball Rock” at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
“They have, actually. It’s nothing firm, but they said, ‘Hey, can you stay frosty on this? We’d love to talk to you about it.’ We’re actually talking right now about licensing it to them for the Olympics in Paris,” Tesh said. “At the end of June, we’re heading to Nashville, and we’ve got a full orchestra on hold to re-record it. The recording still sounds great, but I wanted to make a few changes.”
NBA games were broadcast on NBC from 1954-1962 and 1990-2002, during some of the league’s most popular years. Many fans associate NBC’s coverage with the memorable “Roundball Rock” intro.
The NBA’s current media rights deals with ESPN and TNT expire after the 2024-25 season. While it’s not certain NBC will secure a package, the network has reportedly offered a substantial sum to make it happen. Fans would be thrilled to have “Roundball Rock” back, but it might come at a significant cost.