The addition of Adrian Wojnarowski isn’t linked to Fox Sports 1’s pursuit of part of the NBA TV package. The network still will be talking NBA even if it gets shut out of the deal.
Perhaps, though, having Wojnarowski on board shows Fox Sports 1 is hopeful it will be airing NBA games one day soon. With virtually every other major pro and college rights deal locked up into the 20s, it is essential for FS1 to add pro hoops to its relatively thin inventory of live sporting events–at least compared to ESPN.
ESPN, TNT, and perhaps even NBCSN, will have plenty to say on how the deals shake out. The robust competition should make Adam Silver very happy.
Meanwhile, congratulations to Wojnarowski. Yet another example on the value of inside information in the new media landscape.
From FS1:
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FOX Sports announced the addition of the industry’s preeminent NBA insider, welcoming Adrian Wojnarowski to the FOX Sports 1 on-air lineup. The announcement was made today by Michael Hughes, Executive Producer, FOX Sports Live.
Wojnarowski (war-ja-NOW-skee) contributes immediately on Fox Sports 1’s flagship nightly highlight, news and opinion program FOX SPORTS LIVE, and also makes regular appearances on AMERICA’S PREGAME. He is slated to make his debut appearance on FOX SPORTS LIVE, Thursday, May 22 (show airs at 11:00 p.m. ET).
“We think it is awesome that Adrian is joining FOX Sports 1,” Hughes said. “He is one of the most credible and well-respected reporters covering the NBA, and we feel like adding someone with his contacts, experience and insight will be a definite plus for the audiences of our signature news shows.”
As the NBA columnist for Yahoo Sports since 2007, Wojnarowski has established himself as the landscape’s No. 1 NBA insider. His news breaks, insider information and award-winning columns will continue to appear on the Yahoo web platform.
Prior to his current tenure at Yahoo!, Wojnarowski spent 1997-2007 as a newspaper columnist for The Record in northern New Jersey. In 2006, his book, The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball’s Most Improbable Dynasty, earned critical acclaim and landed on the New York Times’ best-seller list.
Wojnarowski is a 1991 graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a B.A. in mass communication, and a native of Bristol, Conn.