ABA kinda sorta gets a TV deal

[Sam Hill]

In America this time...

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3106045&l_id=64&t_id=

The game schedule on something called "America One Sports":

Day Date Time ET Teams
Sat. 12/04 7:30 PM Kentucky @ Nashville
Fri. 12/10 8:00 PM Boston @ Nashville
Sat. 12/18 7:30 PM Motown @ Kansas City
Tue. 12/28 7:30 PM Texas @ Arkansas
Tue. 01/04 6:30 PM Atlanta @ Carolina
Sat. 01/08 9:30 PM Ontario @ Las Vegas
Sat. 01/15 7:30 PM Carolina @ Nashville
Sat. 01/22 7:30 PM Kentucky @ Texas
Sat. 01/29 9:30 PM Long Beach @ Las Vegas
Fri. 02/04 8:00 PM Hermosillio @ Kansas City
Sat. 02/12 6:30 PM All Star Legends Game / Slam Dunk Competition
Sat. 02/19 7:30 PM Jacksonville @ Nashville
Sat. 02/26 6:30 PM Atlanta @ Carolina
Sat. 03/05 7:30 PM Chicago @ Kansas City
Sat. 03/12 6:30 PM Regional TBA

The format sheet (http://www.americaonesports.com/shows/aba/ABA.htm) shows 12 minutes of network advertising time (I'm going to guess this is what America One will sell and keep, so that's no more than 24 total avails), 14 minutes of "supplier" (ABA) advertising time which the ABA will sell and keep, and 12 minutes of "affiliate" advertising time (which the local station sells and keeps).

I don't know the sharing arrangement, but it may divide up that easily. Considering it costs, easily, $15-$20,000 to produce the game telecast itself, and I doubt America One or the affiliates are footing the bill for that, the ABA has to make back at least $15,000 with 28 avails, or basically $535.000 a spot. I don't know if they can command that.

Supposedly this is the coverage map, but it doesn't list actual stations that will carry the games (you have to "check your local listings" - okay).

http://www.americaonesports.com/watchus/images/map.jpg

If anyone finds a game in their local listings and actually watches it, let us know how it looks.

[Sam Hill]

So was there a game broadcast Saturday night? Anybody see it?

Houston, were you at the game, was there a broadcast?

[Houston Caldwell]

Thank you for asking,Sam.
I was at the game (attendance 1000-1200) and there WAS a TV crew there. I have no idea WHERE it was televised, but it was televised.

[Sam Hill]

The ABA says "millions" enjoyed their first TV game (http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2004120906001).

That's gotta be an out-and-out, bold-faced lie. No way on God's green earth did "millions" of people tune in to a network nobody even knows if they get (even this outfit's website can't tell you who their affiliates are) to watch the ABA.

I guess, like most things, they figure you'll just take them at their word (like when he said of Jacksonville "This organization and team will be outstanding.") and not question it.

The WWE gets millions of viewers. Ain't no way a league that can't get 200 people to come to a game gets millions of people to watch a TV game when they have no idea where it's on TV and you have to tell them to "check your local listings."

[Houston Caldwell]

I'm hoping to find a way to purchase tapes of the telecasts; noticed 4 of them are Rhythm home games. I hope this is successful, because I have no clue where to catch it on the tube.

[TEN]

Our city has an affiliate of this network..It is a low power local station, with a range of about 5 miles which is on our local cable package (it is still very grainy and not worth watching).

They run a lot of black and white old movies and infomercials. They had some CFL games this fall. I haven't had a chance to see if any ABA games have been televised. Hopefully I'll think about it when they are scheduled to be on. I guarantee you, no more than 10 people probably watch this station at any one given time...on the high end.

I'll let you know.