Frank Isola is reporting a rumor that Cablevision/MSG will offer Lebron his own TV network to circumvent the CBA to enable them to sign Lebron. Lebron should jump at the opportunity if the Knicks can get him this deal. Bob Johnson parlayed his BET network into becoming a billionaire and NBA team owner. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks/2009/09/lebron-keeps-singing-the-same.html
Lets pretend for a moment that everything goes according to Isola and the Lebron channel gets launched. What would be on the programming on this channel? The quickest idea is a reality show of Lebron's life, it'd be semi interesting.
ROFL lets circumvent the CBA by offering something like this...and here is the kicker....WE TELL THE MEDIA!! Yeah, thats the ticket....David Stern will never find out that way. omg this is so stupid, it isnt even worth discussing.
I would think that the NBA couldn't do a thing about it as long as his contract complies with the CBA. I don't think it happens not because Stern disallows it but because thats a pretty big financial committment by MSG just to sign a player even as great as someone like Lebron. If they do offer it to him, its a lock that he becomes a Knick imo.
The NBA has plenty of power to punish teams and players for trying to circumvent the salary cap. From the CBA FAQ: http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q22
I wouldnt mind the quality programming that LebronTV would have to offer. We will have full fledge episodes of "The Lebrons" and "MVP pupets: staring lebron". *drools*
If Lebron is required to make a sizable investment of say $10M to acquire the channel then it would be a business investment by Lebron. Nothing in the CBA prohibits players from making investments. Definitely a creative approach to get him to NY and Cablevision/MSG is in a unique position to make it happen.
He wants to make money. It would be full of love based reality TV, NASCAR, some show with a 15yr old girl starring in it who is a singer or works at a magazine, and maybe a Tyler Perry sitcom.
I've been expecting something like this to eventually become an issue. This particular idea with LeBron seems over the top. I'd like to see Stern publicly address it.
i look forward to dribbling thru all the different programming offerings on lebron's new crable channel
