NBA Evolution

In nineteen eighty four, the NBA sold its television rights for twenty eight million a year. Half the league was losing money. David Stern walked into the commissioner's office inheriting a hundred million dollars in total annual revenue. His first move was creating NBA Properties, a centralised licensing arm controlling every logo, team name, and piece of merchandise sold worldwide. Before Stern, teams cut their own deals. After Stern, every dollar flowed through headquarters. One league, one brand, one licensing machine. Then he renegotiated broadcast rights from twenty eight million a year to nine hundred and thirty million by two thousand seven. Networks were no longer buying game footage.