Overview
- The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a result that played out on the ESPN-produced broadcast on Wednesday night.
- Disney board member Bob Iger, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver were spotted sitting together courtside during the game.
- ABC/ESPN commentators Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson, and Tim Legler acknowledged the group on air and joked that the attendees made up a “murderers’ row of executives,” saying they were not trying to curry favor with their bosses.
- The Finals are produced by ESPN and shown exclusively on ABC, both owned by The Walt Disney Company, which links the executives’ attendance directly to the network carrying the game.
- Game 2 is scheduled for Friday and the visible gathering of executives and celebrities at Game 1 highlights how major sports broadcasts serve as both corporate PR moments and industry networking opportunities.