The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians and Communications Workers of America will have jurisdiction over most ESPN sports presentations when they are broadcast over the ABC Television Network under terms of a deal announced Thursday.
The union said ESPN has become a frequent purchaser of time on ABC, and many ESPN-produced events -- such as the National Basketball Association, the Women’s NBA, college basketball, horse racing and auto racing -- are aired on the network as time-buys.
The pact also covers pregame and postgame shows.
Prior to Thursday’s agreement, these broadcasts were produced without the assignment of NABET-CWA-represented technical crews.
"We believe this is a significant agreement that should bring a significant amount of work for our members at ABC," NABET-CWA president John S. Clark said in a prepared statement.
