NBA: League to expand use of instant replay, will allow jersey ads in the future

The NBA's Board of Governors has allowed the expanded use of instant replay in games and will permit advertising on players' jerseys in the near future, reports NBA on CBS' Ken Berger. The meeting, conducted Thursday (Friday, PHL time) in Las Vegas, ruled that instant replay can now be used in any situation involving a flagrant foul, with referees being allowed to check the video before determining the degree of the foul.

Instant replay will be used now on all flagrant foul calls, Stern says. Referees will be able to look at replay before determining degree.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 20, 2012

Previously, only flagrant foul-2's could be reviewed.

During last two minutes of regulation or overtime, replay will be used to review restricted area calls and goaltending callls, Stern said.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 20, 2012

In addition, referees will also be allowed to consult replay during the last two minutes of regulation or overtime to check goaltending calls, as well as whether a player was or was not inside the restricted area on fouls. Fans should also expect to start seeing jersey ads come the 2013-14 season, said assistant commissioner Adam Silver.

The current idea, which Silver said needs more discussion, is to have a 2-by-2 advertisement patch on the shoulder of jerseys.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 20, 2012

Silver says guidelines on jersey ads would be in effect for next season, but the ads wouldn't appear on jerseys until the following season.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 20, 2012

Silver says it's very difficult to project, but believes teams could generate $100 million per year through jersey ads.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 20, 2012

For now, such ads will be restricted to a 2x2 patch on the shoulder of jerseys, a move which Silver believes could still generate up to $100 million per year for teams.

Flopping and away-from-the-ball fouls were discussed and referred to the competition committee for more discussion at the September meeting.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 20, 2012

One topic that did not get immediate resolution however, is the tricky issue of judging and penalizing "flops." While the matter was discussed, it is expected to be tackled in more detail during a September meeting of the league's competition committee.

Stern: "We had a very happy group of owners in that room." Best year ever in gate and sponsorship projected for next season.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 20, 2012

Stern says revenue sharing system is expected to make 25 of 30 teams profitable.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 20, 2012

Commissioner David Stern also expressed his pleasure at the results of the new collective bargaining agreement the league agreed to late last year, saying that the revamped revenue sharing system was expected to make 25 out of 30 teams profitable. - AMD, GMA News