The Harlem Globetrotters are partnering with “Hell’s Kitchen” producer A. Smith & Co., signing a deal with the company to develop television properties linked to the 81-year-old basketball franchise’s brand.
While a reality show is an obvious possibility, pact covers a wide range of programming, including scripted, documentary, live events and animation.
The TV deal is one of the first major moves by Kurt Schneider, the former Fox Sports Net and WWE executive who was named CEO of the Globetrotters in May. It also comes three years after the team was bought by the Shamrock Group, the investment entity founded by Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold.
“Our goal is to evolve the Globetrotters into a dynamic, unique experiential entertainment property,” Schneider said, adding that he believes A. Smith & Co. has the ability to make that happen “on a global basis.”
The Globetrotters plan to embark on a 2008 world tour under the banner “Magic as Ever.” The team has notched more than 22,000 wins over its eight-decade history.
