Recently, the NBA and ESPN/ABC signed a new TV deal which also extends digital rights for the media. The extended TV deal isn’t that impressive but the digital rights package is.

The agreements, financial terms of which were not disclosed, also expand the networks’ rights to distribute the games and highlights on a variety of emerging digital platforms, including cell phones and Web sites.

While I don’t need to be told about this from an ESPN anchor during the NBA Draft Special, I certainly see why they’re plugging this news to their audience.