ABC first signed a deal with the National Basketball Association to become the league's primary television partner in 1964; the network's first game telecast aired on January 3, 1965 (a game between the Boston Celtics and Cincinnati Royals). ABC's initial alliance with the NBA first came about due to ABC Sports head Roone Arledge's search for live programming that could diminish the ratings of "CBS Sports Spectacular", and ABC's own analogy program, "Wide World of Sports" a boost with sponsors. ABC initially paid the NBA only $650,000 for the rights annually.