The NBA made headlines this week when it announced that it had rejected TNT Sports’ proposal to remain one of the league’s broadcast partners past next season. Instead, the league revealed an 11-year agreement with other partners from 2025-26 through the 2035-36 season.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), TNT’s parent company, had reportedly matched one of the offers from the latest round of NBA television rights negotiations. However, the league ultimately decided to move forward with a long-term agreement with Amazon, which had reportedly offered a deal estimated to be 11 years for $1.8 billion per year.
WBD is currently paying $1.4 billion per season on a nine-year deal that expires after the 2024-25 season. The league stated that WBD’s most recent proposal didn’t match the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer, leading to the decision to go with Amazon as a broadcast partner.
The NBA’s Board of Governors approved a new set of rights fees totaling $76 billion over 11 years with Amazon, Disney (which owns ABC and ESPN), and Comcast (which owns NBC). This new agreement is set to maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans, with games being available on a variety of platforms including broadcast TV, streaming services like Prime Video and Peacock, and ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer service.
The league expressed gratitude to Turner Sports for its long-standing coverage of the NBA and stated that they look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT. WBD could potentially counter with legal action in response to the decision.
Overall, the NBA’s new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon are aimed at transforming the fan experience over the next decade. With increased access to games through various platforms, fans can look forward to an exciting new era of NBA broadcasting.
In conclusion, the NBA’s decision to move forward with new broadcast partners signals a shift in the league’s media landscape. As the world of sports broadcasting continues to evolve, fans can expect to have more options for watching their favorite teams and players in action.
