Warner Bros. Discovery Files Lawsuit Against NBA Over Media Rights Dispute
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT, has filed a lawsuit against the NBA in New York Supreme Court after losing media rights to Amazon. The lawsuit comes after the NBA declined WBD’s offer for a new media rights deal and instead signed a lucrative 11-year agreement with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video.
According to documents obtained by ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery alleges that the NBA breached its contract by turning down their matching offer to Amazon’s $1.8 billion per year deal. In a statement released on Friday, TNT Sports expressed their disappointment in the NBA’s decision, stating, “Given the NBA’s unjustified rejection of our matching of a third-party offer, we have taken legal action to enforce our rights. We strongly believe this is not just our contractual right, but also in the best interest of fans who want to keep watching our industry-leading NBA content.”
NBA spokesman Mike Bass responded to the lawsuit, stating that WBD’s claims are without merit and that the league’s lawyers will address them accordingly. The NBA’s new media rights deal, which is set to begin in the 2025-26 season and run through the 2035-36 season, is valued at almost $76 billion and includes broadcasting rights for Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video.
Warner Bros. Discovery had reportedly matched Amazon’s offer of $1.8 billion per year, an increase from the $1.4 billion they are currently paying on a nine-year deal that expires after the 2024-25 season. With the NBA choosing to decline WBD’s offer, it marks the end of a nearly four-decade partnership that began back in the 1984-85 season.
The lawsuit filed by Warner Bros. Discovery highlights the high-stakes competition for media rights in the sports broadcasting industry and the fierce negotiations between networks and leagues. As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how the dispute will impact the future of NBA broadcasting and the viewing experience for fans.
–Field Level Media
