Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA TV analyst Charles Barkley talks on set before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
TNT Sports may not be out of the NBA broadcast game yet.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), TNT’s parent company, announced Monday it had matched one of the offers from the latest round of NBA television rights negotiations.
Several reports indicated that TNT matched the bid of newcomer Amazon, estimated to be 11 years for $1.8 billion per year.
The NBA received proposals from NBC and Amazon earlier this month. ABC/ESPN, owned by Disney, would retain the “A package,” which includes the NBA Finals. The “B package” would go to NBC and Amazon planned to have the “C package” stream on Prime Video. The NBA Board of Governors approved the deals, worth a combined $76 billion, last week.
Turner, a longtime NBA partner known for the studio show “Inside the NBA,” is now trying to get back in on the action.
“In an effort to continue our long-standing partnership, during both exclusive and non-exclusive negotiation periods, we acted in good faith to present strong bids that were fair to both parties,” TNT Sports said in a statement. “Regrettably, the league notified us of its intention to accept other offers for the games in our current rights package, leaving us to proceed under the matching rights provision, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we have paid for under it.
“We have reviewed the offers and matched one of them. This will allow fans to keep enjoying our unparalleled coverage, including the best live game productions in the industry and our iconic studio shows and talent, while building on our proven 40-year commitment for many more years.
The statement, which the NBA has yet to comment on, finished by leaving the ball in the league’s court.
“Our matching paperwork was submitted to the league today. We look forward to the NBA executing our new contract.”
WBD is currently paying $1.4 billion per season on a nine-year deal that expires after the 2024-25 season.
–Field Level Media
TNT Sports, a major player in NBA broadcasting, has made headlines by matching one of the offers from the latest round of NBA television rights negotiations. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), the parent company of TNT, announced on Monday that they have matched the bid of newcomer Amazon, estimated to be 11 years for $1.8 billion per year.
The NBA had received proposals from NBC and Amazon earlier this month, with ABC/ESPN retaining the rights to the NBA Finals in the “A package.” The “B package” would go to NBC, and Amazon planned to stream the “C package” on Prime Video. The NBA Board of Governors approved the deals, totaling a combined $76 billion, last week.
Turner, known for its iconic studio show “Inside the NBA,” is now looking to continue its long-standing partnership with the NBA. In a statement, TNT Sports expressed their commitment to providing fans with unparalleled coverage, including live game productions and studio shows featuring top talent.
Despite the NBA’s intention to accept other offers for the games in TNT’s current rights package, Turner decided to exercise its matching rights provision to secure a deal. The statement emphasized the company’s 40-year commitment to NBA broadcasting and their dedication to providing top-quality content to viewers.
The ball is now in the NBA’s court as they review the matching paperwork submitted by TNT. Fans can look forward to continued coverage of NBA games on TNT, with the network building on its proven track record in sports broadcasting.
Currently, WBD is paying $1.4 billion per season on a nine-year deal that expires after the 2024-25 season. The future of NBA broadcasting looks promising with Turner’s renewed commitment to providing top-tier coverage of the league’s games.
In conclusion, TNT Sports’ decision to match the offer from Amazon signals their strong desire to remain a key player in NBA broadcasting. Fans can expect to enjoy the network’s signature coverage and studio shows for many more years to come.
