NBA Rejects Warner Bros. Discovery’s Bid to Continue Airing Games After Next Season
The NBA has made the decision to reject Warner Bros. Discovery’s bid to continue airing games after the current media rights deal expires at the end of next season. The league has stated that it does not believe Warner Bros. Discovery holds the legal matching rights for the new media deal. Instead, the NBA plans to move forward with Amazon as its third partner, alongside ESPN and NBCUniversal, in an 11-year deal worth approximately $77 billion.
Warner Bros. Discovery acquired matching rights as part of its current media rights deal with the NBA, allowing the company to match payment for any games that air on TNT. However, the NBA does not believe these rights extend to an all-streaming package, which Amazon has secured. Although Warner Bros. Discovery owns a streaming service, Max, the company has expressed its intention to simulcast TNT games on Max rather than exclusively airing them on Max.
The NBA has sent a letter to Warner Bros. Discovery, explaining why it cannot match Amazon’s package. The letter cited a provision in the matching rights agreement, stating that the existing media partner can only exercise matching rights through a specific form of combined audio and video distribution. As the specific form of distribution for Amazon is internet-based, Warner Bros. Discovery is unable to exercise its matching rights via television distribution.
In a statement, the NBA emphasized its goal of maximizing the reach and accessibility of games for fans. The league believes that the new arrangement with Amazon, along with the existing Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements, supports this objective. All three partners have committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience. The NBA expressed gratitude to Turner Sports for its coverage and looks forward to another season of the NBA on TNT.
Warner Bros. Discovery has stated that it matched Amazon’s offer and believes it has the contractual right to do so. The company disagrees with the NBA’s rejection of its bid and argues that the league is misinterpreting its contractual rights. Warner Bros. Discovery plans to take appropriate action and is committed to delivering best-in-class coverage through its platforms, including TNT and Max.
The future of “Inside the NBA,” the popular studio show on TNT, is uncertain if the NBA does not strike a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. The league is also seeking a streaming partner with maximum reach, making Amazon Prime Video a more appealing platform due to its larger global customer base.
Warner Bros. Discovery may need to take legal action against the NBA to assert its matching rights. Lawyers from both sides have been reviewing contractual language for several months.
Details of the new NBA rights deal reveal that Disney is paying $2.62 billion per year, while NBCUniversal is paying $2.45 billion. The new deal will begin with the 2025-26 season and run through the 2035-36 season. The NBA plans to create a central portal for games, directing consumers to each national game regardless of whether it is on broadcast, cable TV, or a streaming service. The league aims to increase the number of regular-season games on broadcast TV from 15 to 75 each season. Disney’s ABC and NBCUniversal’s NBC will be the league’s two broadcast partners, with ABC remaining the exclusive home of the NBA Finals.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his excitement about the new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon. He believes these partnerships will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world. Disney will distribute 80 NBA regular-season games per season, while NBCUniversal will air 100 games, including around 50 exclusive to its streaming platform Peacock. WNBA games are also included in all three packages.
In conclusion, the NBA’s decision to reject Warner Bros. Discovery’s bid and move forward with Amazon as its third partner in a multi-billion dollar media rights deal has significant implications for the future of NBA broadcasting. The league’s goal of maximizing the reach and accessibility of games for fans has played a significant role in its decision-making process. The future of “Inside the NBA” and the ongoing legal battle between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA will continue to shape the landscape of NBA coverage in the coming years.
