The NBA recently made a decision to reject TNT Sport’s proposal to continue as one of the league’s broadcast partners beyond the upcoming season, opting instead to enter into an 11-year agreement with other partners starting in the 2025-26 season and running through 2035-36. This move came after Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), TNT’s parent company, stated that it had matched an offer made by Amazon in the latest round of TV rights negotiations.
Despite WBD matching Amazon’s bid of $1.8 billion per year for an 11-year deal, the NBA ultimately decided to move forward with Amazon as its broadcast partner, citing that WBD’s proposal did not align with the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer. The new agreement will see games broadcasted on Amazon, Disney (ABC and ESPN), and Comcast (NBC).
TNT, a longtime partner of the NBA since 1989, will not be part of the new TV rights deal. The league expressed gratitude towards Turner Sports for their coverage of the NBA and the popular “Inside the NBA” show. There is a possibility that WBD may pursue legal action in response to the NBA’s decision.
As part of the new agreements, there will be an increase in the number of regular-season games broadcasted on TV, with around 75 games being shown each season. Additionally, all national games will be available for streaming on Prime Video, Peacock, and ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer service, enhancing the accessibility of NBA games for fans.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the importance of maximizing the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans both in the United States and around the world through the new media partnerships with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon. These partnerships aim to provide fans with a wide range of platforms to enjoy NBA content and enhance the overall fan experience in the coming years.
Reports indicate that ESPN will pay $2.6 billion annually for the rights to broadcast the NBA Finals and other games, Comcast will pay the same amount for regular season and playoff games, and Amazon will pay $1.8 billion for a package that includes certain playoff games, such as conference finals series. This shift in TV rights partnerships marks a significant change in how NBA games will be broadcasted and made available to fans moving forward.
