NBA chooses Amazon, rejects WBD-TNT matching offer
Broadcast Rights Deals Will Net League $76 Billion Over 11 years
The NBA schedule maker might want to leave some dates for legal courts in addition to basketball courts after the decision made by Commissioner Adam Silver and his colleagues regarding future NBA Amazon broadcast rights.
In NBA news, the Association decided to pass on Warner Bros. Discovery matching bid for TNT and to go with Amazon on a third package. The other two packages belong to ESPN and NBC after they ponied up billions. NBA Amazon broadcast rights will significantly impact the future of the league’s broadcasting landscape.
NBC went back to the past in trying to promote its future with the NBA.
🗣 TURN IT UP. I LOVE THIS SONG!
The NBA is coming back – Fall 2025 on NBC and Peacock. pic.twitter.com/xz6hOVbpZE
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 24, 2024
The WBD-NBA battle could get ugly after this statement was released:
“Warner Bros. Discovery’s most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon” the league said Wednesday.
“Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans. Our new arrangement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable, and streaming packages that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements. All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience.”
Warner Bros. Discovery believed it had the ability to match the offers by a certain date and thought it did so this week. However, the Amazon offer had a “poison pill” in it and that is the window the NBA must be using to accept its offer.
NBA Signs $76 Billion Deal, Moves to Amazon Prime
“We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do. We do not believe the NBA can reject it. By doing so, they reject the fans who support our best-in-class coverage. This coverage is delivered through WBD’s video-first platforms, including TNT and Max. TNT is home to our four-decade partnership with the league. Max is our leading streaming service. We believe they misinterpreted our contractual rights for the 2025-26 season and beyond. We will take appropriate action. As a company, we look forward to another great season of the NBA on TNT and Max, including Inside the NBA.”
Overall, the three contracts will net the NBA $76 billion over 11 years starting with the 2025-26 season. TNT’s deal continues through this upcoming season meaning there could be a legal battle between the league and one of its broadcast partners.
Silver is enamored with the digital possibilities Amazon offers. However, that is something WBD/TNT can’t offer.
“The digital opportunities with Amazon align perfectly with the global interest in the NBA” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “And Prime Video’s massive subscriber base will dramatically expand our ability to reach our fans in new and innovative ways.”
No TNT Basketball after this season would signal the end of the beloved “Inside The NBA” show on the network. Charles Barkley, one of the key panelists, already has said he will retire after this season.
Amazon Prime Video will carry games on Friday nights, select Saturday afternoons, and Thursday night doubleheaders which will begin after the conclusion of Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” schedule. Moreover, Prime Video will also take over the NBA League Pass package from WBD.
🚨@PrimeVideo secures landmark 11-year global media rights agreement with the @NBA and @WNBA 🚨
For all NBA details 🔗: https://t.co/hKXLcMG7TA
For all WNBA details 🔗: https://t.co/wJkOSzaC3Y pic.twitter.com/LEIdjGEv9k— PrimeVideoSportsPR (@PrimeSportsPR) July 24, 2024
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