The NBA signed an 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday after saying it rejected Warner Bros. Discovery’s $1.8 billion-a-year offer to continue its relationship with the league.
The media rights deal was approved by the league’s board of governors last week and will bring the league about $76 billion over 11 years.
WBD had five days to match its portion of the offer and said it was exercising its rights, but the offer was not considered a valid match by the NBA. That means the 2024-25 season will be TNT’s last after a nearly four-decade run — though shortly after the NBA signing was announced, WBD said it would take “appropriate action” and said the NBA should accept it. its offer.
“The digital opportunity with Amazon aligns with the global interest in the NBA,” league commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “And Prime Video’s massive subscriber base will expand our ability to reach our fans in new and innovative ways.”
Turner Sports strongly disagreed with the NBA’s move, saying it believes the league “grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights.”
“We have matched Amazon’s offer, as we have contractual rights, and do not believe the NBA can refuse,” TNT Sports said in a statement. “By doing this, they are denying the many fans who continue to show their unwavering support for our best-in-class coverage, delivered through the full combined reach of WBD’s video-first distribution platform. … We will take appropriate action.”
TNT said it continues to look forward to the upcoming season, “including our iconic ‘In the NBA.'”
Under the new agreement, Amazon Prime Video will carry Friday night games, select Saturday afternoons and Thursday night doubleheaders that will begin after the conclusion of Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” schedule. Prime Video will also take over the NBA League Pass package from WBD.
“The latest proposal from Warner Bros. Discovery does not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term agreement with Amazon,” the league said Wednesday. “During these negotiations, our main goal was to expand the reach and accessibility of the game to 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. All three partners also has considerable resources to promote the league and improve the fan experience.
The new package on Amazon also includes at least one game on Black Friday and the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game of the league’s season tournament, the NBA Cup.
“Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to bring the best sports to Prime Video and continue to innovate our viewing experience,” said Jay Marine, global head of sports for Prime Video. “Now we’re excited to add the NBA to our growing lineup of sports, including the NFL, UEFA Champions League, NASCAR, NHL, WNBA, NWSL, Wimbledon and more. We’re grateful to partner with the NBA and can’t wait to announce it in 2025 .”
ESPN and ABC will keep the league’s top package, which includes the NBA Finals. ABC has carried the Finale since 2003.
ESPN/ABC will televise nearly 100 games during the regular season. More than 20 games will be broadcast on ABC, especially Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, while ESPN will have up to 60 games, usually at night with some Friday games. ABC and ESPN will also combine five games on Christmas Day and have exclusive national coverage on the final day of the regular season.
During the playoffs, ESPN and ABC will have approximately 18 games in the first two rounds each year and one of the two conference finals series in all but one year of the agreement.
Shortly after the NBA’s announcement, the WNBA announced its own 11-year media rights partnership with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC, in which the league will receive about $200 million annually, sources told ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
Beginning with the 2025-26 season, Disney’s WNBA and NBA game packages will be available for streaming on digital platforms, including on Disney+ in select markets around the world.
“We have matched Amazon’s offer, because we have the contractual right to do so, and we do not believe that the NBA can refuse … and we will take appropriate action.”
TNT Sports statement on NBA media rights
“As the media landscape continues to evolve, this forward-looking agreement is an important and bold step in our mission to serve sports fans, anytime, anywhere, including opportunities to succeed in the global digital transition,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. . “Through our premium collection of regular and post-season game rights, culminating with the NBA Finals and WNBA Finals, plus studio and original content initiatives, we look forward to building on our legacy of innovation with the NBA and continuing to play an important role in our external growth trajectory.” regular from the WNBA.”
The return of NBC, which carried NBA games from 1990 to 2002, gave the NBA two broadcast network partners for the first time.
NBC will have up to 100 regular season games, including Sunday nights after the NFL season is over. It will air games on Tuesdays during the regular season, while the Monday night doubleheader will be exclusively streamed on the Peacock.
NBC will also have the All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night. During the playoffs, NBC and/or Peacock will have up to 28 games in the first two rounds, with at least half on NBC.
NBC and Amazon will also carry one of the two conference finals series in six of the 11 years in rotation. NBC will have the conference finals in 2026-27 followed by Amazon the following season.
“The return of NBA basketball to the NBC Sports family comes with enormous benefits and excitement for our fans,” said Silver. “And through multiple platforms — especially NBC and Peacock — and enormous resources, NBCUniversal promises to build on the tradition and history of the NBA on NBC.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
