Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at TD Garden in Boston.
Nathaniel S. Butler | National Basketball Association | Getty Images
The National Basketball Association has told The invention of Warner Bros it is not used to respect the corresponding rights and instead plans to move ahead with it Amazon as a media partner.
“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 NBA said in a statement on Wednesday.
“During these negotiations, our main goal is 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 arrangement,” added league. “All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and improve the fan experience. We are grateful to Turner Sports for award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT.”
Warner Bros. Discovery said on Monday it is in line with one of the three NBA media rights packages, which people familiar with the matter identified as a $1.93 billion per year deal earmarked for Amazon Prime Video. Disney and ComcastNBCUniversal signed deals for two more packages, part of the league’s $77 billion media rights renewal over 11 years.
“In an effort to continue our long-standing partnership, during the period of exclusive and non-exclusive negotiations, we acted in good faith to offer a strong offer that was fair to both parties. offer for the game in our current rights package, leaving us to continue according to the provisions of the relevant rights, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we have paid for, “Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement on Friday. “This will allow fans to continue to enjoy unparalleled coverage, including the industry’s best live game productions and studio shows and great talent, while building on a 40-year commitment that has been proven for years.”
Warner Bros. Discovery’s Turner Sports has carried NBA games live for nearly 40 years. The TNT cable network is home to “Inside the NBA,” a popular studio show starring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. The show’s future is in doubt if the NBA doesn’t strike a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Warner Bros. Discovery acquired the corresponding rights as part of its current media rights deal with the league, which expires at the end of next season. The terms allow the company to match payments for any game aired on TNT.
The NBA doesn’t believe Warner Bros. Discovery rights extend to all-streaming packages, as has been carved out for Amazon. Warner Bros. Discovery also has a streaming service, Max, that can be used for online gaming.
Amazon Prime Video has more than twice as many global subscribers – over 200 million to Max’s 100 million – which could make the service a better platform for the league. The streaming rights are global, though Warner Bros. Discovery is only bidding for U.S. rights, according to people familiar with the language in the contract.
