The NBA’s current television rights package is coming to an end, and there is a lot of speculation about what the new agreement will look like.
There were obviously a number of bidders for the NBA’s television rights, but things are becoming more evident.
According to Joe Flint, Amol Sharma, and Isabella Simonetti of the Wall Street Journal, the NBA is nearing agreement with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon on a new TV rights deal worth $76 billion over 11 years:
Now, with negotiations progressing as the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks prepare to face off in the NBA Finals, the league is on track to score big:
It is closing in on deals with NBC, ESPN and Amazon that would bring in about $76 billion in media revenue over 11 years, people familiar with the discussions said.
This would be a tremendous deal for the NBA, resulting in a significant shift in how and where the NBA is regarded.
The agreement would make a large number of NBA games available on streaming platforms Peacock and Amazon Prime, as well as an upcoming ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service.
Unfortunately, this agreement would also end Turner Sports’ affiliation with the league, resulting in the discontinuation of the immensely popular ‘Inside the NBA’ series.
Though it was highlighted that Warner Bros. Discovery may still find their path in this new deal:
NBC is close to reaching an agreement with the league to pay an average of $2.5 billion per year, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
It would broadcast approximately 100 games per season, with roughly half airing exclusively on the Peacock streaming service, indicating a significant bet on the future of streaming.
Games would be broadcast on NBC on Tuesdays and Sundays when they did not conflict with NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”
Amazon’s $1.8 billion annual package would include regular-season and postseason games, the new NBA in-season tournament, and “play-in” games in which teams vie for the final playoff place.
It would also receive a portion of the conference finals, which would be divided in a rotation among the media partners, according to sources familiar with the agreements.
According to people familiar with the agreements, Disney would retain an NBA package and continue to carry the NBA Finals, with payments averaging around $2.6 billion per year, up from $1.5 billion under the existing agreement.
Disney would receive fewer games than under its present agreement.
ESPN’s agreement will allow the company to broadcast sports on its direct-to-consumer streaming service, which is scheduled to start in 2025.
Warner, managed by CEO David Zaslav, retains the ability to match a competing package, and the league could always carve out a new package for the firm in the final run, but its options are limited.
Warner, managed by CEO David Zaslav, retains the ability to match a competing package, and the league could always carve out a new package for the firm in the final run, but its options are limited.
Finally, these things are all about money, and ESPN, Amazon, and NBC are willing to pay a lot of money to have the NBA on their platforms.
Both Amazon and NBC have enjoyed excellent success with the NFL, and adding the NBA will only make both platforms more popular.
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