Turner Sports hopes to maintain its long-standing partnership with the NBA.
Warner Bros. Discovery told the league on Monday that it will match Amazon Prime Video’s $1.8 billion annual bid. Turner has had an NBA package since 1984, and games have been shown on TNT since the network started in 1988.
“We studied the proposals and accepted one of them. This will enable fans to continue to experience our unequaled coverage, including the greatest live game productions in the business, as well as our legendary studio shows and talent, as we expand on our proven 40-year commitment for many more years,” WBD stated in a statement. “We submitted our matching paperwork to the league today.” We are looking forward to the NBA completing our new deal.”
At their meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday, the NBA board of governors authorized the league’s media rights agreements with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, which span eleven years. WBD received all three contracts on Wednesday, beginning the five-day clock for deciding whether to match.
One game will be broadcast or streamed nationwide every night during the second half of the 2025–26 season as part of the new accords, which are worth a total of $76 billion.
The Prime Video package was supposed to offer games on Thursday night after it finishes airing NFL games. The other nights were Friday and Saturday.
On Thursdays, you can see the games on TNT, while the rest of the week, you can watch them on Max.
The NBA is now analyzing the matching offer, according to a league representative. Amazon Prime Video did not respond to WBD’s plan to match.
The NBA is anticipated to reveal the conclusion of the media arrangements later this week.
During an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav made a disturbing statement by stating that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”
Warner Bros. Discovery and the league were unable to negotiate an agreement during their exclusive bargaining period, which ended in April. Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser have said in recent months that the business intends to match one of the agreements.
“During our four-decade collaboration with the NBA, we have consistently provided exceptional coverage for basketball fans. WBD said that they behaved in good faith to offer strong proposals that were fair to both parties throughout exclusive and non-exclusive negotiations to maintain their long-standing collaboration. “Regrettably, the league notified us of its intention to accept other offers for the games in our current rights package, leaving us to proceed under the matching rights provision, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we have paid for under it.”
NBC and WBD would alternate broadcasting one of the conference finals series.
According to those involved with the discussions, Amazon’s offer contained a mechanism for paying many years in advance into an escrow account, which many felt would be difficult to match. However, WBD has informed the league that it has the financial wherewithal to do so.
Bill Simmons of The Ringer originally noted the Amazon clause on his podcast “The Town”.
People talked to the AP on the condition of anonymity because they were not at liberty to discuss such serious topics.
WBD pays $1.4 billion each season under the existing nine-year contract, which ends after next season.
WBD is making a large financial investment, but it is required. Without the NBA, it would have struggled to charge its present subscription fees to cable and satellite providers.
Retaining the NBA would also ensure that the popular “Inside the NBA” program will continue. Charles Barkley had criticized WBD’s negotiation position and was skeptical that it would reach an agreement. Barkley revealed at the conclusion of this season that he planned to retire following the next season.
Did TNT match Amazon’s offer?
TNT has chosen to match Amazon’s bid for NBA broadcasting rights, causing upheaval in a lengthy process that looked to be reaching completion.
Is said Amazon bid NBA rights?
The NBA has negotiated new broadcast rights contracts for the next season’s games. Last Monday, the league’s board of governors authorized agreements with Disney, Comcast, and Amazon that are anticipated to generate $76 billion over the next 11 years.
