NBA’s New Media Rights Deal with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Ushers in a New Era

The NBA recently inked a landmark 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, signaling a significant shift in its broadcasting landscape. The league decided against renewing its long-standing partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which had offered $1.8 billion annually to continue its relationship with the NBA. Instead, the new agreements are set to bring the league approximately $76 billion over the next 11 years.

The NBA announced 11-year global media rights deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon on Wednesday worth a reported $76 billion and running from the 2025-26 through 2035-36 season. 🏀 ➡️https://t.co/rFhp2Fg9L2 pic.twitter.com/CGHPqmtYWy

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 24, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery had a five-day window to match parts of the new deals but fell short, leading to the end of TNT’s nearly four-decade run with the NBA after the 2024-25 season. The league emphasized its commitment to maximizing game accessibility for fans, stating, “Warner Bros. Discovery’s most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer. Therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon. Our new deal with Amazon complements the broadcast, cable, and streaming packages with Disney and NBCUniversal. All three partners have pledged significant resources to enhance the fan experience and promote the league.”

Amazon Prime Video’s new deal includes streaming games on Friday nights, select Saturday afternoons, and Thursday night doubleheaders after Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” concludes. Amazon will also take over the NBA League Pass package from WBD. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed optimism about the partnership, saying, “The digital opportunities with Amazon align perfectly with the global interest in the NBA. Prime Video’s massive subscriber base will dramatically expand our ability to reach fans in innovative ways.”

BREAKING: Amazon is interested in pursuing the cast of TNT’s Inside the NBA after securing the media rights deal with the league, per @SBJ.

Whoa. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/FNIhruXEPk

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 25, 2024

Additionally, Amazon Prime Video will feature at least one game on Black Friday and host the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game of the NBA Cup. Jay Marine, global head of sports for Prime Video, expressed excitement about adding the NBA to their growing sports portfolio, which includes major leagues like the NFL, UEFA Champions League, and more.

Meanwhile, ESPN and ABC retained their premier package, including exclusive rights to the NBA Finals, which ABC has broadcast since 2003. The networks will air nearly 100 regular-season games, with over 20 games on ABC, primarily on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, and up to 60 games on ESPN, mostly on Wednesday nights with some on Fridays. They will also cover five games on Christmas Day and have exclusive national coverage of the season’s final day. During the playoffs, ESPN and ABC will share around 18 games in the first two rounds and one conference final series each year, except for one year in the agreement.

The NBA is set to announce its 11-year, $76bn domestic media rights deal with Walt Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video from 2025-26, before #Paris2024.@jonrest delves into this landmark deal, and what it means for the US sports industry. pic.twitter.com/w91M5fFBtn

— SportBusiness (@SportBusiness) July 22, 2024

The deal also marks NBC’s return as an NBA broadcast partner for the first time since 2002, making it the league’s second network partner alongside ABC. NBC will air up to 100 regular-season games, including Sunday nights post-NFL season, and Tuesday night games throughout the season. They will also stream Monday night doubleheaders exclusively on Peacock and cover the All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night. During the playoffs, NBC and Peacock will air up to 28 games in the first two rounds, with at least half on NBC. NBC and Amazon will share broadcasting duties for one conference final series on a rotating basis, starting with NBC in the 2026-27 season.

Major Points:

• The NBA secured an 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, worth around $76 billion.
• Warner Bros. Discovery’s $1.8 billion annual offer was rejected, ending TNT’s long tenure after the 2024-25 season.
• Amazon Prime Video will stream NBA games on various days, including taking over the NBA League Pass package.
• ESPN and ABC will continue to broadcast the NBA Finals and air nearly 100 regular-season games.
• NBC returns as an NBA partner, airing regular-season games and sharing playoff coverage with Peacock and Amazon.

Conner T – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News