Washington (Business Emerge), July 25: The NBA has officially signed an extensive 11-year broadcasting deal valued at $77 billion with Walt Disney’s ESPN, Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, and Amazon. This landmark agreement will elevate the NBA’s media presence significantly, as the league will enhance its broadcast reach both in the United States and internationally.
The NBA has decided to part ways with Warner Bros Discovery’s TNT Sports, rejecting their last-minute bid. The rejection, which marks the end of a 40-year association with Warner Bros Discovery, comes after the offer was deemed insufficient compared to Amazon’s proposal.
TNT Sports expressed its dissatisfaction, stating they believe the NBA has misinterpreted their contractual rights regarding the 2025-26 season and may pursue legal action.
Experts note that acquiring broadcasting rights is a substantial financial undertaking, factoring in both the high cost and production expenses. Under the new agreement, approximately 75 regular-season games will be broadcasted each season, a significant increase from the previous minimum of 15 games.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver highlighted that this new global media partnership will greatly enhance the accessibility of NBA games for fans worldwide. He emphasized that these partners will broaden the league’s content distribution across various platforms, aiming to enrich the fan experience over the coming decade.
The new deal is a significant setback for Warner’s sports division and raises concerns among investors about Warner’s future role in the evolving sports-streaming landscape alongside Disney and Fox.
Ross Benes, a television and streaming analyst at eMarketer, suggested that legal action from Warner Bros Discovery could be problematic, potentially resulting in a strained relationship with the NBA and deterring other leagues from future agreements with Warner.
Warner CEO David Zaslav had previously expressed optimism about securing a new deal to retain NBA content on Max and TNT.