NBA
NBA Finalizes New Media Rights Deal With ESPN, NBC, Amazon
Dan is a multifaceted content creator who specializes in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. His entertainment work has been featured on Digital Trends, where he has interviewed Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, Adam DeVine, Sadie Sink, Chris O'Dowd, Machine Gun Kelly, and Frank Grillo. Dan's entertainment work has also been featured on Coming Soon, Hidden Remote, and WatchMojo. Dan's other passion in life revolves around sports, graduating from Marist College with a degree in Sports Communication and Journalism. From columns about the latest in New York sports to gambling predictions, Dan continues to find success in written and broadcast journalism. Previous written work can be found at Unafraid Show, while broadcast clips can be seen on WAVE.tv and CBS Sports.
Get to know Dan Girolamo betterPublished10 Jul 2024
The NBA has finalized its new media rights deal with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. What happens to TNT? View the details of the new deal below.
NBA’s Media Rights Deal With ESPN, NBC, Amazon
NEWS: The NBA has finalized contracts with NBC, Amazon and ESPN as its TV partners, The Athletic has learned.
* TNT's next move, what new NBA sked will look like and how ESPN kept hold of The Finals.
Details: https://t.co/oGHh0Ygp5L
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 10, 2024
According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, the NBA finalized its new partnership deals with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. Beginning in 2025-2026, the new agreement will last 11 seasons and be worth $76 billion.
In the new deal, ABC/ESPN will remain the home of the NBA Finals. The network will also broadcast a conference final.
However, ESPN will cut back on its regular-season broadcasts from 100 games to around 80. ESPN will air games on Wednesdays and Sundays during the NFL season, with Saturday nights reserved for ABC. ESPN will add Friday night games once the NFL season concludes.
NBC’s deal includes Monday night exclusive telecasts on Peacock, with NBC games on Tuesday nights. After the conclusion of football, NBC will air NBA games on Sunday nights. Peacock will also broadcast every NBC game.
Similar to how NBC will air games in Sunday Night Football’s slot, Amazon will broadcast games after football ends on Thursday nights during its TNF slot. Amazon will be the home of the In-Season Tournament. Amazon will also stream games during the regular season, primarily on Friday and Saturday nights.
All three networks will broadcast playoff games. Amazon and NBC will alternate showing conference finals.
Under this new plan, the NBA will broadcast national games nearly seven days a week, especially after the conclusion of football.
What Happens To TNT?
NEWS: The NBA has finalized contracts with NBC and Amazon Prime Video, while maintaining ESPN as the home of The Finals, under agreements that will extend for 11 seasons and be worth $76 billion.
TNT Sports continues to threaten to match.
More details from @AndrewMarchand 🔗
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 10, 2024
The elephant in the room is TNT, and if they will attempt to match the contract.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav has stated that TNT may try to continue its relationship with the NBA in the new deal.
According to Marchand, TNT will likely target Amazon’s package if they choose to match.
The next step in the approval process comes from the league’s governors. Once approved by the board of governors, the NBA will send the finalized contract to TNT, which then has five days to match the deal or pass.
If TNT moves on from the media rights deal, the NBA could make an official announcement before the Olympics begin on July 26.
The NBA’s current media rights deal with ESPN/ABC and TNT expires after the 2024-2025 season.
