Turner Sports plans to maintain its long-standing partnership with the NBA.
Warner Bros. Discovery has notified the league that it will match Amazon Prime Video’s offer of $1.8 billion per year. Turner has been broadcasting NBA games since 1984, and games have been airing on TNT since the network’s launch in 1988.
“We have reviewed the offers and matched one of them. This will allow fans to continue enjoying our top-notch coverage, including the best live game productions in the industry and our iconic studio shows and talent, while upholding our established 40-year commitment for many more years,” Warner Bros. Discovery stated. “Our matching paperwork was submitted to the league today. We look forward to the NBA executing our new contract.”
The NBA’s Board of Governors approved the league’s 11-year media rights deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video at its meeting in Las Vegas last Tuesday. WBD received all three contracts Wednesday, initiating a five-day timeframe to decide whether to match.
The new deals, totaling $76 billion collectively, will commence with the 2025-26 season, featuring a nationally aired or streamed game every night during the second half of the season.
RELATED STORY | LeBron James named Team USA flag bearer for 2024 Olympics opening ceremony
The Prime Video deal includes Thursday night games following NFL broadcasts, with additional games on Friday and Saturday.
Amazon Prime Video has not commented on WBD’s decision to match.
An NBA spokesperson mentioned that the league is currently reviewing the matching offer.
If the NBA accepts the matching offer, TNT would likely broadcast games on Thursday, with other nights streamed on Max.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hinted at a potentially adverse outcome during an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022, stating that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”
Warner Bros. Discovery and the league failed to reach an agreement during the exclusive negotiating period, which expired in April. Despite this, intentions to match one of the deals were expressed by Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser over the past couple of months.
“We’re proud of how we have delivered for basketball fans by providing best-in-class coverage throughout our four-decade partnership with the NBA. In an effort to continue our long-standing partnership, during both exclusive and non-exclusive negotiation periods, we acted in good faith to present strong bids that were fair to both parties,” WBD explained in a statement.
Insiders revealed that Amazon’s offer included upfront payment for multiple years into an escrow account, which many believed would pose a challenge to match. However, WBD assured the league of its financial capacity to do so.
The provision from Amazon was initially reported by “The Ringer’s” Bill Simmons on “The Town” podcast.
WBD is currently paying $1.4 billion per season under the current nine-year agreement, set to expire after the next season.
Retaining the NBA is deemed essential for WBD, as it would impact its ability to charge current subscriber fees to cable and satellite companies. Additionally, keeping the NBA would ensure the continuation of the popular “Inside the NBA” show.
It is anticipated that the NBA will announce the finalization of the media deals later this week.
ESPN and ABC will retain the league’s top package, with a conference finals and NBA Finals every year. NBC and WBD will alternate carrying one of the conference finals series.
The return of NBC as a broadcast partner, previously airing NBA games from 1990 to 2002, will mark the first time the league has two broadcast network partners.
