Turner Sports plans to maintain its longstanding 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 held an NBA package since 1984, with games airing on TNT since the network launched in 1988.
“We have carefully reviewed the offers and have decided to match one of them. This will ensure that fans continue to enjoy our top-notch coverage, including high-quality live game productions and our iconic studio shows and talent, while continuing our 40-year commitment for many more years,” Warner Bros. Discovery stated. “Our matching paperwork has been submitted to the league, and we eagerly await 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 a meeting in Las Vegas last Tuesday. Warner Bros. Discovery received all three contracts the following Wednesday, initiating a five-day period to decide whether to match.
The new deals, totaling $76 billion, will commence with the 2025-26 season and include a nationally aired or streamed game every night during the second half of the season.
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Amazon Prime Video’s offer includes games on Thursday nights following the conclusion of NFL games, with additional nights on Friday and Saturday.
Amazon Prime Video did not provide a comment regarding Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to match.
An NBA spokesperson stated that the league is currently reviewing the matching offer.
If the NBA accepts the matching offer, TNT is likely to broadcast games on Thursdays, with other nights being streamed on Max.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav raised concerns during an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022, stating that Turner and WBD are not obligated to retain the NBA.
Despite the expiration of the exclusive negotiating period in April, Warner Bros. Discovery and the league could not reach an agreement. However, intentions to match one of the offers were expressed by Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser in recent months.
“We take pride in our delivery of top-notch coverage for basketball fans over the course of our four-decade partnership with the NBA. In an effort to uphold our longstanding partnership, we presented strong bids that were fair to both parties during exclusive and non-exclusive negotiation periods,” Warner Bros. Discovery stated. “Unfortunately, the league has indicated its intention to accept other offers for games under our current rights package. Therefore, we must proceed under the matching rights provision that is a crucial component of our current agreement and the rights we have secured.”
Sources familiar with the negotiations revealed to The Associated Press that Amazon’s offer included a provision to make upfront payments for multiple years into an escrow account, a factor that some believed would make it difficult to match. However, Warner Bros. Discovery has assured the league of its financial capability to meet this requirement.
The Amazon provision was initially mentioned by “The Ringer’s” Bill Simmons on “The Town” podcast.
These sources spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss pending matters.
Under the current nine-year deal, Warner Bros. Discovery is paying $1.4 billion per season, set to expire after the next season.
Despite the substantial financial commitment, retaining the NBA is deemed necessary for Warner Bros. Discovery. Without the NBA, the company would struggle to justify its current subscriber fees to cable and satellite providers.
Furthermore, securing the NBA means that the popular “Inside the NBA” show will continue. Charles Barkley, who had been critical of Warner Bros. Discovery’s negotiation tactics and expressed doubt about matching offers, announced his intention to retire after the upcoming season.
It is anticipated that the NBA will announce the finalization of the media deals within the week.
ESPN and ABC, retaining the league’s premier package, will host a conference finals each year along with the NBA Finals. NBC and Warner Bros. Discovery will alternate carrying one of the conference finals series.
The return of NBC, which broadcast NBA games from 1990 through 2002, will mark the first time the league has two broadcast network partners.