The buzz around the NBA lately goes beyond the conference finals and Bronny James’ draft decision.
In fact, the focus has shifted to where fans will watch games for the next decade.
The NBA media rights negotiations for the 2025-26 season are in the final stages, and predicting the final outcome is challenging. Commissioner Adam Silver will address this in his State of the League speech before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 6 in Boston.
One thing we know for sure is that ESPN will keep the top package, but Turner Sports’ long-standing relationship with the league is at risk.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav raised concerns and competition when he suggested that Turner and WBD may not continue with the NBA after their current deal expires.
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Turner has been part of the NBA since 1984, and TNT has been airing league games since 1989. Warner Bros. Discovery did not reach an agreement during the negotiation period that ended in April.
NBC and Amazon are likely candidates to replace Turner, but Turner has the right to match offers from other competitors.
The negotiations, including Turner’s matching rights and Charles Barkley’s concerns about losing the NBA, add a dramatic element to the process, reminiscent of “Game of Thrones” (another WBD property).
The current nine-year agreement with the NBA, set to expire in 2025, was established in 2014 and generates an average of $2.67 billion annually. The new media rights deal, expected to be long-term, will bring in at least $6 billion per year.
