As a long-time NBA fan and avid gamer, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at the latest turn of events regarding the NBA’s rights deals. For years, I’ve relied on Turner Sports and TNT to bring me the thrill of live NBA action, and the thought of losing that access is disheartening.
The NBA has declined Warner Bros. Discovery’s proposal to equal the media rights deal it struck with Amazon. According to the league’s announcement.
The NBA announced that Amazon’s latest proposal from Warner Bros. Discovery didn’t align with their preferred terms. Consequently, they opted for a long-term partnership with Amazon instead.
During these talks, our top priority was to expand the availability and reach of our games for our devoted fans. Our latest agreement with Amazon aligns with this objective. This collaboration will boost our existing partnerships with broadcasters, cable networks, and streaming services from Disney and NBCUniversal. All three parties have pledged significant investments to advance the league and elevate the fan experience.
“Turner Sports’ exceptional NBA coverage is appreciated by us, and we eagerly anticipate another NBA season on TNT.”
As an avid basketball fan and follower of NBA news, I was thrilled to learn that just two days after I notified the league of my intent to match Amazon’s $1.8 billion bid, the NBA made its decision. Excitingly, Amazon’s deal is focused solely on streaming, while TNT Sports, where I also enjoy watching the games, telecasts them on TV and streams them on Max as well.
As an excited fan, I can tell you that Wordsworth Bros. Distributing (WBD) didn’t disclose all the particulars of their match offer right away. However, I’ve heard from a reliable source that WBD managed to get a letter of credit which will reportedly cover Amazon’s supposed $5.4 billion upfront payment – an agreement they reached in their deal.
After several months of prolonged talks between the league and both existing and prospective rights holders, Warner Bros. failed to secure a fresh agreement within their exclusive bargaining period.
Disney continues as the NBA’s partner for the premium “A” deal, encompassing the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, the NBA has secured new partners: NBC Sports for approximately $2.5 billion annually in the “B” package, and Amazon for the “C” package.
More to come.
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2024-07-24 23:24