TNT tries to keep NBA, while NBC gets back in the game. What to know on new NBA TV deals
Warner Brothers Discovery, the parent company of TNT, matched Amazon Prime Video’s bid for a share of the NBA’s new television package on Monday, according to an industry source. But whether TNT gets to keep the NBA beyond next season — despite matching Amazon’s offer — remains very much in question.
WBD matched Amazon’s $1.8 billion annual deal set to take effect in 2025-26. The Amazon package includes six conference finals over 11 years, the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, the play-in games and Thursday night games after NFL season.
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But even though WBD’s contract includes a right-to-match clause, the NBA reportedly is expected to decline WBD’s matching offer (according to The Athletic), based on the contention that TNT — initially founded as a basic cable channel — cannot match what Amazon, a streaming service, can offer the league. That could trigger legal action by WBD, an arbitration process or an out-of-court settlement.
What’s certain, after Monday, is that ABC/ESPN will remain the home of the NBA Finals through 2037, and NBC will return to the NBA business for the first time in 23 years.
Monday was the final day that WBD could attempt to match one of the packages in the league’s new TV deal, which was approved by the Board of Governors last week.
According to Sports Business Journal, WBD secured a letter of credit from multiple banks to match the offer, which included an up-front payment from Amazon covering the first three years of the 11-year contract.
“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,” TNT said in a statement Monday afternoon.
Under the new TV deal, which begins in 2025-26, NBC will pay $2.5 billion per year to air games on Tuesday nights, and also on Sunday nights after NFL season.
Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, gets a Monday night regular-season NBA package as part of the deal.
NBC — which last aired the NBA in 2002 — also will get some playoff games, including six conference finals during the 11 years of the contract, as well as the All-Star Game every year.
ESPN’s volume of games will decrease a bit, with games on Wednesdays and some Sundays, plus some Fridays.
ABC will continue to air a Saturday night package after college football season and the NFL playoffs end. And ABC/ESPN will have every NBA Finals and 10 conference finals over the 11-year deal. The ABC/ESPN package is worth $2.6 billion per year.
