The NBA’s media rights deal has been a topic of discussion for quite some time now, with the league’s contracts with ESPN and TNT expiring after the 2024-25 season. However, we now have some exciting news regarding this matter. Amazon Prime Video has agreed to become a new partner in the package, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.
The deal with Amazon would begin in the 2025-26 season and is expected to last at least 10 years. Under this agreement, regular season and postseason games will be included, with the potential for conference finals and global broadcast rights as well. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but it is reported that ESPN paid $1.6 billion per year in its agreement while TNT paid $1.2 billion per year.
ESPN/ABC is also working on a new deal that would see ABC getting exclusive rights to the NBA Finals for at least a decade. However, ESPN may televise fewer games under the new package, potentially opening up broadcasts to another TV partner. NBC is reportedly interested in regaining NBA broadcast rights, which it has been without since 2002 but is eager to provide content for its streaming platform Peacock. Warner Bros Discovery, the corporate owner of TNT, has the right to match any deal for NBA broadcasts and losing those telecasts would leave a major gap in their programming schedule.
Additionally, Google has shown interest in carrying NBA League Pass, which could indicate significant shifts in the league’s media landscape in the coming years.
In conclusion, Amazon’s entry into the NBA media rights package is an exciting development that will undoubtedly change the way we consume basketball content in the future. With more platforms set to join forces with the league, it will be fascinating to see how everything plays out and who ends up with what rights.
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