The NBA introduced its new media rights deal on Wednesday afternoon and shared that Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT) did not match Amazon’s bid.
The league stated that Amazon Prime will probably be one of many broadcast accomplice past the 2024-25 season, together with Disney and NBCUniversal.
Nonetheless, this didn’t sit properly with TNT, who’ve been the NBA’s broadcast accomplice with since 1989 and host the vastly fashionable postgame present Contained in the NBA.
In a press release launch on Wednesday, following the NBA’s assertion, TNT Sports activities (a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery) vowed to ‘take applicable motion’ towards the NBA.
“We’ve matched the Amazon provide, as we’ve got a contractual proper to do, and don’t consider the NBA can reject it,” TNT stated. “In doing so, they’re rejecting the numerous followers who proceed to indicate their unwavering assist for our best-in-class protection, delivered by means of the complete mixed attain of WBD’s video-first distribution platforms — together with TNT, residence to our four-decade partnership with the league, and Max, our main streaming service. We predict they’ve grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and past, and we are going to take applicable motion. We glance ahead, nonetheless, to a different nice season of the NBA on TNT and Max together with our iconic Contained in the NBA.
Many stories within the lead up so far stated that the NBA weren’t going to agree with Warner Bros. Discovery on this, and make the argument that Amazon’s provide went past a monetary dedication.
Which is what the league stated in a press release.
“Our new association with Amazon helps this objective by complementing the printed, cable and streaming packages which might be already a part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal preparations,” the NBA stated in its assertion. “All three companions have additionally dedicated substantial assets to advertise the league and improve the fan expertise.”
Whether or not this battle will proceed in a courtroom stays to be seen.
