NBA's exclusive TV rights negotiating window with ESPN, Warner expected to pass without a deal https://t.co/ab4jSltQvV

— CNBC (@CNBC) April 18, 2024

poor ratings and a terrible product - shocker

with reduced revenue the first thing to go will be the WNBA

ESPN and TNT still have the right to match outside bids. That may be enough to keep the NBA off of NBC, but if Apple or Amazon or even Netflix want some streaming deal, they will get it. Netflix offers the best opportunity to go bigger internationally.

I could see Netflix or a tech company landing the in-season tournament or possibly play-in games. I think that ESPN and TNT will keep coverage but the NBA will want the Amazon/Apple money too.


The wildcard is Diamond Sport Group/Bally's/Sinclair is still kicking and is closer to exiting bankruptcy. Amazon has a stake in DSG now. The NBA might be able to get some or all of their rights back after these playoffs.

There is a court hearing on June 18th in Houston that could impact MLB and NBA regional network deals.

You're in general agreement with this recap from awful announcing. I too think Silver is going to split some stuff up and it won't be "just" Disney/WBD on it. I think Disney/WBD will have reduced packages and NBC gets in on it too, plus the streaming wildcards get a chunk of something too.

https://awfulannouncing.com/nba/handicapping-media-rights-race.html

NBC going in with a potential offer of $2.5 billion for the NBA package.

It appears that Amazon probably has one package that includes playoff games, ABC/ESPN has another package that has the NBA Finals, and the third package is either going to be NBC or TNT/WBD.

The Amazon getting some conference final games is mind blowing. I'm guessing it'll be like games 1&2 with the rest of them OTA or OTT. I know someone w/Amazon that was part of their NFL launch and I'm dying to ask her about it but she's a bit touchy plus she's also pregnant from what I hear so she likely has no time for my nonsense.

Enzo The Baker said:

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Iowaggie said:

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NBC going in with a potential offer of $2.5 billion for the NBA package.

It appears that Amazon probably has one package that includes playoff games, ABC/ESPN has another package that has the NBA Finals, and the third package is either going to be NBC or TNT/WBD.

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Part of me is nostalgic for the nba to be back nbc. But I hope Ernie's group finds a way to survive.

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Been thinking that too. If NBCU blocks out WBD...where does that leave "TNT Sports"? Ffs please bring Ernie and the group over to NBC. Even if you have "Inside the NBA" just on Peacock, ya know?

If I'm NBCU I know they're not going to show the banter before and after and full on games OTA during the weekk...I could see Sat/Sun on NBC and everything else (till the playoffs, really) on USA, including my favorite all time sports studio show.

superunknown said:

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Enzo The Baker said:

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Iowaggie said:

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NBC going in with a potential offer of $2.5 billion for the NBA package.

It appears that Amazon probably has one package that includes playoff games, ABC/ESPN has another package that has the NBA Finals, and the third package is either going to be NBC or TNT/WBD.

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Part of me is nostalgic for the nba to be back nbc. But I hope Ernie's group finds a way to survive.

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Been thinking that too. If NBCU blocks out WBD...where does that leave "TNT Sports"? Ffs please bring Ernie and the group over to NBC. Even if you have "Inside the NBA" just on Peacock, ya know?

If I'm NBCU I know they're not going to show the banter before and after and full on games OTA during the weekk...I could see Sat/Sun on NBC and everything else (till the playoffs, really) on USA, including my favorite all time sports studio show.

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My guess is that the TNT show moves to either NBCU/Peacock or to Amazon, and will continue to do well.

Given Amazon went big with Al Michaels and Kirk Hirbstreit for the NFL games, I'm guessing they would do something similar with the NBA.

All those otherstudio shows could learn from TNT is that you have to give them time to talk about the game, and 4 is the maximum number of people to have in a studio show. If there is less time, there needs to be fewer people. The NFL is the worst offender of the too many mouths syndrome.

For announcing crews, any of the TNT PxP guys would be fine: Kevin Harlan, Ian Eagle or Brian Anderson.
For color, I'd prefer going out and get the available Jeff V Gundy and I'm not sure who next. Maybe Greg Anthony

I always thought Harlan was a Marv Albert impersonator. He'd be perfect for NBC.

Yeah I think Amazon will go big. With basketball and their (Amazon's) limited schedule they can get a big name guy to double dip and most of the known lead PxP guys also do a local team anyway outside the national cable broadcasts. I love TNTs PxP guys (all them are good and I really like Harlan) but I also wouldn't hate seeing Gus Johnson call NBA games again.

If it means we're getting this back, I'm all for the return of the NBA to NBC:

It's official now. No more TNT.

According to industry sources, Disney will pay $2.8 billion annual for the NBA's "A" package, which gives them exclusive rights to the NBA Finals, a conference final, weekly primetime games, and WNBA games. The "B" package which includes two weekly primetime windows, the conference semifinals and a conference final will go to NBC for a reported $2.6 billion.

David Zaslav and TNT still will be given the right to match. While will be tough to do given their debt, it is still on the table.
At issue is what does "Match" mean, so there is a potential lawsuit ahead. Thankfully, this will give lawyers another chance to get paid.

Amazon is likely getting the in-season and play-in tournament.


At that point, sources said the league will take NBC's contract to WBD to see if WBD CEO David Zaslav is able to match it in "total value."


Considering WBD is $40B in debt and does not have the over-the-air infrastructure of NBC, sources believe WBD would need to pay more than $2.6B to match the deal and that NBC's overall bid could be structured in a way (for example, multiple weekly over-the-air games) that makes it virtually impossible for WBD to equal. Sources said Zaslav would then essentially have three choices: pass on the NBA, drastically overpay for the "B" package or take the NBA to court over the definition of a match.

Saw some speculation that WBD is heading towards a lawsuit or other mediation. NBA is taking the position that WBD cannot "match" NBCU because NBCU can include OTA broadcasts but WBD cannot. Even if WBD matches the dollar amounts they can't match the coverage.

Charles Barkley says morale sucks amid the uncertainty of "Inside the NBA" moving forward. And discusses the possibility of hiring the crew to his production company, continuing to do the show, and selling it. pic.twitter.com/gLoiKm7SM3

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 23, 2024

Love the idea of Chuck's production company taking over Inside the NBA and subbing it out to whoever if WBD loses the NBA.

Also I missed the news that TNT is subbing some CFP games from Disney. That's pretty interesting. I'd be pissed about that if I was him too but frankly subbing a handful of CFP games is pennies on the dollar compared to the NBA deals.

J.P. 03 said:

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If it means we're getting this back, I'm all for the return of the NBA to NBC:

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NHL theme is better

Roundball Rock and the NBA on NBC is the NBA I grew up on and loved. I'd love to see it return.

But at the same time, Inside the NBA is the greatest studio show of all time. A real Sophie's choice. I want both.

I think the NBA/Warner Brothers Discovery (TNT) relationship is pretty entangled.

NBA TV and NBA.com are both operated by WBD. I don't know if there is a need anymore for NBA TV or if that is enough of a reason for TNT to acquire a smaller 4th package

One of the stories I saw said something about WBD trying to convince NBA to chip off some of the games that would have gone to local/regional slates. I'm thinking....ffs just make league pass (through NBa Entertainment which like you said is tied into Turner so much anyway) the 4th bundle of games and we can rid ourselves of Bally (soon to be known as FanDuel) etc.

The NBA has finalized media-rights deals with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon, @TheAthletic reports.

The deals cover 11 years, are worth $76 billion in total, and still allow TNT the right to match.

More ⬇️

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 10, 2024

Starting in the 2025-2026 season, the NBA will feature nationally televised games seven days a week once the NFL season concludes.

- Monday: Peacock
- Tuesday: NBC
- Wednesday: ESPN
- Thursday: Amazon
- Friday: ESPN/Amazon
- Saturday: ESPN/Amazon
- Sunday: NBC/ESPN

(Via @RealGM… pic.twitter.com/gGRrdMzvcH

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 10, 2024

Back in June, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said
"Media deals, it's been a long process. It's ongoing & we hope to wrap it up in the relatively near term, and then we will turn to expansion"

If that's wrapped up...

Let the games begin.#Bringbackoursonics@SeattleSonics… https://t.co/SgpGM9u8Jh

— Niko Tamurian (@NikoTamurian) July 10, 2024

Love the Amazon deal

Warner-Discovery officially matched the Amazon deal for NBA to stay on TNT.

It really means that this is probably going to court since there is (reportedly) a lot in the Amazon deal that TNT could not match

TNT Sports exercised its right to match a third-party NBA rights bid from Amazon Prime Video on Monday.@MMcCarthyREV says leagues should think about their loyal viewers when they change media partners—especially if it means losing shows like ‘Inside the NBA.’

New column ⬇️

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 22, 2024

TNT has announced that they will match Amazon’s $1.8 billion NBA media package bid.

The NBA will now decide which network to move forward with, but @DavidPSamson and former ESPN president John Skipper explain why 'matching' is a far more complicated process than you might think.… pic.twitter.com/clB9Iia6jz

— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) July 22, 2024