The NBA turned down Warner Bros. Discovery’s attempt to match a $1.8 billion annual bid from Amazon Prime Video for broadcasting rights on Wednesday which could lead to a potential legal confrontation between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA.
The announcement follows just 48 hours after Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company, informed the NBA of its intention to match Amazon’s $1.8 billion bid for broadcasting rights. This move aims to secure the games and poses a potential challenge to Warner Bros. Discovery’s cable and streaming goals.
A TNT spokesperson said in a statement, “We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it. In doing so, they are rejecting the many fans who continue to show their unwavering support for our best-in-class coverage, delivered through the full combined reach of WBD’s video-first distribution platforms — including TNT, home to our four-decade partnership with the league, and Max, our leading streaming service. We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond, and we will take appropriate action.”
The NBA announced that its new 11-year media partnership with Amazon will enhance its existing broadcast, cable, and streaming agreements with NBCUniversal and Disney. These agreements collectively total $77 billion.
The NBA said, “Warner Bros. Discovery’s most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon.”
Under the new agreements, national NBA games will be available on Prime Video, NBC’s Peacock streaming service, and ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer platform. Approximately 75 regular-season games will be shown on television each season. Disney will continue to broadcast key NBA events, including the NBA Finals, a Christmas Day game, Wednesday games on ESPN, Saturday prime-time games on ABC, and Sunday showcase packages.
Additionally, NBC will broadcast new Sunday night prime-time games, NBA opening night, and Tuesday regional games and will also air games on Peacock on Mondays and the NBA All-Star game.
Furthermore, Amazon’s Prime Video will stream the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, Emirates NBA Cup, and Thursday and Friday night games. Amazon will also act as the league’s strategic partner and serve as a global destination for the NBA League Pass.
Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, said, “Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world. These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade.”