Charles Barkley announces that he will retire from television after the 2024-25 NBA season. (1:57)
The NBA signed its 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday after saying it would not accept Warner Bros. ‘s $1. 8 billion-a-year offer. Discovery will continue its long-standing relationship with the league.
The press rights agreements were approved through the league’s board of governors last week and will bring the league about $76 billion over the next 11 years.
WBD had five days to close some of those deals and said it was exercising its right to do so, but its offer was not considered suitable for the NBA. This means that the 2024-25 season will be the last. for TNT after almost four decades. However, shortly after the signing was announced, WBD said it would take “appropriate action” and said it believed the NBA would accept its settlement offer.
“Virtual opportunities with Amazon are very much compatible with the global interest in the NBA,” league commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “And Prime Video’s large subscriber base will particularly strengthen our ability to engage our enthusiasts in new and cutting-edge ways. “
Turner Sports strongly disagrees with the NBA’s decision, the league “seriously misinterpreted our contractual rights. “
“We have matched Amazon’s offer, as we have contractual rights, and we do not believe the NBA can refuse it,” TNT Sports said in a statement. “In doing so, they reject the many enthusiasts who continue to show their unwavering help. for our top-notch coverage, provided through the all-round combined success of WBD’s video distribution platforms. . . We will take appropriate measures. “
TNT said it continues to look ahead to next season, “including our iconic ‘Inside the NBA. ‘”
Under the new agreement, Amazon Prime Video will stream games on Friday nights, Saturday afternoons and Thursday nights, which begin after the conclusion of Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” show. Prime Video will also take over WBD’s NBA League Pass package.
“Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent maximum proposal was not compatible with the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer and, as a result, we have entered into a long-term agreement with Amazon,” the NBA said Wednesday. “Throughout those negotiations, our primary goal has been to maximize the success and accessibility of our games for our fans. Our new agreement with Amazon supports this purpose by complementing the streaming, cable, and streaming packages already part of our new programming from Disney and NBCUniversal. All three components We have also committed really extensive resources to publicize the league and the fan experience.
The new bundle on Amazon also includes at least one Black Friday game, as well as the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game of the league’s season tournament, the NBA Cup.
“Over the past several years, we’ve worked hard to bring the most productive sports to Prime Video and continue to innovate the viewing experience,” said Jay Marine, Global Head of Sports at Prime Video. “We are excited to now bring the NBA up to our developing sports lineup, adding the NFL, UEFA Champions League, NASCAR, NHL, WNBA, NWSL, Wimbledon and more. We are grateful to partner with the NBA and look to the future to watch out for 2025. “
ESPN and ABC will remain the league’s package, which includes the NBA Finals. ABC has hosted the final since 2003.
ESPN/ABC will broadcast approximately one hundred games during the regular season. More than 20 games will air on ABC, typically on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, while ESPN will air up to 60 games, typically on Wednesday nights with some Friday games. ABC and ESPN will also partner for five games on Christmas Day and offer exclusive national coverage of the final day of the regular season.
During the playoffs, ESPN and ABC will play about 18 games in the first two rounds of the year and one of the two convention finals in the entire year of the deal.
Shortly after the NBA’s announcement, the WNBA announced its own 11-year media rights partnerships with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC, that the league will get about $200 million a year, a source told ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
Beginning with the 2025-2026 season, Disney’s WNBA and NBA games will be available to stream on its virtual platforms, adding Disney in select markets around the world.
“As the media landscape continues to evolve, this forward-thinking agreement represents a significant and ambitious step in our project to serve sports fans, anytime, anywhere, adding opportunities to navigate global virtual transition effective,” ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. statement. “With a premium collection of regular and postseason game rights, culminating in the NBA and WNBA Finals, as well as original and studio content initiatives, we look to building our legacy of innovation with the NBA and continue playing a vital role. role in the ordinary expansion trajectory of the WNBA. ”
The return of NBC, which aired NBA games from 1990 to 2002, gives the NBA two partner broadcast networks for the first time.
NBC will bring up to 100 regular-season games, adding Sunday nights, once the NFL season ends. It will air the games on Tuesdays during the normal season, while a doubleheader on Monday night will air exclusively on Peacock.
NBC will also host the All-Star Game and Saturday Night All-Star Game. During the playoffs, NBC and/or Peacock will play up to 28 games in the first two rounds, with at least part on NBC.
NBC and Amazon will also host one of the convention’s final two series in six of the 11 years, in turns. NBC will host a final conference in 2026-27, followed by Amazon next season.
“The return of NBA basketball to the NBC Sports family circle comes with great benefits and excitement for our fans,” Silver said. “And with its platforms, adding NBC and Peacock, and its vast resources, NBCUniversal promises to leverage the deep culture and history of the NBA on NBC. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.