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NBA Announces Long-Term TV Deals with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon
The NBA has finalized its new long-term TV deals, with ESPN and The Walt Disney Co.; NBC Sports and NBCUniversal; and Amazon Prime Video set to be the new home for national NBA games beginning in 2025 and running into 2036.
Disney will remain the NBA’s partner for the “A” package, including the NBA Finals in a deal sources estimate at around $2.6 billion per year. The NBA also found new rights partners in the form of NBC Sports, which is in line to get the “B” package for around $2.5 billion per year, and Amazon for the “C” package at around $1.8 billion per year.
“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,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement. “These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade.”
The news from the league came shortly after it rejected a proposal from current rightsholder Warner Bros. Discovery to match Amazon’s package of games.
“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,” the NBA said in a statement. “Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans,” the statement continued. “Our new arrangement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable and streaming packages that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements.”
“We look forward to building upon our incredible legacy of innovation and growth with our longstanding partners at the NBA,” said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “The NBA is a vibrant, ascendant league and through this premium collection of rights, including every NBA Finals on our platforms, we will continue to evolve together while successfully navigating the global digital transition and delivering the highest quality coverage for fans.”
“We are proud to once again partner with the NBA and WNBA, two iconic brands and the home of the best basketball in the world,” said Mike Cavanagh, president of Comcast Corporation. “We look forward to presenting our best-in-class coverage of both leagues with our innovative programming and distribution plan across NBC and Peacock to entertain fans and help grow the game.”
“We are honored that the NBA has entrusted Prime Video to deliver its one-of-a-kind action and excitement to viewers around the world,” said Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. “We look forward to continuing to innovate and evolve live sports coverage for our customers, and are fully committed to building an incredible video experience for millions of NBA fans starting in 2025.”
More to come.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
