NBA on broadcast camera before the start of the third quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference second round playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 12, 2024. TNT logo.
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warner bros discovery has agreed to end its quest to own the National Basketball Association’s live game packages in the United States starting with the 2025-26 season and resolve all legal disputes with the league.
Warner Bros. Discovery sued the NBA in July, alleging that the NBA did not allow the media company to use so-called matching rights on live game packages.
The league selected three media partners. disney, comcast’s NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video — Will be the live game streamer in the U.S. for 11 years starting next season. CNBC previously reported that the total value of the contract, which includes WNBA games, is about $77 billion.
The settlement with Warner Bros. Discovery announced Monday, as well as a separate agreement between WBD and ESPN, will see the company continue to participate in some NBA content, production partnerships and licensing agreements. However, this will officially end Turner Sports’ 40-year relationship with the NBA as a live game carrier in the United States after this season.
Turner Sports has offered NBA packages since 1984, and games have been broadcast on cable network TNT since 1988. The NBA decided to part ways with Warner Bros. Discovery as a media partner for several reasons, including a loss of confidence in cable’s long-term future. Television as a means of reaching young audiences.
Disney and Comcast have broadcast networks that show NBA games, and Amazon’s package is exclusively streamed.
Under the terms of the settlement, WBD’s TNT Sports will have no access to Highlights on its digital news site Bleacher Report and social media platform House of Highlights for the next 11 years, according to people familiar with the details. Free access will be granted. The deal allows Warner Bros. Discovery to license, create and distribute new and existing NBA content across its media properties, as well as live game rights in the Nordic countries excluding Brazil and Mexico, Poland and Latin America. Included.
The deal extends the partnership between NBA Digital and TNT Sports for a fifth season and allows the NBA to work with Warner Bros. Discovery on promotions and “a variety of services, including production, content development, and sales operations services,” according to a statement. It is said that it will become. .
The settlement guarantees Warner Bros. Discovery years of guaranteed revenue from the NBA. The league is not paying WBD any additional money for these services beyond the terms of the settlement, said the people, who requested anonymity because some of the terms of the agreement are private.
“Inside the NBA”
TNT’s popular studio show “Inside the NBA” will be licensed to Disney-owned ESPN and ABC for premier NBA games during the regular season and playoffs, including the finals. ESPN’s current NBA studio show “Countdown” will continue with other regular season games on ESPN.
Charles Barkley talks inside the NBA
Source: NBA on TNT
TNT Sports will continue to produce Inside the NBA, starring Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. The four hosts will remain with the show for the duration of their contracts and will be working on other new content for Warner Bros. Discovery’s cable and streaming platforms, including an “Inside Sports” show currently in development for next season, the newspaper said. It is said that there is a possibility of developing. company. Two people familiar with the deal said ESPN included a protective clause in the contract that would allow it to suspend its programming license if a key host leaves the show.
It’s unclear whether “Inside the NBA” will include TNT or ESPN branding when it begins airing on Disney’s platforms next year, officials said. TNT Sports will have full editorial control over the show, but ESPN talent may work with the hosts, sources said.
“The opportunity to continue the iconic, Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside the NBA’ is a huge win for basketball fans around the world,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “We look forward to further building on our long-standing partnership with TNT Sports and working together to promote NBA content across major WBD and NBA platforms.”
Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have teamed up several times over the past year, including a streaming bundle linking WBD’s Max service to Disney+ and Disney’s Hulu, which is currently stalled due to antitrust concerns. These include a sports-focused joint venture called Venu.
As a side part of the settlement, which does not involve the NBA, ESPN will allow TNT to televise 13 Big 12 football games and 15 men’s basketball games every season starting in 2025. The deal provides more linear TV exposure for the Big 12 through TNT. Most games would have been streamed exclusively on ESPN+, according to a person familiar with the matter.
ESPN entered into a similar sublicensing agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery earlier this year for the first round and quarterfinal games of the College Football Playoff.
consolation prize
The deal allows Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to take something home after failing to reach an agreement with the league during an exclusive negotiation period earlier this year. .
“These agreements allow fans to continue to enjoy TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ and support the growth of TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and our global sports business,” Zaslav said in a statement. As we accelerate, we are assured of creating significant value across our portfolio.” .
Silver told CNBC last month that the league “absolutely” could have reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, but the leaders of both sides were never on the same page.
“I haven’t had a long relationship with the people who now run Warner Bros. Discovery,” Silver said. “Ideally, in a partnership like this, people don’t pull out a contract and say Clause 3 on page 8. You understand the spirit of what you’re trying to achieve. “If you actually look at the contract, it’s a sign that the partnership isn’t working.” ”
Disclosure: Comcast’s NBCUniversal is the parent company of CNBC and co-owner of Hulu.
