The NBA continues to receive payments from their broadcast partners despite the season currently being suspended due to COVID-19, according to sources that spoke with Bloomberg.
The NBA has a $2.6 billion annually deal with ESPN and Turner.
“This is an unprecedented situation,” ESPN said in a statement. “We have great relationships with our league partners and are confident we can address all issues constructively going forward.”
Said Turner: “We have strong, longstanding relationships with our partners, and we’re confident we will be able to find solutions that work for all of us, despite this truly unprecedented situation.”
The NBA's existing broadcast contracts expire after the 24-25 season and the value lost to the networks could be made up over the life of the deals, according to sources. That exact value must be negotiated.
Almost $700 million of ads will be at risk for Disney should the suspended season be fully canceled.