WBD In Talks With NBA For Fourth Rights Package

[RealGM Wiretap]

Warner Bros. Discovery is in negotiations with the NBA about the possibility of a fourth media right package, sources tell Michael McCarthy of FrontOffice Sports.

ESPN, Amazon and NBC would be the three media partners of the NBA under the currently proposed deals.

WBD has match rights as an incumbent partner, which is believed to be complicating the NBA's intent to move forward with the other companies.

WBD is discussing keeping the NBA on TNT on a smaller less-expensive package that could include regular season and some playoff games.

The NBA could also take a package of locally televised games from teams and turn them into national games for TNT, according to Puck.

A smaller package could ensure the survival of "Inside the NBA."

When CEO David Zaslav began negotiations with the NBA during WBD's exclusive window, he expected to pay between $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion to retain the "B" package and refused to go to $2.4 billion. This allowed NBC to enter talks with a $2.6 billion offer that was virtually impossible for WBD to match.

Via Michael McCarthy/FrontOffice Sports

[njknicks]

Inside the NBA was a great platform 10 years ago - unrivaled with wholesome look at the game. Today it is becoming irrelevant because the panel / analysis / showcase does not appeal as it once did.

It is completely watered down content, focused more on hot takes & outlandish criticism of modern players … and frankly their is much better content & much more competition online / via social media. Fans have much more real time options.

Their recent choice of hosts has been downright awful ( ie Draymond, Candace Parker etc ). The real fans / hosts are the content creators - not the players who have one foot in retirement & looking to keep racking up contracts.

WBD should take a hard pass : much better alternatives to investing $2b.

[Future Coach]

It is completely watered down content, focused more on hot takes & outlandish criticism of modern players

This has been true for some time. It's also true for other networks/shows as well, likely with most of ESPN being a shining example.

And this is exactly why the CEO is trying to make this last ditch effort, because otherwise he will have a whole season next year of Barkley and Shaq continuing to blast him on TV that he is paying them a large salary to be on, which is just an embarrassing prospect.

[t-rexCity]

Inside the NBA was a great platform 10 years ago - unrivaled with wholesome look at the game. Today it is becoming irrelevant because the panel / analysis / showcase does not appeal as it once did.

It is completely watered down content, focused more on hot takes & outlandish criticism of modern players … and frankly their is much better content & much more competition online / via social media. Fans have much more real time options.

Their recent choice of hosts has been downright awful ( ie Draymond, Candace Parker etc ). The real fans / hosts are the content creators - not the players who have one foot in retirement & looking to keep racking up contracts.

WBD should take a hard pass : much better alternatives to investing $2b.

Watered down? Lol please enlighten us. What do you mean watered down? Draymond, Parker..they are guests. Every year they bring different guests. Keeps it fresh. Plus they had VC, Baron Davis, Dirk etc etc. Who doesn’t want to see these guys? As a matter of fact, no other show out there will get close to the type of guests Inside the NBA attracts. It's the only show that's respected by ALL current players. And this so called Content creators. What content creator? Give me one example.

Inside the NBA is the only show worth watching. The online space is garbage. One highlight repeated and recycled over a thousand times.

[Rainwater]

Inside the NBA was a great platform 10 years ago - unrivaled with wholesome look at the game. Today it is becoming irrelevant because the panel / analysis / showcase does not appeal as it once did.

It is completely watered down content, focused more on hot takes & outlandish criticism of modern players … and frankly their is much better content & much more competition online / via social media. Fans have much more real time options.

Their recent choice of hosts has been downright awful ( ie Draymond, Candace Parker etc ). The real fans / hosts are the content creators - not the players who have one foot in retirement & looking to keep racking up contracts.

WBD should take a hard pass : much better alternatives to investing $2b.

Speak for yourself, lol.