NBA's new TV deal, maybe not smooth sailing

[NoDopeOnSundays]

WBD formally submitted notice to the NBA that they are matching the $1.8 billion Amazon package, which surprised the league and the owners.

The NBA really wants Amazon, not WBD, which is struggling and is seen as low-balling them for some piece of the TV package.

The other thing is that Amazon may eventually take over a lot of the regional sports networks which own local TV rights to many NBA teams.

So if the league refuses, depending on the contract terms, there will probably be litigation or threat of litigation, which could delay the implementation of the new deal in October 2025.

Or the NBA may have to reach some settlement with WBD.

The NBA will just settle with WBD.

[SpreeChokeJob]

It was always to go down this route. TNT knew they had matching rights. There was no reason to start a bidding war. The matching clause was probably included to honor the decades partnership between TNT and the NBA. I don’t think the court would rule in favor of the NBA because the intention was to give TNT the opportunity to continue the partnership. And now the NBA is looking to break it. It would be a violation of what they signed for. The only issue now is unwinding Amazon. Otherwise it’s settlement or going to court. If a shared package could be negotiated between two parties then that would be ideal, it will involve lots of work though.

[wco81]

I don't know if it's a reliable source but Front Office Sports claims that both Amazon and ESPN are ready to poach Barkley and the Inside the NBA cast.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/276833/ESPN-Amazon-Interested-In-Charles-Barkley-Inside-The-NBA-Cast

$20 million a year? Barkley will unretire for that.

[HighFlyer23]

Silver is the worst commissioner there is

Get this cartoon looking emaciated alien out

[durden_tyler]

Silver is the worst commissioner there is

Get this cartoon looking emaciated alien out

He's better than Stern already.

[Rainwater]

Silver is the worst commissioner there is

Get this cartoon looking emaciated alien out

Dude just secured a 76 billion dollar tv rights deal when many thought he couldn’t do it lol

[sjballer03]

Silver is the worst commissioner there is

Get this cartoon looking emaciated alien out

He doesn't give a damn about your opinion lol.

[wco81]

So things have moved quickly.

After WBD said it's exercising it's matching provision rights, NBA formally rejected WBD's request to match.

Warner Bros. Discovery acquired matching rights as part of its current media rights deal with the league, which expires at the end of next season. That provision allows the company to match payment for any of the games that air on TNT, which it attempted to do Monday.

The NBA doesn’t believe Warner Bros. Discovery’s rights extend to an all-streaming package, which was carved out for Amazon. Warner Bros. Discovery also owns a streaming service, Max, which it could use to air games, but the company has told the NBA it plans to simulcast TNT games on Max rather than only putting them on Max.

The NBA sent a letter Wednesday to Warner Bros. Discovery, addressed to TNT Sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser, explaining why it can’t match Amazon’s package, citing language from the original matching provision, according to people familiar with the matter.

The NBA cited a provision that said the existing media partner can exercise matching rights “only via the specific form of combined audio and video distribution (e.g. if the specific form of combined audio and video distribution is internet distribution, a matching incumbent may not exercise such games rights via television distribution).”

In its statement, the NBA said that “throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans. 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.”

“All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience,” the league added. “We are grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/24/nba-picks-amazon-for-media-rights-over-warner-bros-discovery.html

So they're claiming that the Amazon package which WBD has requested to match is all-streaming and Amazon has 200 million global reach. Though I doubt the deal includes streaming rights overseas.

In any event NBA shut WBD fast and now WBD says it will sue the NBA in NY state.

It's stock got downgraded and some analysts said the fact that WBD is suing may make other leagues wary of entering into a deal with WBD. But what have they got to lose, they're about to get shut out of the NBA which it's broadcast for over 30 years.

[wco81]

So with the new broadcast partners in NBC and Amazon, there will be more games broadcast. In fact after the NFL season is over, there will be national games broadcast or streamed almost every day of the week.

What does this mean for regional sports networks which broadcast dozens of games a year to the local market? If they can't broadcast/stream the games which are on ESPN, NBC or TNT, that means much lower ad revenues for them.

As it is, many of them are barely surviving.

It's odd though, local Warriors games were on NBC Sports BA and they would show the games even if ESPN had the same games on. But when the Warriors were on TNT, NBC Sports BA could not broadcast those games.

If these regions sports networks fold because they don't have as many games, NBA fans may end up seeing fewer games of their team.

[AmusingFiddle]

So with the new broadcast partners in NBC and Amazon, there will be more games broadcast. In fact after the NFL season is over, there will be national games broadcast or streamed almost every day of the week.

What does this mean for regional sports networks which broadcast dozens of games a year to the local market? If they can't broadcast/stream the games which are on ESPN, NBC or TNT, that means much lower ad revenues for them.

As it is, many of them are barely surviving.

It's odd though, local Warriors games were on NBC Sports BA and they would show the games even if ESPN had the same games on. But when the Warriors were on TNT, NBC Sports BA could not broadcast those games.

If these regions sports networks fold because they don't have as many games, NBA fans may end up seeing fewer games of their team.

In some countries, media outlets are sold out to political parties/lobbyist groups. If networks start to lose revenue, they will sell their soul to the highest bidder to stay afloat.