Re: NBA Announces WBD Didn't Technically Match Amazon's $1.8 Billion Per Year Offer

[RealGM Wiretap]

The NBA has announced their decision that Warner Bros. Discovery didn't technically match the terms of Amazon's $1.8 billion per year offer for media rights and that they will move forward with the tech company as intended. 

“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 press release.

“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.

“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.”

The decision could lead to litigation as TNT had negotiated match rights in its previous deal with the NBA.

Via RealGM Staff Report

[RipCityKJ]

Silver has done everything to make this game unwatchable and it’s working. I’m not going on Prime Video for anything especially live sports.

[the_process]

This is definitely going to a lawsuit. What's the NBA's basis for saying Warner Bros. discovery didn't match Amazon's offer other than they don't want to work with Warner Bros. discovery anymore? I don't see how the NBA doesn't lose this, unless Nosferatu snuck in some freaking minuscule minute detail like a good little lawyer would to try and get their way.

[niha17]

Its all a money grab. nothing for the customer. I streamed league pass and it was terrible I went back to only on tv because it was real fussy. ill probably never watch on amazon and I have prime video basketball moves too fast to stream

[3ptLion]

See you in court.

[alienpick]

See you in court.

My guess is they couldn't match the money Amazon put in escrow to support their bid, as WBD is in debt and wouldn't be able to put that much in escrow. So, that's not matching, and WBD doesn't have a case.

[alienpick]

This is definitely going to a lawsuit. What's the NBA's basis for saying Warner Bros. discovery didn't match Amazon's offer other than they don't want to work with Warner Bros. discovery anymore? I don't see how the NBA doesn't lose this, unless Nosferatu snuck in some freaking minuscule minute detail like a good little lawyer would to try and get their way.

My guess is WBD couldn't match the money Amazon put in escrow (~$5 billion + another $5 billion in year 2 &3) to support their bid, as WBD is in debt and wouldn't be able to put that much in escrow. So, if they can't match that "deposit" then that's not matching, and WBD doesn't have a case.

[Melwing]

I thought this might happen from the start, my monkey-brain thought is that WBD cannot match amazon's STREAMING reach, and that the terms of the new agreement aren't able to be actually matched by WBD because they simply do not have the logistics to get those streaming numbers. I bet it ends in a settlement.

[Pickled Prunes]

Silver has done everything to make this game unwatchable and it’s working. I’m not going on Prime Video for anything especially live sports.

Do you have a cable package that allows you to watch POR home games? Asking because I'm in POR and I haven't seen a home game on TV in years.

[the_process]

See you in court.

My guess is they couldn't match the money Amazon put in escrow to support their bid, as WBD is in debt and wouldn't be able to put that much in escrow. So, that's not matching, and WBD doesn't have a case.

Could've sworn I read WBD got a big loan to cover the escrow payments. But maybe not.

[RipCityKJ]

Silver has done everything to make this game unwatchable and it’s working. I’m not going on Prime Video for anything especially live sports.

Do you have a cable package that allows you to watch POR home games? Asking because I'm in POR and I haven't seen a home game on TV in years.

I stream blazers games because that's the only option they've given me with their local monopoly. Prime football games are trash, I can only imagine the NBA coverage is going to be below that.

[e83pw2oa9hl5f]

brilliant way push people to pirate.

[Prophet_tt]

See you in court.

My guess is they couldn't match the money Amazon put in escrow to support their bid, as WBD is in debt and wouldn't be able to put that much in escrow. So, that's not matching, and WBD doesn't have a case.

Could've sworn I read WBD got a big loan to cover the escrow payments. But maybe not.

Yes you are right I also read the same thing. They have the money to put in escrow.

[winforlose]

I read somewhere over the summer that WBD actually matched the dollar amount, but the NBA demanded more money to match the amount of extras/perks that the Amazon deal provided. I think I might have read it here, but I could be wrong. Either way, the legal proceedings had better be expedited, as the season starts in approximately 3 months.

[DoctorDunc]

Silver is doing everything he can to auction off media rights with fans being the massive loser in having to pay more for meaningless NBA regular season games. Playoffs are fun but the regular season is a sh{t product.

[the_process]

If the NBA's stance is that more people have Amazon then have TNT, and so therefore WBD did not match the Amazon offer... I don't see how that's a winning position in court.

If Silver wants Amazon so badly, maybe he pays WBD to go away?

[M2J]

Can't even say I'm mad at the NBA for this. TNT should've come correct when they had an exclusive window.

It's true that Amazon is a built in marketing platform. I use a fire stick and even if I didn't use prime, they would still heavily keep the NBA in my face just like YouTube tv keeps NFL League pass in your face. They also didn't have the same subscription base. TNT can't match that and should pay more money.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the Amazon games were also showcased on NBA TV for non subscribers... Maybe

[MitchB3]

Let's be a bit truthful here, the NBA doesn't like anyone criticizing "the game." Inside the NBA crew, kept it honest, truthful, and respectful. No personal attacks on the players, no personal attacks on the coaches, execs, or even Silver. All they did was keep it to basketball. The guys who've been in the league for 12-22+ years didn't enjoy the fact that they "attacked" them. We darn sure know the newer players hate being criticized, if it's not praise, then they look at it as being "hurtful" and destroy their confidence. Here's another example of what I'm saying, JVG & Mark Jackson, two critical analyses that kept it straight. NBA told the four-letter to get rid of them or "else" and guess what happens? Both of them are gone. So really it's deeper than the "$1.8 Billion Per Year" package. They want new people who will do nothing but keep it to the script. AKA think of MSDNC (msnbc) and CDNC (cnn) and how they run cover for the democratic party.

[cheese318]

I guess the 180M+ Prime subscribers is going to be how NBA tries to argue the agreement is place is not the same. In the end game if you are getting $1.8B/year that is a match right deal. How many households have access to TNT in the USA? I’d have to guess more than Amazon Prime subs or about the same. Litigation is coming and if Adam really wants Amazon maybe he’ll pay to make TNT go away

[cheese318]

If the NBA's stance is that more people have Amazon then have TNT, and so therefore WBD did not match the Amazon offer... I don't see how that's a winning position in court.

If Silver wants Amazon so badly, maybe he pays WBD to go away?

Yea you definitely called this a week ago and it’s playing out exactly as you said it could. One of the best sports themed shows over the last 30+ years and they match the offer to keep the namesake “Inside the NBA” goes to show you they don’t care whatsoever about it