How NBC Became the Linchpin of the NBA’s Megabucks TV Rights Deal
variety.comCynthia Littleton Business Editor A funny thing happened on the way to the forum: The NBA’s much-anticipated new TV rights deal that was expected to reflect the financial muscle of streaming platforms wound up cementing the primacy of broadcast networks in sports contracts.
The big moves in the 11-year agreement, valued at a whopping $76 billion, are the return of NBCUniversal, the entry of Amazon Prime Video and the exit of Warner Bros.
Discovery’s TNT. ESPN and ABC remain the league’s cornerstone partner with rights to the NBA finals. There’s likely to be some legal tussling over whether WBD had the ability to match Amazon’s bid for a package of 66 games plus distribution rights in key international territories such as Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, U.K.
and Ireland. For sure, the NBA deal marks another big expansion in live sports coverage for Prime Video when the pact begins with the 2025-2026 NBA season.
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