Simply two days after TNT Sports activities announced it had submitted paperwork to the league workplace exercising its matching rights on Amazon’s new media rights deal with the NBA, the league has responded by rejecting TNT’s proposal.
“Warner Bros. Discovery’s most up-to-date proposal didn’t match the phrases of Amazon Prime Video’s supply and, due to this fact, now we have entered right into a long-term association with Amazon,” the league’s assertion reads.
“All through these negotiations, our major goal has been to maximise the attain and accessibility of our video games for our followers. Our new association with Amazon helps this aim by complementing the published, cable and streaming packages which might be already a part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal preparations. All three companions have additionally dedicated substantial sources to advertise the league and improve the fan expertise.
“We’re grateful to Turner Sports activities for its award-winning protection of the NBA and sit up for one other season of the NBA on TNT.”
This course of is enjoying out as anticipated thus far. As a longtime NBA broadcast companion, Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT’s mother or father firm) was given some type of matching rights in its earlier settlement with the league. Nonetheless, the idea was that the NBA wouldn’t acknowledge these rights when TNT matched Amazon’s supply, given the variations between the 2 corporations’ distribution strategies and the type of attain they’ll supply.
TNT may merely settle for the NBA’s choice and again down. Nonetheless, the expectation is that the corporate will strongly contemplate a authorized problem in response to the NBA’s ruling. That might lead to an in-court battle over Amazon’s bundle or maybe a monetary settlement for WBD.
In any case, it appears extra sure than ever that the NBA will transfer ahead with out TNT Sports activities as a companion starting in 2025-26 when its new media rights offers go into impact. That will imply the 2024-25 season would be the final one which options nationwide video games and the favored “Contained in the NBA” studio present on the community.
The league issued a separate press release formally saying its agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video.