NBC's $2.5 Billion Bid to Snatch NBA Rights from TNT: Game-Changer or Gamble?

Author:

Patricia Bell

|Published: May 1st, 2024

NBC aims to reclaim NBA media rights with a staggering $2.5 billion yearly offer, potentially displacing TNT Sports, as the Wall Street Journal reported.

If successful, this bid would more than double Warner Bros. Discovery's current $1.2 billion agreement. ESPN is expected to retain its rights, while Amazon may become the league's first streaming service domestic partner.

NBC, absent from NBA rights since 2002, proposes a package covering regular season, playoff games, and Peacock streaming.

NBC's bid, catering to over-the-air TV, plans to air two primetime games weekly. Warner Bros. Discovery can counter any third-party bid, maintaining its primetime slot.

NBC's move aligns with its streaming and over-the-air distribution strategy.

Dan Cohen, Octagon EVP, highlights the NBA's appeal in this strategy shift.

The partnership would elevate NBC's position in the sports media landscape, already boasting the Olympics, NFL's Sunday Night Football, Premier League, and more.

Conversely, it could impact Warner Bros. Discovery's upcoming streaming venture.

Disney, via ESPN, is set to retain top domestic rights, with a reported $2.6 billion yearly payout.

TNT Sports' NBA coverage, featuring award-winning studio shows, could face uncertainty if NBC secures the rights.

TNT Sports' lineup includes US Soccer, NHL, MLB, and cycling. Losing NBA rights may impact its value to cable operators, potentially affecting carriage fees.