The National Basketball Association (NBA) has struck a monumental new national television deal that promises to reshape the landscape of sports broadcasting. Valued at a staggering $76 billion and spanning 11 years, this agreement introduces new partnerships with a media company, a broadcasting company, and a notable streaming service. This deal is a significant upgrade from the current $24 billion, nine-year agreement set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.
New Partnerships and Coverage
The fresh arrangement, starting in the 2025-26 season and running through the end of the 2035-36 season, guarantees extensive coverage across multiple platforms, thus increasing accessibility for fans. Among the key components, ABC and ESPN will continue to be pivotal in delivering NBA Finals games, one conference finals series in 10 out of the 11 years, Christmas Day games, marquee weekend regular-season matchups, and approximately 18 games from the first two rounds of the postseason each year.
Another unnamed broadcasting company is slated to cover one conference finals series in six of the 11 years, along with the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Saturday night, opening night, and Sunday night primetime games. This broadcaster, together with its streaming service, will broadcast around 28 games from the first two rounds of the playoffs every season.
In a pivotal move, Prime Video enters the fray by streaming one of the conference finals series in six out of the 11 years. In addition, Prime Video will handle NBA Cup games, Play-In Tournament games, and about one-third of the first and second postseason rounds each year. Warner Bros. Discovery, however, will not be part of this new agreement, signifying the end of an era for Turner Sports, which has been broadcasting NBA games since 1989. Consequently, the upcoming season will likely be the last for the renowned "Inside the NBA" show in its current form.
Financial Implications
From a financial standpoint, this deal is poised to boost the NBA’s annual national media income by approximately 2.6 times. The league's salary cap is expected to climb by the maximum allowable 10% per year starting in the 2025 offseason, signaling an upward trajectory for franchise values and player salaries.
In 2023, the combined earnings of the 30 NBA teams were about $10.6 billion, with national television revenue being the largest contributor. With the influx of revenue from the new deal, these earnings are set to soar even higher.
Throughout the negotiations, the NBA has emphasized its commitment to enhancing the accessibility and reach of its games for fans. "Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans," the NBA stated. This vision is further echoed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who remarked, "Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world. These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade."
Looking Forward
While the new deal signifies progress, there is also a sense of gratitude for the historical contributions by existing partners. "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 NBA expressed, acknowledging the longstanding relationship with Turner Sports.
As the final whistle blows on the current agreement, the anticipation for the upcoming era builds. The new partnership, featuring diverse media and streaming services, is set to transform the way fans engage with NBA content. This bold move will not only expand the league's presence but also redefine the fan experience on a global scale.