The NBA has just finalized a monumental national television deal that promises to reshape the landscape of basketball broadcasting. This transformational agreement, valued at a staggering $76 billion, spans 11 years and brings several new media players into the fold, reflecting the league's ambition to expand its reach and enhance fan engagement.
New Partners in the Mix
One of the significant highlights of the new deal is the inclusion of three new partners: a media company, a broadcasting company, and a streaming service. These additions are set to begin their collaboration with the NBA in the 2025-26 season and the agreement will extend until the end of the 2035-36 season. This marks a notable escalation from the current nine-year, $24 billion deal, which concludes at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Among the new collaborators, Prime Video stands out by securing rights to stream one of the conference finals series in six of the 11 years. In addition, Prime Video will also carry NBA Cup games and Play-In Tournament games, further diversifying its sports portfolio. Throughout the first and second postseason rounds, the streaming giant will broadcast about one-third of the games annually, offering fans unprecedented access to playoff action.
Comprehensive Coverage
As part of the extended media rights, ABC and ESPN will continue their long-standing tradition of broadcasting NBA Finals games. Furthermore, they will air one of the two conference finals series for ten out of the 11 contract years and televise Christmas Day games along with marquee Saturday and Sunday regular-season matchups. Additionally, ABC/ESPN will provide coverage of approximately 18 games in the first two rounds of the postseason each year.
Another broadcasting company will take the mantle for one of the conference finals series in six of the 11 years, complementing ABC/ESPN's coverage. This broadcaster will also handle the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Saturday night, opening night, and Sunday night primetime games, ensuring that major NBA events remain accessible to a broad audience. Their commitment includes broadcasting around 28 games during the first two rounds of the playoffs each season, alongside or via its streaming service.
Farewell to Turner Sports
Warner Bros. Discovery, a long-term player in NBA broadcasts through Turner Sports, will not be part of the new agreement. Having started its journey with NBA games in 1989, Turner Sports' celebrated program "Inside the NBA" is expected to see its final season in its current form. Reflecting on nearly three decades of collaboration, the NBA expressed its gratitude, stating, "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."
Financial Implications
This new deal dramatically increases the NBA’s annual national media revenue by roughly 2.6 times. The surge in income is set to impact the financial landscape across the league, including franchise values and player salaries. National television revenue, the largest contributor to the NBA's combined earnings—which were approximately $10.6 billion in 2023—is expected to climb significantly under this fresh agreement.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver highlighted the strategic importance of the new partnerships, stating, "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."
Salary Cap Considerations
The influx of revenue is also poised to influence the salary cap, which cannot increase by more than 10% per year. Starting from the 2025 offseason, the cap is expected to rise by the maximum amount each year, providing teams with greater financial flexibility and the ability to invest more substantially in player acquisitions and salary negotiations.
At the heart of these negotiations, the NBA underscored its commitment to its fanbase, stating, "Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans."
With this groundbreaking deal, the NBA is not only solidifying its current fanbase but also laying a robust foundation for future growth. Fans around the world can look forward to an exciting era of basketball viewing experiences, ensuring that the game remains accessible, dynamic, and at the forefront of sports entertainment.