The NBA and TNT Sports activities’ father or mother firm Warner Bros. Discovery are rumored to be in settlement talks. WBD filed a lawsuit towards the NBA after the league moved ahead with their new spherical of media offers with ESPN, NBC and Amazon. WBD argued that that they had match rights for the Amazon deal.
“I do know [both sides] need to clear up this,” says one supply. “It needs to be quickly. They don’t need to let it drag on,” provides one other supply.
Whereas settlements are usually monetary, there was hypothesis of a fourth rights package deal being granted to TNT that might enable Contained in the NBA to proceed. Each corporations wish to keep away from a prolonged, costly and probably embarrassing trial.
The NBA countered that TNT Sports activities’ try and match Amazon’s provide was really a counteroffer. Amazon is paying an estimated $1.8 billion per 12 months for the NBA’s “C” package deal. Disney (A package deal, $2.6 billion per 12 months) and NBCUniversal (B package deal, $2.45 billion per 12 months) are slated to be the league’s different broadcast companions beginning in 2025-26.
The NBA and WBD have upcoming hearings on Nov. 22 and Dec. 17.
