NBA and Amazon Reach New Deal, Leaving TNT in the Lurch
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced a new 11-year, $1.8 billion annual contract with Amazon Prime Video, leaving Turner Sports, the current broadcast partner of the NBA, in a precarious position. The deal, which begins in the 2025-26 season, will see Amazon broadcast a significant number of NBA games, including the NBA Cup (formerly the in-season tournament), play-in games, and Thursday games during the regular season.
TNT, which has held NBA broadcast rights for 35 years, has matched Amazon’s offer, but the NBA has rejected the bid, citing a contractual right to reject the offer. TNT has vowed to take “appropriate action” and has expressed its commitment to continuing to broadcast the NBA.
The development has sent shockwaves through the sports world, with many fans and analysts wondering what this means for the future of the NBA on TNT. The beloved studio show “Inside the NBA,” hosted by Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, is a staple of the network and is widely regarded as one of the best sports programs on television.
The NBA’s decision to partner with Amazon is seen as a major coup for the league, which is looking to expand its reach and accessibility to fans around the world. The deal is expected to bring significant revenue to the league, and will help to promote the NBA and enhance the fan experience.
The future of TNT’s NBA broadcast rights is now uncertain, with the network facing the possibility of losing its long-standing partnership with the league. The network has a contractual right to match offers from competing entities, but it is unclear whether it will be able to do so.
The NBA’s decision to partner with Amazon is a significant blow to TNT, which has been the league’s broadcast partner for over three decades. The network has a rich history of broadcasting the NBA, and has been home to some of the most iconic moments in the league’s history.
The future of the NBA on TNT is now uncertain, but one thing is clear: the league’s partnership with Amazon is a major development that will have significant implications for the future of the NBA.
