As a long-time movie buff and media industry observer, I have witnessed countless battles for coveted sports rights over the years. The NBA’s latest move to reject Warner Bros. Discovery’s last-minute attempt to secure new rights packages is no exception.
The NBA is blocking one of Warner Bros. Discovery’s last shots on the clock.
On Wednesdays, the basketball league declined Warner’s attempt to join new rights deals with Amazon, Disney, and NBCUniversal, set to start post-2024-2025 season. To keep competing, Warner might initiate a lawsuit, arguing that the NBA unfairly denied them the opportunity to match the package terms for games they could broadcast under their existing contract, which concludes in 2025 after the upcoming NBA season ends.
The league stated that Warner Bros. Discovery’s latest proposal didn’t align with Amazon Prime Video’s deal conditions. As a result, we’ve opted for a long-term partnership with Amazon instead.
A spokesman for Warner’s TNT Sports was not able to offer immediate comment.
The NBA is aiming to secure lengthy contracts, recognizing the significance of sports in today’s media landscape. In an age dominated by streaming services, sports remain one of the rare genres capable of attracting massive, synchronized audiences that advertisers, broadcasters, and leagues desire.
Warner isn’t included in the league’s ideal team of players. Reports suggest that rights deals have already been hammered out, with Disney paying approximately $2.6 billion annually for fewer games than they currently possess under a proposed 11-year contract. Amazon might pay around $1.8 billion per year for a new package, granting the NBA a significant presence on a major streaming platform that has already broadened the NFL’s fanbase among broadband viewers. NBCU is also in talks to pay roughly $2.5 billion annually under terms that seem close to being finalized.
As a film enthusiast, I’m always thrilled when I can access more content from my favorite leagues, and the NBA is no exception. During our recent discussions, our top priority was to broaden the reach and convenience for fans to enjoy NBA games. Our fresh partnership with Amazon aligns perfectly with this objective. This collaboration not only strengthens but also supplements the existing broadcast, cable, and streaming deals we have with Disney and NBCUniversal. All three entities have pledged substantial investments to boost NBA promotion and elevate the fan experience. We’re deeply appreciative of Turner Sports for their exceptional coverage of the NBA, and we eagerly anticipate another fantastic NBA season on TNT.
At a tense meeting on Tuesday, executives from Comcast, the NBA’s parent company, suggested that the NBA’s preferred partners were becoming impatient due to the delay caused by Warner’s persistence in staying involved. Mike Cavanagh, president of Comcast, assured everyone that they believed they would secure the deal. He also mentioned that he thought the recent Warner Bros. Discovery negotiations wouldn’t significantly alter the current agreement.
The NBA’s desired arrangement would leave Warner with a major hole in its sports portfolio and in the schedule of its TNT cable network, a flagship property that relies heavily on sports to lure big audiences. “The NBA is a significant driver of TNT’s affiliate value, and losing out on a key rights package is likely to hinder” Warner’s “leverage in future affiliate negotiations,” said Robert Fishman, an analyst with MoffettNathanson, in a research note issued last week. “Over the past few months, WBD has been doling out money to secure incremental sports rights; however, it is unclear if these deals will be able to replicate the value of the NBA in the eyes of distributors.”
Warner executives believe they can introduce a new show that will satisfy NBA negotiators. According to sources familiar with the situation, Warner aims to persuade the league by reminding them that fans are accustomed to watching games on TNT. By leveraging this familiarity, Warner hopes to explain how to access the content on Max, their streaming platform, which could be a significant selling point as Warner competes against Amazon’s streaming capabilities. Shifting the games to Amazon, executives argue, might cause confusion for viewers who have already established viewing habits. Additionally, Warner emphasizes its popular “Inside the NBA” studio show, a renowned news and analysis program about NBA play in sports media.
Despite the opinions of several sports analysts, Warner Bros. Discovery executives are believed to have taken a bold move during contract negotiations. In an investor conference call late in 2022, Zaslav expressed that he thought Warner didn’t necessarily require the NBA to succeed in the media industry. The NBA leadership has been disappointed by recent cost-cutting measures from Warner, which included the departure of sports executives like Lenny Daniels and staff members who worked on “Inside the NBA,” featuring Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. Barkley announced his intention to retire from sportscasting once the NBA’s contract with Warner ends in 2025.
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2024-07-24 23:46