The NBA has ushered in a new era with a landmark television deal set to transform the landscape of basketball broadcasting. The league has solidified an agreement valued at a staggering $76 billion that will span 11 years, commencing in the 2025-26 season and concluding at the end of the 2035-36 season. This deal represents a significant leap from the current nine-year, $24 billion arrangement expiring after the 2024-25 season.
The new agreement brings a fresh roster of broadcast partners into the fold, partnering with a wide array of media entities, including a media company, a broadcasting company, and a streaming service. These new partnerships align with the NBA's strategic vision to enhance the reach and accessibility of its games.
“Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans,” an NBA representative stated, emphasizing the league’s commitment to broadening its audience base.
Continuing the tradition of high-profile coverage, ABC and ESPN will retain the rights to air NBA Finals games. Additionally, ABC/ESPN will broadcast one of the two conference finals series in 10 out of the 11 years covered by the new agreement. The networks are also set to televise marquee Saturday and Sunday regular-season matchups, Christmas Day games, and approximately 18 games in the first two rounds of the postseason each year.
New Broadcasting Dynamics
An undisclosed broadcasting company will share the spotlight, covering one of the conference finals series in six of the 11 years. This broadcaster is also tasked with providing comprehensive coverage of the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Saturday night, opening night, and Sunday night primetime games. Between its television channel and streaming service, this partner is expected to broadcast around 28 games in the first two rounds of the playoffs every season.
Prime Video Enters the Arena
In a groundbreaking move, Prime Video will stream one of the conference finals series in six out of the 11 years, marking a significant shift towards digital streaming. The platform will also carry NBA Cup games, Play-In Tournament games, and stream about one-third of the first and second postseason rounds each year.
Commenting on the transformative nature of these new media partnerships, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed enthusiasm for the league's future. “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."
Goodbye to Turner Sports
Conspicuously absent from the new deal is Warner Bros. Discovery, marking the end of an era for Turner Sports, which began broadcasting NBA games in 1989. The upcoming season is expected to be the last for “Inside the NBA” in its current form, a program beloved by fans for its unique blend of analysis and entertainment.
“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 in a reflective acknowledgment of the partnership’s rich history.
A Financial Windfall
The new agreement is set to immensely boost the NBA’s revenue, increasing the league's annual national media income by approximately 2.6 times. This surge in income is expected to have wide-ranging implications for the league, including increases in franchise values and player salaries. The salary cap, however, will be regulated to prevent it from rising more than 10% per year, with expectations pointing towards the maximum allowable increase each year starting in the 2025 offseason.
In 2023, the combined earnings of the 30 NBA teams were approximately $10.6 billion, with national television revenue being the largest contributor. The new television deal is poised to augment these earnings substantially, fortifying the league’s financial standing.
As the NBA prepares to embark on this next chapter with a dynamic mix of traditional and digital media partners, the focus remains steadfast on enhancing the fan experience and securing the league's growth for the next decade. The historic value of the new deal underscores the NBA’s prominence in the sports world and its strategic vision of widespread accessibility and engagement.