The NBA is exploring a new television rights deal centered around streaming services. According to The Athletic, the league is currently negotiating with tech giants such as Amazon and legacy media companies like NBC. The current deals with ESPN (owned by Disney) and TNT (owned by Warner Bros. Discovery) expire in 2025.
A partnership with a tech company would mark a significant change, highlighting the shift towards streaming and away from traditional broadcast channels. Live sports continue to be a major draw for media companies, with streaming services recognizing the potential for growth, particularly in international markets driven by gambling and fantasy sports.
Amazon has made significant investments in live-streamed sports, recently securing a deal with the NFL for Thursday Night Football. Apple also has multi-year agreements with MLS and MLB for live game coverage. Legacy media companies are responding to this challenge by investing heavily in streaming services. Comcast Universal offered the first-ever NFL playoff game on its streaming platform Peacock in January, while Paramount and Disney plan to enhance their streaming offerings for sports.
The outcome of these negotiations will reshape the landscape for NBA media coverage, with streaming services poised to play an increasingly prominent role.
