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How NBC Became the Linchpin of the NBA’s Megabucks TV Rights Deal
The NBA's new TV deal was expected to reflect the rise of streamers into marquee sports, but it wound up cementing the primacy of broadcast networks.
A funny thing happened on the way to the forum: The NBA ’s much-anticipated new TV rights deal that was expected to reflect the financial muscle of streaming platforms wound up cementing the primacy of broadcast networks in sports contracts. There’s likely to be some legal tussling over whether WBD had the ability to match Amazon’s bid for a package of 66 games plus distribution rights in key international territories such as Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, U.K. and Ireland. The NBA’s prioritizing of broadcast distribution – for its ubiquity and ability to deliver big audiences — echoes the decision made by the NFL in 2021 with its 11-year rights pacts with ABC/ESPN, CBS, Fox, NBC and Amazon Prime Video.
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