The NBA has struck a landmark television deal set to redefine its broadcasting landscape. Starting in the 2025-26 season, the new agreement, valued at an astounding $76 billion, promises to elevate the league’s visibility and accessibility for fans across various platforms.
A New Broadcast Frontier
This monumental 11-year deal introduces new media players into the NBA's broadcasting fold, including a media company, a broadcasting company, and a streaming service. Among the notable partners, Prime Video is set to play a significant role, marking a shift in how NBA content is consumed.
"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," remarked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
ABC and ESPN Stay the Course
Continuing their pivotal role, ABC and ESPN will broadcast NBA Finals games and will handle one of the two conference finals series in 10 out of the 11 years covered by the agreement. Fans can also expect ABC/ESPN to air Christmas Day games, marquee Saturday and Sunday regular-season matchups, and approximately 18 games from the first two rounds of the postseason each year.
New Entrants and Expanded Coverage
Another broadcasting company will take up the mantle for one conference finals series in six of the 11 years. This broadcaster will also offer coverage of the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Saturday night, opening night, and Sunday night primetime games. Additionally, the broadcaster and/or its streaming service will televise around 28 games in the first two rounds of the playoffs every season.
Prime Video's role in this expansive deal is groundbreaking. They will stream one of the conference finals series in six out of the 11 years and will carry NBA Cup games, Play-In Tournament games, and about one-third of the first and second postseason rounds each year. Such a comprehensive streaming package signals a significant shift towards digital platforms.
End of an Era for Turner Sports
Conspicuously absent from the new agreement is Warner Bros. Discovery. Turner Sports, which began broadcasting NBA games in 1989, will see the upcoming season as potentially the last for its beloved show, "Inside the NBA," in its current format.
"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," expressed the NBA.
Financial Implications and Future Growth
The new TV deal represents a significant financial boost, increasing the NBA's annual national media revenue by roughly 2.6 times. This influx of revenue is expected to directly impact franchise values and player salaries.
However, the league has placed a cap on the salary cap's annual increase, limiting it to a maximum of 10%. With projections indicating this cap will rise by this maximum amount each year starting in the 2025 off-season, teams will have a larger budget to work with in rewarding their players.
In 2023, the combined earnings of the 30 NBA teams were estimated at approximately $10.6 billion, with national television revenue being the largest contributor. The new deal, therefore, stands to further bolster the financial health of the league.
"Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans," the NBA stated, emphasizing the commitment to expanding the game’s accessibility across various platforms.
As the 2024-25 season approaches its conclusion, marking the end of the current nine-year, $24 billion agreement, the NBA gears up for a transformative era. This unprecedented deal will not only elevate the league's financial standing but also enrich the viewing experience for basketball enthusiasts globally.