NBA set to Sign $76 Billion Broadcast Deal with ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Amazon

Posted : 11 July 2024

The NBA is set to finalize an $76 billion, 11-year broadcasting contract with ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Amazon, as reported by media outlets in the United States. This new agreement, worth $6.9 billion annually, marks a significant shift in the broadcasting landscape, with TNT, a longtime NBA broadcaster, potentially losing its rights after nearly 40 years. However, TNT still has a five-day window to match one of the bids to retain its broadcasting rights.

Next week, the NBA's league management and team representatives will meet to finalize and approve the new deal. Whether TNT will be included or replaced by one of the new networks will be determined in this meeting. The decision will bring clarity on whether the network, which previously stated it didn't need the NBA but later retracted, will continue to broadcast the games.

The new contract will commence with the 2025/26 season, with ESPN and ABC securing major broadcast packages, including the playoff finals and one of the regional finals. The deal was facilitated by Walt Disney, the parent company of ESPN and ABC, agreeing to pay $2.6 billion annually, up from the current $1.4 billion per year.

NBC's return to NBA broadcasting, having previously covered the league from 1990 to 2002, will enhance the league's national exposure. NBC's contract is valued at $2.5 billion per season, while Amazon's portion of the deal will amount to $1.8 billion annually. This combined annual revenue of $6.9 billion signifies a substantial increase from previous broadcasting contracts, reflecting the growing financial impact of NBA media rights.

This significant influx of revenue from broadcasting rights began in the late 1990s and has continued to escalate. The initial major deal in the 1990s was a $2.6 billion contract for four years. The subsequent deal for seven years was valued at $7.4 billion, followed by the current nine-year agreement worth $24 billion, expiring after the 2024/25 season. The anticipated rise in broadcast revenue is expected to drive player salaries higher, potentially reaching $80 million annually at the beginning of the next decade and up to $100 million by mid-decade.

Following the completion of the broadcast deal, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will focus on expanding the league by adding two new teams. Leading candidates for the expansion are Las Vegas and Seattle, with other potential locations including Montreal, Vancouver, and Kansas City.

NBA set to Sign $76 Billion Broadcast Deal with ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Amazon

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