• by Wayne Friedman , July 11, 2024

The NBA is in the process of finalizing deals with three major networks and streamers worth an estimated $76 billion over 11 years each with ABC/ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime Video, according to reports.

Potentially waiting in the wings is longtime NBA TV network TNT, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which has the rights to match or offer up a higher price for the package to be owned by Amazon.

NBA representatives did not return inquires to Television News Daily by press time.

While the NBA board still needs to officially approve those deals, some specifics are in place, according to sources: Walt Disney’s ESPN returns to the NBA with an estimated $2.6 billion-a-year price tag.

In addition to regular-season games, it also has secured early-round playoff games, an NBA conference final series, and the NBA Finals, which have been aired on Disney broadcaster ABC for many years.

NBCUniversal is a new entrant, at a $2.5 billion-a-year price tag. It gets regular-season games, early-round playoffs, and an NBA conference final series every other year. NBC last had the rights to the NBA from 1990 to 2002.

Amazon is NBA’s first long-term, digital-first platform, at $1.8 billion. It also gets regular-season, early playoffs, and an NBA conference final every other year.

NBA is a major -- and in some cases, crucial -- sports programming franchise for modern-day TV networks and streamers, second only to the biggest sports TV programmer, the NFL. 

Two years ago, the NFL inked long-term deals with five major networks/streamers -- CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC/ESPN and Amazon -- valued at $110 billion over 11 years.

EDO Ad EnGage estimates ABC took in $182.9 million in national TV advertising sales for the 2024 NBA Finals this year, adding in another $254.7 million for the overall 2023-2024 NBA regular season and playoff games. 

Warner Bros. Discovery was at $466.2 million for its full NBA seasons and playoffs, while ESPN came in at $270.4 million.