In a groundbreaking resolution, the NBA, TBS, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have settled their high-stakes legal battle over broadcast rights, paving the way for an expanded 11-year partnership. The agreement, which preserves WBD’s 35-year relationship with the NBA, introduces innovative elements that will redefine the sports media landscape while ending months of acrimonious litigation.
At the heart of the settlement is a dynamic broadcasting deal that balances tradition with innovation. TNT Sports, a division of WBD, will continue producing the iconic Inside the NBA program, ensuring fans can enjoy its celebrated analysis and entertainment. The show will air on ESPN/ABC while WBD retains control over talent, programming, and editorial decisions.
In addition to U.S. broadcasting rights, WBD has secured the rights to distribute NBA games in international markets, including the Nordic region and parts of Latin America. The partnership also enhances the NBA’s digital reach through TNT and Bleacher Report’s House of Highlights, reinforcing WBD’s role as a premier platform for sports content.
The deal includes a five-year term worth $350 million, covering services such as promotion, marketing, and advertising inventory that the NBA can leverage globally.
The lawsuit, which centered on whether WBD could match Amazon’s streaming offer for the 2025–2036 NBA seasons, underscored the complexities of evolving media rights. The NBA argued that WBD failed to match Amazon’s terms, making eight substantial revisions that constituted a counteroffer rather than a match. WBD, however, contended that their proposal aligned with the existing agreement and was comparable to Amazon’s offer in distributing games via cable and internet platforms.
While the lawsuit threatened to expose proprietary details about media contracts, the settlement ensures confidentiality and eliminates further legal risks.
The resolution also allows the NBA to finalize its forthcoming media rights agreements with Amazon Prime Video, Disney’s ABC/ESPN, and NBC/Peacock, collectively valued at $76.9 billion. With this settlement, both the league and its long-standing media partner can focus on delivering an enhanced viewing experience for fans worldwide.
The agreement is a testament to the enduring value of collaboration in an industry increasingly shaped by digital transformation. For WBD, the settlement extends its influence beyond basketball, complementing its coverage of NCAA Football, NASCAR, and the Unrivaled three-on-three women’s basketball league.
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