Los Angeles, California – The NBA and Amazon Prime Video are reportedly finalizing a groundbreaking deal that will reshape the landscape of sports media. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Amazon Prime Video is set to become a major platform for broadcasting NBA games, with plans to secure rights for a significant number of regular-season and postseason games, potentially including conference finals. The deal is expected to span at least a decade, commencing during the 2025-2026 season.
In addition to Amazon’s emerging partnership, ESPN/ABC is also in talks to solidify a deal with intentions to retain broadcasting rights for the NBA Finals for the duration of the contract period. Like Amazon, ESPN’s prospective agreement is anticipated to span at least ten years. While final details are still being ironed out, all parties involved are optimistic about reaching a successful conclusion, although none of the organizations have provided official comments regarding the potential deals.
As the NBA looks to move forward with its new broadcasting agreements, it aims to involve multiple media entities in the process, potentially opening the door for a fourth partner. The league is currently wrapping up its nine-year deals with ESPN and TNT Sports, which currently pay an average of $2.6 billion, set to expire after the 2024-2025 season. With Amazon and ESPN on the brink of new deals, the attention turns to incumbent Warner Bros. Discovery, which faces off against NBC, owned by Comcast, for the remaining package of games.
As negotiations progress, adjustments are being made to the existing broadcasting packages to accommodate the inclusion of a third partner. For instance, ESPN may reduce its game coverage from around 100 games to roughly 80. Amazon’s potential broadcast slot for regular-season games could be on Thursday nights, complementing its current NFL coverage from September to early January. The NBA’s strategy to align both domestic and international broadcasting deals through the 2024-2025 season has also emphasized the importance of global rights in the negotiations.
The NBA’s emphasis on embracing streaming as the future of sports viewing is evident in its approach to these new deals. As ESPN, Amazon, and the NBA prepare to finalize their agreements, the pressure is now on TNT Sports, which has held NBA broadcasting rights since 1984, to secure its position against fierce competition from NBC and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports. With NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, vying for a comeback into NBA broadcasting, the competition for rights is heating up in the evolving landscape of sports media.