The NBA has embarked on a significant new chapter in its media landscape, announcing a groundbreaking national television deal valued at a staggering $76 billion. This landmark agreement introduces fresh partners while maintaining some long-standing relationships, signaling a comprehensive evolution in the league's broadcast strategy.
The 11-year deal is set to commence with the 2025-26 season and will run through the 2035-36 season. It represents a substantial increase in value compared to the current nine-year, $24 billion agreement, which will expire at the end of the 2024-25 season. The new contract is expected to significantly boost the NBA’s revenues, underscoring the league's growing global appeal and the increasing value of live sports broadcasting.
ABC and ESPN will continue their prominent role in broadcasting NBA Finals games. Additionally, they will have the rights to air one of the two conference finals series in 10 out of the 11 years, along with Christmas Day games and marquee Saturday and Sunday regular-season matchups. The duo will also cover approximately 18 games in the first two rounds of the postseason each year.
One of the new broadcasting partners will take over the coverage of one of the conference finals series in six of the 11 years. This broadcaster will also provide extensive coverage of NBA All-Star events, including the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Saturday night, as well as opening night and Sunday night primetime games. Furthermore, the broadcaster and its streaming service will televise around 28 games in the first two rounds of the playoffs every season.
Prime Video has emerged as a key player in this new agreement, slated to stream one of the conference finals series for six of the 11 years. In addition, Prime Video will carry innovative new content, including NBA Cup games and Play-In Tournament games, and will stream about one-third of the first and second postseason rounds each year. Notably missing from this new deal is Warner Bros. Discovery, whose Turner Sports division has been a fixture in NBA broadcasting since 1989. The upcoming season is anticipated to be the last for the beloved "Inside the NBA" in its current form.
“Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans,” the NBA stated. This sentiment was echoed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who remarked, “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.”
The financial implications of the deal are profound. The new arrangement will increase the NBA's annual national media income by roughly 2.6 times. Given this substantial influx of revenue, the salary cap is expected to rise by the maximum allowable 10% each year starting in the 2025 offseason. This expectation stems from the stipulation that the salary cap increase cannot exceed 10% per year. Consequently, franchise values and player salaries are anticipated to see significant growth under the new deal.
In 2023, the combined earnings of the 30 NBA teams stood at approximately $10.6 billion, with national television revenue being the largest contributor. This new deal is poised to further magnify that figure, underscoring the robust demand for NBA content.
“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,” the NBA expressed. This acknowledgment highlights the end of an era while marking the beginning of a transformative phase for the league’s broadcast partnerships.
In summation, the NBA’s new television deal marks a significant milestone, reflecting both the league’s past achievements and its ambitious vision for the future. The integration of diverse platforms and the involvement of heavyweight media partners signal a bold step forward in enhancing the global reach and fan engagement of NBA basketball.