NBA TV Rights Negotiations Underway
THE NBA IS CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR NEW TV RIGHTS CONTRACTS THAT WILL CHANGE HOW GAMES ARE TRADITIONALLY DELIVERED. ACCORDING TO EXECS FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANS, THE LEAGUE IS LOOKING FOR DECADE-LONG OR LONGER CONTRACTS WITH STREAMING BECOMING THE MAIN DISTRIBUTION METHOD. WHILE ESPN/ABC AND TNT SPORTS REMAIN INTERESTED IN RETAINING THEIR RIGHTS, IT IS BEING REPORTED THAT A NEW TECH PARTNER WILL JOIN THE MIX, WITH AMAZON PRIME VIDEO BEING THE PERCEIVED FAVORITE. NBC ALSO WANTS TO COVER THE NBA AND IS HOPING TO RETURN TO ITS BROADCAST NETWORK AND STREAMING SERVICE, PEACOCK. THE EXCLUSIVE FINANCIAL NEGOTIATION WINDOW BETWEEN THE NBA, ESPN, AND TNT SPORTS WILL OFFICIALLY CLOSE ON MONDAY AT 11:59 P.M. ET. AFTER THIS, THE LEAGUE CAN TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC CONTRACT DETAILS WITH OTHER POTENTIAL PARTNERS, WHICH COULD INCLUDE GOOGLE/YOUTUBE, NETFLIX, AND APPLE.
