Powerhouse broadcaster Comcast’s NBCUniversal is on the brink of securing the highly coveted third NBA package, according to Sports Business Journal.
If realized, the deal would see NBCUniversal paying $2.5 billion annually for the rights; this transpires as a strategic move in the increasingly competitive broadcasting industry.
The shift has been met with mixed reactions, with many viewing it as a victory for NBC and a bitter pill to swallow for the current rights holder TNT, part of the Warner Bros. Discovery Group.
To retain their rights, projections suggest Warner Bros. Discovery might have to up their offer to a whopping $2.8 billion a season.
Comcast's NBCUniversal is nearing a deal for the third NBA package, planning a "Basketball Night in America" telecast at $2.5 billion annually, reports Sports Business Journal.
TNT's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, may need to raise its offer to $2.8 billion to retain… pic.twitter.com/B1y48X7Zii
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 9, 2024
It emerged that these telecommunications giants had secured an exclusive negotiation window with the NBA, under which they presumed they could match any rival company’s bid on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
However, proposals indicate that this might not be enough. The NBA looks favorably on NBC’s bid due to their over-the-air network capabilities and their multiple broadcast windows which are assets that Warner Bros. Discovery finds difficult to replicate.
“NBC has made their bid, and they’re not budging,’’ a media industry source said. “So it’s over, right? And Warner Bros. is saying, ‘We’ll match it,’ and (Commissioner Adam Silver) is probably saying: ‘It’s not matched.’ ’’
It seems NBC’s offer could cement a new era of NBA broadcasting. Under the prospective agreement, NBC’s package would likely cover notable Sunday Night games after the NFL season, a slot currently held by ESPN, and TNT’s treasured second-round playoff and conference final package.
The seismic deal could see an unexpected entry of Amazon, securing one weekday night and Saturday nights, along with the Play-in tournament and the In-Season Tournament rights.
