The NBA has informed Warner Bros. Discovery that it will not be honoring its matching rights and instead plans to move forward with Amazon as a media partner. The league cited that Warner Bros. Discovery’s proposal did not match the terms offered by Amazon Prime Video. This decision is part of the NBA’s efforts to maximize the reach and accessibility of its games for fans.
Warner Bros. Discovery expressed disappointment at the NBA’s decision and emphasized their long-standing partnership and commitment to providing high-quality coverage of NBA games through Turner Sports. The future of Turner Sports’ live game productions and iconic studio shows, such as “Inside the NBA,” is uncertain without a deal with the NBA.
Warner Bros. Discovery acquired matching rights as part of its current media rights deal with the NBA, giving them the option to match payment for games airing on TNT. However, the NBA does not believe these rights extend to an all-streaming package, like the one offered by Amazon Prime Video.
Amazon Prime Video’s global customer base of over 200 million is more than double that of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streaming service, making it a more attractive platform for the NBA. While Warner Bros. Discovery was only bidding on U.S. rights, the streaming rights offered by Amazon are global, expanding the reach of NBA games to a wider audience.
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