The NBA appears ready to move on from TNT to a reunion with NBC.
The league formalized new rights deals this week with Disney (which owns ESPN), NBC and Amazon, starting with the 2025-26 season. Sports Business Journal reported: Wednesday.
NBC is reportedly close to taking over TNT’s “B” package for $2.6 billion per year, which would mean next season would be the last of TNT’s hit show “Inside the NBA,” featuring Charles Barkley, Shaquille Orr, Neil, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.
TNT owner Warner Bros. Discovery has matching rights, so the NBA will see if it can match that “gross amount” once the deal with NBC is finalized, the report said. .
According to SBJ, how the parties define “gross amount” could lead to a legal battle between the league and WBD, and the NBA has argued that “games are priced on a dollar-for-dollar basis” due to advertising revenue and broadcast time. It is said that he plans to argue that it is not a dollar.
NBC’s wireless network will likely include “Basketball Night in America” games every Sunday night after the NFL season ends, SBJ reports. NBC is the home of “Sunday Night Football.”
NBC last had NBA rights from 1990 to 2002, giving it a second primetime slot each week, as well as second-round playoff games and the conference finals.
TNT, which has broadcast NBA games since the 1988-89 season, is paying $1.2 billion annually for its current “B” package, and WBD CEO David Zaslav is in an exclusive negotiation period, SBJ reports. They didn’t want to pay twice as much for the same package. The deal for the current partners expires on April 22nd, allowing NBC to step in.
According to SBJ, ESPN plans to keep its “A” package, which includes the NBA Finals, at $2.8 billion annually, while Amazon’s deal includes an in-season tournament debuting this season, a play-in tournament, and first-round playoff games. The package will cost between $1.8 billion and $2 billion.
NBC had the rights to the NBA during the Michael Jordan era, and its broadcasts were known as: Representative “Round Ball Rock” theme Written by John Tesch.
Tesh said on Tuesday. “Dan Le Batard Show with Stagots” NBC has already contacted him about relicensing the song, and he plans to re-record it with a full orchestra in Nashville next month.
“Nothing is set in stone. But they said, ‘Hey, can you be cool about this?’ — like the Navy SEALs — “I’d love to talk about that,” Tesch said. “We’re actually currently talking about licensing for the Paris Olympics.”
