NBA broadcasting rights shift to NBC and Amazon in 2025

The NBA is making a big change this year. The league is leaving Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT cable network. It will begin airing games on NBC, Peacock, and Amazon's Prime Video. This shift is expected to create a massive transfer of viewers and advertising money, similar to when CBS lost NFL rights to Fox in 1993. According to analysts, Warner Bros. could lose $1.1 billion in TV advertising by 2026 due to losing NBA games. Meanwhile, new rights holders like NBC and Amazon see big opportunities. Disney, which still shows some NBA games, could make $1.25 billion annually from its broadcasts. NBC might earn over $1 billion, and Amazon is looking at $750 million. Under the new deal, there will be 75 NBA games on broadcast TV, a jump from 15 in the previous contract. NBC is expected to pay the NBA $2.5 billion each year, more than it pays for NFL games. Amazon will pay $1.8 billion, while Disney will spend $2.6 billion. Media companies are rushing to secure talent and production resources to support these changes. Amazon and NBC are already signing ad deals for the coming season. Disney is taking a slower approach, having sold out its current ad slots for the NBA season. Sports are becoming more important for TV networks as fewer people watch scripted shows. Sports programs still attract large audiences, which advertisers crave. NBC recently extended its deal with the International Olympic Committee for $3 billion to continue its rights for the Olympics. Warner Bros. Discovery still wants to remain in the NBA business by offering digital clips through its Bleacher Report site. This allows the company to give advertisers engaging content that reaches younger fans. However, NBC is re-evaluating its focus. The network plans to dedicate more time to sports and has already made cuts in its scripted programming. As the NBA's broadcast partners prepare for the new landscape, they will face challenges. They must prove that the wider audiences they expect can justify the costs of the NBA rights. Some NBA ratings have declined, making this a tricky situation. In the coming weeks, NBC and Amazon seem willing to negotiate ad deals with advertisers, taking a more collaborative approach compared to their earlier strategies. Each company is developing new ideas to attract sponsors and enhance the viewing experience, hoping to draw in audiences and keep advertisers happy.