The NBA has inked a landmark national television deal set to usher in a new era of media coverage for the league. Valued at a staggering $76 billion, the agreement spans 11 years and includes new broadcasting partners, significantly enhancing the league’s financial landscape and reach to fans worldwide. The deal will take effect starting with the 2025-26 season and run through the 2035-36 season.
Expanding Media Partnerships
The new deal sees the inclusion of a media company, a broadcasting company, and a streaming service as key players in delivering NBA content. Retaining familiar faces, ABC and ESPN will continue to be central in broadcasting marquee events such as the NBA Finals and Christmas Day games. These networks are slated to air one of the two conference finals series for 10 out of the 11 years covered by the agreement. ABC/ESPN’s lineup also includes high-profile regular-season matches on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as approximately 18 games from the first two rounds of the postseason each year.
Additionally, another prominent broadcasting company will join the mix, providing coverage of one conference finals series in six of the 11 years. This broadcaster is also set to take the reins for major events such as the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Saturday night, opening night, and primetime Sunday night games. Both the broadcaster and its streaming service will be responsible for around 28 games in the early playoff rounds each season.
Prime Video has secured a pivotal role in streaming NBA content, set to broadcast one conference finals series in six out of the 11 seasons, along with NBA Cup games and the Play-In Tournament. The streaming service will additionally offer about one-third of the first and second postseason rounds each year, significantly expanding the digital reach of NBA games.
A Departure and a Legacy
Notably, Warner Bros. Discovery is absent from the new agreement, marking the end of an era for Turner Sports, which began broadcasting NBA games in 1989. The upcoming season is anticipated to be the last for the iconic "Inside the NBA" show in its current form, bringing nearly three decades of celebrated NBA coverage to a close.
As the NBA moves forward with this new deal, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the broader vision, stating, "Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world. These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade."
Financial Implications and Future Growth
This agreement represents a significant increase in the NBA’s revenue streams. With the new deal valued at more than three times that of the current nine-year agreement worth $24 billion, the financial impact is poised to reshape the league’s economics. The prior deal will conclude at the end of the 2024-25 season, as the new era begins. The NBA's annual national media income is expected to rise by approximately 2.6 times, bolstering the league’s financial foundation.
According to projections, franchise values and player salaries are anticipated to benefit from the influx of revenue, with the salary cap expected to increase by the maximum allowable 10% each year starting in the 2025 offseason. This financial growth aligns with the NBA's broader strategy to enhance the accessibility and enjoyment of the game for its global audience.
Even within the context of this massive new deal, the NBA has taken care to recognize its long-standing partners. "We are grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT," expressed the NBA.
Maximizing Reach
The core objective throughout these negotiations has been to broaden the scope and accessibility of NBA content for fans, a sentiment echoed by the league itself. "Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans," the NBA stated.
Reflecting on the current status, national television revenue remains the largest contributor to the NBA's combined earnings, which were approximately $10.6 billion in 2023. This massive new deal is set to further solidify the league's economic prowess and extend its reach, ensuring that the NBA remains a dominant force in sports entertainment for years to come.