NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in Talks Over League’s Media Rights
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is currently in the midst of negotiations regarding the league’s media rights, with reports indicating that TNT’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), may be at risk of losing its broadcasting deal to competitors.
For decades, TNT has been a key partner for the NBA, but potential new media deals with Disney/ESPN, NBC, and Amazon could see the network losing out on future broadcasts. While reports suggest that the NBA is moving towards formalizing deals with Disney, Amazon, and NBC, WBD still has the opportunity to match competing offers before final approval.
Silver has remained tight-lipped about the potential outcome, cautioning that negotiations are ongoing and the final decision is still unknown. The uncertainty surrounding the league’s television rights has been a hot topic, particularly due to the popularity of the long-running studio show “Inside the NBA,” featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith.
Despite the speculation, Silver expressed confidence that at least two of the show’s stars will continue covering the NBA for years to come, regardless of which network secures the broadcasting rights. The current media rights deal is set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.
In related news, WBD recently secured a five-year sublicensing deal with Disney/ESPN, adding first-round and quarterfinal College Football Playoff games to its sports offerings. Stay tuned for further updates on the NBA’s media rights negotiations.
