Disney, TNT to purchase exclusive NBA broadcast rights / News - Basketnews.com

Since the current NBA TV agreement expires in 2025, the league has already started negotiations with Disney and TNT to renew the broadcast rights deal. According to a report, the new package will be valued at least 2.5 times as much as the one in place.

Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Credit AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

The NBA has just started negotiations with Disney (ABC/ESPN) and TNT to renew its TV rights contract. The negotiating window will remain open until April 22.

In 2014, the league extended this contract for the first time for nine years and $24 billion. A contract that will expire in a year, at the end of the 2024-25 season.

According to Tom Friend and the Sports Business Journal, Disney and TNT would like to extend the agreement on the same basis, and would like to include exclusivity on the Emirates NBA Cup, the new name of the In-Season Tournament.

Despite previous speculation that the tournament could be headed to a streamer such as Netflix or Apple, Friend reports that the event is expected to be bundled into the Turner and Disney packages. Amazon is expected to remain a contender to pursue the league’s national streaming rights when the current exclusive negotiating window with Turner and Disney concludes next month.

For its part, NBC would complement Disney and TNT with regular broadcasts of regular season games on the national network.

In total, NBA executives believe the new rights package will be valued between $60 billion and $72 billion, at least 2.5 times as much as the nine-year, $24 billion deal the league signed with Turner and Disney in 2014.

The NBA's media rights negotiations are expected to be completed in June or July.

Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.