The National Basketball Association (NBA) has inked an unprecedented national television deal set to begin from the 2025-26 season. The landmark agreement which spans 11 years is valued at an astounding $76 billion and welcomes a host of new media partners including a media conglomerate, a broadcasting giant, and a leading streaming service.
This deal, which aims to usher the league and its viewership into a new era, signifies a seismic shift from the current nine-year, $24 billion agreement that sunsets at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. The incoming arrangement amplifies the NBA’s annual revenue by approximately 2.6 times, fundamentally altering the financial landscape of the league.
A Historic Agreement
The freshly minted deal ensures that ABC and ESPN remain pivotal in delivering the NBA's most significant moments. The networks will continue to broadcast the NBA Finals and will have exclusive rights to one of the two conference finals series in 10 out of the 11 years covered by the deal. They will also maintain their coverage of the Christmas Day games, marquee Saturday and Sunday regular-season matchups, and about 18 games during the first two playoff rounds each season.
Meanwhile, a prominent broadcasting company is set to air one of the conference finals series in six of the 11 years. Their coverage will extend to the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Saturday night, opening night, and Sunday night primetime matchups. This broadcaster and its associated streaming service will also be responsible for approximately 28 playoff games in the first two rounds every year.
Amazon's Prime Video joins the fray, providing coverage of one of the conference finals series over six years, alongside streaming the NBA Cup and Play-In Tournament games. Prime Video is slated to stream about one-third of the first and second postseason rounds annually.
Notably absent from this new chapter is Warner Bros. Discovery, ending its long-standing relationship with the NBA. Turner Sports began airing NBA games in 1989, and the forthcoming season is expected to be the swan song for its celebrated program "Inside the NBA" in its current iteration.
The Impact on the NBA’s Financial Ecosystem
With the dramatic increase in national media income, which is the largest contributor to the NBA's overall earnings of $10.6 billion in 2023, the league is poised for significant growth. The influx of new revenue is expected to stimulate a rise in franchise values and player salaries, with the salary cap projected to increase by the maximum allowable 10% each year starting from the 2025 offseason.
"Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans," the NBA stated, indicating a strategic priority to broaden its viewership. The integration of various platforms underlines this commitment, as the new deal ensures that NBA content will be accessible across diverse media channels.
NBA Commissioner’s Vision
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver shared his enthusiasm for the new agreements 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."
The excitement surrounding this new deal is palpable, with the promise of a richer viewing experience, broader access, and extended coverage of the NBA’s thrilling moments. While the new partners bring fresh opportunities, the league does not forget its roots. "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," the NBA expressed, acknowledging the long-standing relationship and contributions of its previous partners.
As the NBA prepares for this transformative shift, the enhanced exposure and accessibility are expected to draw in an even broader global audience, paving the way for a future where fans from around the world can enjoy the game's greatest moments with unparalleled convenience and excitement.