TNT Sports has announced its intention to use its matching rights to continue airing NBA games, potentially preserving the popular "Inside the NBA" studio show. However, the league may decline the network's request, setting the stage for a legal battle.
The NBA may not be leaving TNT Sports after all. The network has announced its plans to exercise its matching rights to continue broadcasting the league's games, according to multiple reports.
This announcement comes after Amazon Prime Video reached an 11-year media rights deal with the NBA valued at $1.8 billion per year. However, TNT Sports, which has partnered with the NBA for four decades, is reportedly prepared to match Amazon's offer.
NBA Remains on TNT Sports as Network Exercises Matching Rights
"We're proud of how we have delivered for basketball fans by providing best-in-class coverage throughout our four-decade partnership with the NBA," TNT Sports said in a statement. "In an effort to continue our long-standing partnership, during both exclusive and non-exclusive negotiation periods, we acted in good faith to present strong bids that were fair to both parties."
The network has now submitted its matching paperwork to the league, indicating its willingness to preserve its current rights package. However, The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reports that "the NBA is expected to decline the network's right to take the agreed-upon Amazon package."
NBA Remains on TNT Sports as Network Exercises Matching Rights
This development suggests that the league prefers to honor its agreement with Amazon, potentially leading to a legal battle with TNT Sports. The Athletic adds that NBC is expected to join ABC/ESPN as a new broadcast partner alongside Amazon or TNT when the league announces its new media rights deals.
NBC will reportedly air regular-season games exclusively on Peacock on Mondays and broadcast games on Tuesdays and Sundays. The network will also have the rights to the NBA All-Star Game and playoff games. ESPN, meanwhile, will retain its rights to the NBA Finals each year and conference finals matchups.
NBA Remains on TNT Sports as Network Exercises Matching Rights
Furthermore, ESPN, NBC, and Amazon or TNT will be paying a combined $2.2 billion over 11 years for WNBA media rights. Amazon's deal with the NBA is expected to include six conference finals among its full playoff package, along with a regular-season package and "Thursday Night Basketball."
The looming battle between TNT Sports and the NBA has sparked excitement among basketball fans, who appreciate the network's popular "Inside the NBA" studio show featuring Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny "The Jet" Smith.
Barkley, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, has previously expressed concerns about the league's media rights deal, criticizing the focus on streaming services. "When you start just going to the highest bidder and you're not on regular television, I think you do a disservice to the fan," Barkley said earlier this year.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has acknowledged the complexities of the media rights negotiations, stating in May that "who knows how it's gonna work out?" The league's decision on TNT Sports' matching rights will have a significant impact on the future of NBA broadcasting.
