Warner Bros. Discovery has decided to end its pursuit of owning a package of live NBA games in the U.S. for the 2025-26 season and beyond. This decision comes after settling all legal disputes with the NBA. The media company had sued the league in July, claiming that it was not given the opportunity to use its matching rights on a package of live games.
The NBA had selected Disney, Comcast’s NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime Video as its U.S. distributors for live games for the next 11 years, with a deal valued at approximately $77 billion. As a result of the settlement with Warner Bros. Discovery, the company will no longer be a carrier of live NBA games in the U.S. after this season, ending a 40-year relationship with Turner Sports.
Despite this, Warner Bros. Discovery will still have some involvement with NBA content, production partnerships, and licensing deals. The terms of the settlement grant TNT Sports access to NBA highlights for its digital news site, Bleacher Report, and its social media platform, House of Highlights, for the next 11 years. Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery will have live game rights in select international markets, including the Nordic countries, Poland, and Latin America, excluding Brazil and Mexico.
A partnership between NBA Digital and TNT Sports has also been extended for five seasons, allowing Warner Bros. Discovery to provide various services to the NBA. This includes promotion, production, content development, and sales operations services. While the settlement guarantees revenue for Warner Bros. Discovery, the NBA will not be paying the company any additional money beyond the terms of the agreement.
In terms of content, TNT’s popular show “Inside the NBA” will be licensed to Disney’s ESPN and ABC for premier NBA games in the regular season and playoffs. The show, featuring hosts Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, will continue with its current lineup. Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery is developing new content for its cable and streaming platforms, including a show called “Inside Sports.”
The settlement with the NBA also includes a side agreement with ESPN, allowing TNT to televise Big 12 football and men’s basketball games starting in 2025. This deal provides more linear TV exposure for the Big 12, as most games would have been exclusive to ESPN+.
Overall, the agreements reached between Warner Bros. Discovery, the NBA, and ESPN ensure that fans will still be able to enjoy NBA content on TNT and other platforms. While the negotiations were not without their challenges, both parties have found a way to move forward and continue delivering compelling sports content to audiences worldwide.
