Warner Bros. Discovery recently filed a lawsuit against the NBA in an attempt to uphold their broadcast rights for a selection of live games. The company’s TNT Sports unit expressed their discontent with the NBA’s decision to reject their offer in favor of a third-party bid. They believe that their matching offer should be honored, not only as a contractual obligation but also for the benefit of fans who enjoy their NBA content on platforms like TNT and Max.
The media company is seeking to prevent the NBA from awarding the rights to Amazon, a move that Warner Bros. Discovery had tried to match. The NBA has recently struck deals with Disney, Comcast’s NBCUniversal, and Amazon for various game packages, ending a long-standing partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery’s Turner Sports.
In response to the lawsuit, the NBA has dismissed Warner Bros. Discovery’s claims as baseless. The league maintains that the matching rights were invalidated when Warner Bros. Discovery chose to match the Amazon package instead of the NBCUniversal agreement. The NBA argues that the two offers are not comparable, as Amazon Prime Video is a streaming-only service, while Warner Bros. Discovery’s offer includes broadcasting games on cable network TNT and streaming on Max.
Warner Bros. Discovery has cited contractual language from the 2014 matching rights agreement to support their claim that their offer for the Amazon package should still stand. The company emphasizes the value of NBA rights to Turner Sports and the broader Warner Bros. Discovery business, highlighting the importance of live sports content in driving viewership and advertising revenue.
CEO David Zaslav previously acknowledged the significance of the NBA to the company’s cable TV business, underscoring the importance of sports rights in attracting audiences and advertisers. Warner Bros. Discovery views the NBA as a key asset that sets them apart from competitors and enhances their negotiating power in the content rights market.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to prevent the NBA from granting rights to Amazon, citing the unique and irreplaceable value that NBA content brings to Warner Bros. Discovery. The company is prepared to pursue monetary damages if equitable relief is not granted.
The legal battle between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA underscores the high stakes involved in securing premium sports content in a rapidly evolving media landscape. As streaming services continue to reshape the way audiences consume media, traditional broadcasters like Warner Bros. Discovery are fighting to retain their foothold in the market by leveraging exclusive rights to popular sports properties like the NBA.
