The NBA has rejected TNT Sports’ offer to match Amazon’s media rights deal with the league, which has now officially announced its $77 billion television deal with the streaming service, ESPN and NBC.
The deal is an 11-year pact and likely means TNT Sports is entering its final year as an NBA broadcast partner.
TNT Sports had matched Amazon’s $1.8 billion offer this week, but the NBA is rejecting that offer, which could result in a legal battle between the network and the league, according to The athletic.
The WNBA is also part of a new media rights agreement with ESPN, Amazon Prime and NBC, with its games to be broadcast by all three conglomerates starting with the 2026 season.
The WNBA deal alone is worth $2.2 billion.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Seems to See a Future for the NBA Without TNT Sports
With TNT Sports’ departure from NBA broadcasts, the fan-favorite pregame show, ‘Inside the NBA,’ appears to be coming to an end.
Amazon Prime could also try to lure the quartet of Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith to its airwaves.
NBC Sports announced the move on social media, with John Tesh’s popular instrumental song ‘Roundball Rock’ playing in the background, which was later popularized by a sample of Nelly’s ‘Heart of a Champion.’
Representatives for the NBA and TNT Sports did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s requests for comment.
The NBA and WNBA seasonal tournaments are expected to be streamed on Amazon Prime.
“The partnership with Disney, Amazon and NBCU marks a monumental chapter in WNBA history and clearly demonstrates the significant increase in value and historic level of interest in women’s basketball,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.
‘These agreements allow the league to continue building a long-term, sustainable growth model for the future of basketball and women’s sports that will benefit WNBA players, teams and fans.’
Interestingly, TNT will have a very busy broadcast schedule for the upcoming NBA season and, at the same time, could take the league to court.
