The NBA and TNT Sports' parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), are currently in talks to find a solution to their legal dispute. This summer, WBD filed a lawsuit after the NBA signed new $76 billion TV rights deals with ESPN, NBC and Amazon. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, the company had the right to match the offer concluded with Amazon, a right that the NBA would have ignored.
According to a source close to the matter, cited by Front Office Sportsboth sides appear to want to avoid a prolonged legal battle. “I know they both want to resolve this problem”she says. Another source adds: “This needs to be done quickly, they don’t want to let this matter drag on. »
The “Inside The NBA” show maintained?
As part of the negotiations, the possibility was raised that a fourth batch of broadcasting rights would be granted to TNT. This lot could allow the flagship show Inside the NBAbroadcast on TNT, to continue with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith on set. The prospect of a long and costly trial, and potentially embarrassing for both parties, pushes each to consider a compromise.
In its defense, the NBA argues that TNT Sports' attempt to match Amazon's offer was actually a counteroffer, not a simple match of the offer.
As a reminder, Amazon agreed to pay around $1.8 billion per year for the third batch of NBA broadcast rights. Disney (ESPN/ABC) will pay $2.6 billion per year for the first batch) and NBC has returned to the game for an amount of $2.45 billion per year for the second batch.
The two parties have planned to meet in court on November 22 and December 17. We will then know if it is possible to find a compromise and thus avoid months (years?) of legal battle.
