The jackpot for the WNBA too. According to The Athleticthe women's championship should earn around $2.2 billion over the next 11 years, or an average of $200 million per year, in TV contracts. With the possibility of earning more over this period.
The NBA negotiated the WNBA's new contracts during the recently concluded rights talks, in which it reached an agreement with Disney, NBC and Amazon on a package of 11-year deals worth about $76 billion.
The American media outlet recalls that the WNBA's current television contracts, worth around $50 million per year, are due to expire after the 2025 season, with Disney, Ion, CBS and Amazon as partners.
The new rights could be up to six times higher than the league's current rights, given that the new agreements give the WNBA room to attract new partners.
The league plans to sell two more rights packages in addition to those it already has deals for, and projects to rake in an additional $60 million per year in total from the additional deals.
The NBA on the front line
In addition to these new contracts, there is the question the question of the level of dependence of the female entity towards the NBA. The latter, which owns 60% of the WNBA, took charge of negotiating for the two structures. With two positive media dynamics, but also two different economic realities and potentials.
” Even if the money is less, I would rather have independent money, because then you have a real business. If a media company says we value the WNBA at this much, that's the real value of the WNBA rights. Otherwise, it's like buying social media followers: perceived value, not real value. “, judged for example David Samson, former president of the Miami Marlins (MLB).
During interviews conducted by the Washington Postseveral WNBA executives said they did not share those concerns. It doesn't matter how, really, as long as the money comes. And that money will come.
” It's a huge advantage for us to go to market with the NBA. “, thus dismissed the boss of the championship, Cathy Engelbert, whose audiences, boosted in particular by the arrival of the phenomenon Caitlin Clark, are reaching levels never seen before.
Because Adam Silver can sell the NBA/WNBA tandem to networks, with games to broadcast all year long.
