NBA media rights official; what's next for WBD; how WNBA fared; Olympics preview
Jul 25, 2024
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Exploring NBA's new media rights agreements with major partners, WBD's denied 'match', WNBA successes, and Olympics preview. NBA emphasizing streaming deals, diverse talents in NBA media roles, growth potential in WNBA, and strategies for Olympics viewership.
Warner Brothers Discovery faced challenges matching Amazon's NBA media rights package, emphasizing streaming versus cable differences.
The finalized NBA media rights deals may lead to significant shifts in broadcasting personnel and networks, impacting iconic programs and announcers.
Deep dives
NBA's New Media Rights Deals with Comcast, Disney, and Amazon Announced
The NBA has finalized 11-year media rights deals with Comcast, Disney, and Amazon, bringing the NBA back to NBC, extending ESPN's NBA coverage, and introducing Amazon Prime Video to the mix. Various proposals and rejections by Warner Brothers Discovery complicated the agreement, especially regarding streaming rights versus cable access.
Warner Brothers Discovery's Challenges in Matching Amazon's Deal
Despite Warner Brothers Discovery's attempts to match Amazon's package in the NBA media rights deals, challenges arose due to differences in streaming versus cable offerings. The rejection of Warner Brothers Discovery's proposals led to legal conflicts as they claimed contractual rights to match Amazon's offer, highlighting debates over exclusivity and streaming versus linear cable.
Impacts on TNT and NBA Broadcasting Team
The negotiation outcomes may shift the NBA's broadcasting landscape significantly, potentially affecting iconic programs and announcers like those on TNT. Speculations point towards personnel adjustments and potential shifts to other networks like Amazon or NBC. The complex dynamics of the media rights deals may reshape the NBA broadcast scene.
Future Outlook for NBA Broadcasts and Streaming Platforms
With evolving media rights deals, including potential scenarios of Warner Brothers Discovery's involvement in Amazon's production, the future of NBA broadcasts remains uncertain. As networks navigate the changing landscape, considerations range from viewership distribution to strategic content placements across various platforms, reflecting an industry adapting to digital and cable dynamics.
On today's episode, Jon Lewis and Drew Lerner dive into the NBA and its respective broadcast partners formally announcing their upcoming media rights agreements. The crew discusses what this means for WBD who had their "match" denied by the league, and what stood out in the announcements that we didn't already know. Then, Jon and Drew discuss the WNBA portion of the rights agreements and the success of the league through the All-Star break before closing out the show with an Olympics discussion.