Plain English with Derek Thompson cover image

Plain English with Derek Thompson

Why the New NBA Deal Is So Weird. Plus, How Sports Rights Actually Work.

May 28, 2024
John Ourand, a sports correspondent with Puck News, delves into the NBA's incredible new $76 billion media rights deal despite declining viewership. He tackles the paradox of rising revenue in a fragmented media landscape, contrasting it with the NFL's stable influence. Ourand discusses the complexities of sports contracts in the age of cord-cutting and highlights the growing prominence of the WNBA and other women's sports, emphasizing the need for new broadcasting agreements to harness their surging popularity.
48:33

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The NBA's new media rights deal showcases how leagues can boost revenue despite declining ratings.
  • Streaming services are reshaping sports media economics, with exclusive rights as a key strategy for revenue growth.

Deep dives

Implications of the NBA Media Rights Deal

The podcast discusses the unconventional dynamics of the NBA media rights deal, where despite declining regular season ratings, the league is set to nearly triple its annual revenue from broadcasters. The NBA's upcoming deal, expected to be worth $76 billion over 11 years, reflects the complexities of modern sports economics.

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