ESPN and Turner are expected to retain NBA broadcast rights, but for a reduced portion of the overall package and at a higher cost.
This mirrors NASCAR's deal with NBC and Fox, where the networks paid more for less inventory, creating room for new partners.
Amazon is predicted as a likely new partner, potentially alongside Apple or Google/YouTube TV for digital properties and League Pass.
The overall trend indicates lower-than-expected media rights deals across the sports landscape, exemplified by the college football playoff's lower-than-projected value.
Despite the changing landscape, ESPN and TNT are anticipated to remain as key players in NBA broadcasting.
00:00
Transcript
Episode notes
On today's episode, Jon Lewis and Drew Lerner take a look at all things NBA, starting with whether the league suffers from its "activist" label stemming from the 2020 season. Then, the crew previews the exclusive negotiating window that starts next month between the league and its incumbent media partners ESPN and TNT. Jon and Drew close out the show talking about how NBA media coverage contributes to the negative perception of the league writ large.