New NBA Media Deal: 11 years, $77B with Disney (ABC/ESPN), Comcast (NBC/Peacock), and Amazon. ESPN to license Inside the NBA

[Rell84shots]

Need someone to post this

Zaslav has corporate raider vibes. I think everyone expects WBD to be sold next year.

 

[K-Apps]

 

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[Left.A1]

What a fumble

 

[K-Apps]

Warner Bros. Discovery faces a daunting future if it's not able to overcome Comcast's $2.5 billion bid for NBA media rights.
Why it matters: Losing the NBA would hamper WBD's streaming ambitions and put a dent in its cable TV revenue at a timewhen the company needs to start growing again.

State of play: WBD has the right to match any Comcast offer and continues to have productive conversations toward renewing its deal with the NBA, a source with knowledge of the talks tells Axios.

• Comcast's offer of $2.5 billion per yearwould be more than double what WBD pays each year under its current deal, which expires next year.
• The NBA is putting more of an emphasis on broadcast distribution this time around, according to a separate person with knowledge of the talks. That factor could tilt the talks in Comcast's favor.
• Disney and Amazon have so-called "framework" agreements, essentially broad outlines of a deal without signed contracts, a third source confirmed.
• The media rights talks have also included access to WNBA games, according to the third source.
• WBD and the NBA declined to comment.

Zoom in: The NBA is by far the company's most valuable sports asset.

• WBD's sports lineup also features MLB, the NHL, NASCAR and the NCAA men's March Madness.

Yes, but: TNT, which has aired the NBA since 1989, is the most expensive channel in WBD's stead, costing distributors around $3 a subscriber, per the latest numbers from SNL Kagan. It accounted for 29% of WBD's total affiliate revenue in 2023, according to MoffettNathanson.

• In a Wednesday research note, Bank of America's Jessica Reif Ehrlich estimated that losing the NBA could see TNT's affiliate fee cut by more than half.
• "In light of the recent Disney-Charter renewal, the loss of the NBA could also have a derivative impact across the rest of WBD's cable networks," Ehrlich wrote.

On the streaming front, WBD's standing in the forthcoming joint venture with Disney and Fox could be threatened without the NBA.

• WBD also recently launched a sports subscription tier for Max that includes all of its live games.

Between the lines: WBD president and CEO Zaslav has promised investors not to overspend on assets, and his time atop Warner Bros. Discovery has largely been focused on aggressively cutting costs.

• In a late 2022 investor conference, Zaslav notably remarked, "We don't have to have the NBA," though that was largely seen as a negotiating tactic.
• He has since been more adamant about WBD's desire to keep pro hoops and has been spotted courtside at some of TNT's NBA playoff games this spring.

 

[puggle]

When there’s this much smoke and negative news about TNT losing basketball, I’m gonna tend to believe it’s already a done deal with NBC. Zaslav better pull something out of his ass lol.

 

[Rell84shots]

Welp looks like TNT is about to become MeTV status.

 

[Controversy]

When there’s this much smoke and negative news about TNT losing basketball, I’m gonna tend to believe it’s already a done deal with NBC. Zaslav better pull something out of his ass lol.

I'd rather the NBA splits the package between NBC and TNT...both parties win

Ideally:

Tues Night games on TNT
Wed Night games on ESPN
Thurs Night games on TNT
Fri Night Games on ESPN
Sat Games on NBC
Sun games on NBC

 

[FakeNews]

I’m fascinated to see where the Turner guys end up ie Harlan, Eagle, etc….. Eagle needs to be some networks number one pbp guy….One bad thing is you know ESPN is going to bring in Turner’s worst

Reggie

That Adam Lefkoe dude

 

[tremonthustler1]

I’m fascinated to see where the Turner guys end up ie Harlan, Eagle, etc….. Eagle needs to be some networks number one pbp guy….One bad thing is you know ESPN is going to bring in Turner’s worst

Reggie

That Adam Lefkoe dude

Eagle and Harlan are gonna stay on Turner because they do everything else for CBS. Besides, Eagle already is the #1 PBP guy... for YES.

You'll get Tirico, Noah Eagle.


if NBC gets the NBA, they may go after Michael Grady to get a spot, especially when Tirico's doing football.

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

Zaslav was doing well cutting down the debt and he's turned around Warner Bros. Pictures and hasn't fukked up HBO.... all good things.

But if he fukks up TNT... by losing the NBA.... he's done out here.

 

[FAH1223]

 

[CHICAGO]

When there’s this much smoke and negative news about TNT losing basketball, I’m gonna tend to believe it’s already a done deal with NBC. Zaslav better pull something out of his ass lol.

THE NBC DEAL IS DONE
BUT WB HAS THE RIGHT TO MATCH
SO ALL WB HAS TO DO
IS WRITE THE CHECK

NBC IS PURPOSELY OVERPAYING
FOR THEIR PACKAGE TO PREVENT
WB FROM MATCHING



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