Warner Bros. Discovery Sues NBA Over Media Rights Deal

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has initiated legal action against the NBA, claiming the league breached its contract by rejecting WBD's offer for a new media rights deal in favor of a partnership with Amazon. TNT Sports, a division of WBD, stated that the NBA's refusal to accept their matching offer was unjustified and emphasized their commitment to providing fans with access to NBA content through their platforms, including TNT and Max. In response, NBA spokesperson Mike Bass dismissed WBD's claims as meritless, asserting that the league's legal team would address the lawsuit. This legal dispute follows the NBA's recent announcement of an 11-year media rights agreement valued at nearly $76 billion with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, set to commence in the 2025-26 season. Turner Sports criticized the NBA for allegedly misinterpreting their contractual rights and indicated that they would pursue legal action. WBD's complaint references a matching rights agreement from a previous contract established in 2014, which involved a nine-year, $24 billion deal with ESPN and Turner. The complaint highlights the unique nature of NBA broadcast rights and WBD's significant financial investments in the league, including hundreds of millions in production costs for shows like "Inside the NBA." Industry analysts suggest that while TNT matched Amazon's financial offer, the NBA's preference for tech companies like Amazon may have influenced their decision.