"Under the new deal, NBC is back, ESPN and partner network ABC are still around, and Amazon is making its NBA broadcasting debut. The latter, the fifth-most valuable company in the world, succeeded in entering into the business only after TNT's parent company, now known as Warner Bros. Discovery (after four name changes in the intervening period), filed suit against the NBA and reached a settlement."
"WBD's desperation to claw its way back into the deal, which is three times bigger than its predecessor and runs for two years longer, indicates that despite eternal crowing about ratings and worries about cord-cutting, live sports are still incredibly important to any company in the broadcasting business. Every major media company is trying to buy up more live sports rights."
A mid-game bench broadcast returned from commercial to reveal a benchside report and notable on-court personalities, illustrating shifts in presentation. New voices and elements have appeared on national NBA broadcasts this season as part of an 11-year television contract. The deal returns NBC to NBA coverage, preserves ESPN and ABC, and adds Amazon as a broadcasting partner. Amazon entered after a settlement with Warner Bros. Discovery, whose parent company had filed suit. The new contract is described as three times larger than its predecessor and two years longer, underscoring intensified competition among media companies for live sports rights.
Read at Defector
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]