The termination of Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports media rights to broadcast NBA games has sparked outrage.
Amazon secured the broadcasting rights to stream NBA League matches live on Prime Video, starting from the 2025/2026 season on Wednesday, July 24.
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The deal, valued at $1.8 billion per year, marks the end of TNT’s 40-year streak of broadcasting NBA games.
According to Bleacher Report, the NBA’s split with Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports is rapidly turning contentious.
The report added that TNT is now threatening to sue the league, and analyst Charles Barkley has condemned the NBA for lacking a fair chance in the negotiations.
Barkley pointed the finger at NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s owners, accusing them of prioritizing money over fans.
“Clearly, the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance. TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn’t want to upset them,” Barkley said in a statement reported by Bleacher Report.
“It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks.”
“I just want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the last 24 years. They are the best people and the most talented, and they deserve better. I also want to thank the NBA and its fans — the best fans in sports. We’re going to give you everything we have next season.”
Barkley, who signed a 10-year deal with TNT in 2022, has an out clause if the network loses NBA rights.
Apart from Amazon Prime Video, the NBA awarded media rights deals to NBC Sports and maintained a relationship with ESPN.
The total value of the media rights is worth $77 billion over 11 years.
By Dotun Omisakin
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