The legal entanglement between WBD and the NBA is over.
The lawsuit WBD filed in New York Supreme Court has been settled, and Warner Bros. Discovery will be able to develop new shows with the NBA, and WBD will also have international NBA rights in Northern Europe and Latin America, excluding Mexico and Brazil.
Warner Bros. Discovery also struck a deal with Disney to license the hit TNT show “Inside the NBA” to ESPN and ABC starting next season, which will continue to be produced by TNT Sports. The program features host Ernie Johnson, with analysis from Hall of Famer Charles Barkley and NBA champions Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. Bleacher Report and House of Highlights will continue to have NBA content.
TNT Sports will also continue to develop new content for air on its WBD platforms featuring TNT’s Inside the NBA studio talent including innovative programs such as an “Inside Sports” show currently in development for next season.
The NBA agreed to 11-year deals with Amazon, ESPN, and NBC worth a combined $76 billion, which will replace WBD’s TNT Sports as the league’s domestic broadcaster. The new deals will begin at the start of the 2025/26 season.
WBD alleged that the NBA breached its contract by rejecting WBD’s matching offer for a new media rights deal.
TNT has broadcast NBA games since 1989 and has hosted various events, such as NBA All-Star Weekend and playoff games, including the Eastern and Western Conference Finals.
WBD’s agreement with the NBA also includes a shared commitment to accelerate the global growth of Bleacher Report and House of Highlights through a new global license that includes expansive content and highlight rights, as well as game access to produce NBA-related content. The NBA will create a section of its digital products (e.g. the NBA App and NBA.com) that will feature basketball-related content produced by B/R, HoH and TNT Sports.
“Together these agreements ensure fans will continue to enjoy TNT’s Inside the NBA and create tremendous value for our entire portfolio as we accelerate the growth of TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and our global sports business,” said David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, in a statement released Monday. “We are pleased to partner with the NBA and Disney/ESPN, and to have solidified long-term rights and revenue for WBD.”
“The opportunity to continue the iconic and Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA is a huge win for basketball fans everywhere,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “We look forward to building on our longstanding partnership with TNT Sports and working together to promote NBA content across key WBD and NBA platforms.”
