The NBA television rights deal doesn’t expire until the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season, but suitors are lining up to place their bids. NBC is now reportedly ready to enter the fray.
A report from CNBC.com states the network will be “aggressive” in its pursuit of the professional sports league.
NBC will pitch a package that includes some regular season games to air exclusively on Peacock, with playoff games airing on NBC’s broadcast network. However, the NBA is expected to counter most offers with the expectation that all games broadcast by a network will be simulcast on a streaming platform.
An NBA spokesperson told CNBC that no talks had taken place between the league and the network, adding that it has “a longtime relationship with Comcast/NBA as a previous NBA national TV rightsholder and through many of our teams’ partnerships with NBC Sports regional sports networks.”
The NBA and NBC have an established history. The league reached new heights during its partnership with NBC from 1990 through 2002. The NBA left the network after the 2001-2002 season, striking a deal that included games on both over-the-air television and cable with ABC/ESPN.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has claimed “we don’t have to have the NBA”, but TNT is expected to also place an aggressive bid to retain the rights. Disney CEO Bob Iger recently suggested the retention of NBA rights is of utmost priority for ABC/ESPN, while Amazon and Apple are also considered potential bidders for a new streaming package concocted by the league.
However, suggestions by experts claiming a 200% increase for NBA rights is on the table are likely inflated, the CNBC report counters.
