Earlier in the year, Warner Bros. Discovery and the National Basketball Association reached a deal for an 11-year partnership that involved a global content license to create, produce and disseminate NBA content across all TNT Sports platforms. Aside from producing Inside the NBA to air on ESPN/ABC through a separate deal, the two sides also revealed an enhanced digital partnership that included advertising and promotional commitments across platforms for both companies. The future of NBA TV, however, was not addressed until now through an internal memo sent by TNT Sports chief executive officer Luis Silberwasser obtained by Front Office Sports.
TNT Sports and the NBA “mutually decided to part ways” at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, according to the report, wherefore the sports entity will no longer be programming and operating both NBA TV and the NBA website effective October 1. Silberwasser outlined that while TNT Sports made proposals to continue providing services and operating the network and other digital properties, the company was “unable to agree on a path forward” recognizing the value it would provide. TNT Sports is going to work with the NBA on a transition plan for which it will assume the programming and operations responsibilities of both entities.
Silberwasser made note in an internal memo that the company would continue serving as digital and content partners with the NBA in business areas such as Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. As part of the aforementioned agreement revealed last November, TNT Sports will also have the ability to license and create content related to the league for TNT Sports properties and air live games in international markets.
Warner Bros. Discovery will no longer air NBA live game broadcasts in the United States for the first time in four decades as the league enters into new 11-year media rights contracts with The Walt Disney Company, Comcast Corporation and Amazon’s Prime Video reportedly worth a total of $77 billion. With the news that TNT Sports will no longer operate NBA TV, Michael McCarthy and Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports have reported that MLB Network has had “preliminary discussions” about taking over production for the league-owned channel.
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