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NBA TV Rights: WBD May Offer $2.8B to Outbid NBCU, Adam Silver Key in Talks

May 9, 2024, 06:11 PM

The NBA is currently at a critical juncture regarding its TV rights negotiations, with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and NBCUniversal (NBCU) as key players. WBD, under CEO David Zaslav, has expressed a strong desire to retain the NBA media rights, despite previous statements in 2022 suggesting they could manage without them. The potential deal could be worth up to $7 billion annually, with Amazon also showing interest. NBCU is close to securing a package for $2.5 billion per year, potentially introducing 'Basketball Night in America.' WBD may need to increase its offer to $2.8 billion to match NBCU's bid, leveraging its matching rights for third party offers. The outcome will significantly impact popular programs like 'Inside the NBA.' NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's role in these negotiations is crucial, as the total deal value could reach $76 billion.