Warner Bros. Discovery is still in the running for the NBA.
On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the NBA was in "advanced talks" on its next media rights deal, with a plan to go with three partners: ESPN, NBC, and Amazon.
This prompted social media to assume that WBD WBD had lost the NBA, which would subsequently mean that the beloved studio show "Inside The NBA" will likely conclude after next season.
However, as CNBC's Alex Sherman, one of the top reporters in the space, noted on X (formerly Twitter), the WSJ report did not mean that WBD is out of the running for a package with the NBA. At least not yet.
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Again, no it doesn’t. https://t.co/q0XIq9EEbw
— Alex Sherman (@sherman4949) June 5, 2024
As indicated by the WSJ's report, WBD still has matching rights that it could exercise with NBC (CMCSA) or Amazon (AMZN) , but that can only be exercised once an official deal is signed between the NBA and its next partners.
The parameters of how WBD can match are not exactly clear as it's been reported that the NBA does not view a package of NBC and WBD as equal not just a from a monetary standpoint, but also because of NBC's ability to air games over-the-air.
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But matching one of their competitor's bids is only one of several ways WBD could stay connected to professional roundball.
A Front Office Sports report on Thursday indicates that WBD could still get a smaller and cheaper fourth package from the NBA that would still include regular season and playoff games.
Puck reported that this package could include turning games that would be televised regionally into national games on TNT.
More NBA media rights:
- Warner Bros. Discovery is in trouble after Comcast offers NBA a massive deal
- Charles Barkley calls WBD execs 'clowns' amid NBA media rights negotiations
- NBA looks poised to come to streaming after reported framework deal with Amazon
If WBD is able to find a way to keep the NBA, that could mean that "Inside The NBA" could still find new life with the network even as Charles Barkley has fired several shots his company's executives.
However, the next steps — whether the NBA proceeds with three partners or adds a fourth — may have to wait as the NBA Finals tips off on Thursday night.
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