The NBA has turned down Warner Bros. Discovery’s $1.8 billion-a-year offer for media rights, opting instead to agree to a pact with Amazon Prime Video.
The league signed an 11-year, $76 billion deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday.
NBA governors gave the green light to it last week.
The agreement applies in the United States and internationally, starting with the 2025-26 campaign.
In Canada, the new agreement will begin with the 2026-27 season.
The upcoming season will be the last with TNT broadcasting games, ending a nearly 40-year relationship with the NBA.
WBD had five days to match a portion of those deals. The company did so, but its offer was not considered a true match by the NBA.
“Warner Bros. Discovery’s most recent proposal did not align with the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer. As a result, we have entered into a long-term pact with Amazon,” the NBA said.
“Throughout the negotiations, our primary goal has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans. Our new agreement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable and streaming packages that are already part of our new agreements with Disney and NBCUniversal.
“All three partners have made substantial commitments to promote the league and improve the fan experience.”
For six of the 11 years of the contract, Prime Video will have exclusive rights to every match of the qualifying tournament and the first three rounds of the playoffs.
ABC will continue to air the finale, as it has since 2003.
NBC will have the league’s All-Star Game, among other things.
Prime Video will feature 66 regular season games and the NBA Cup playoffs.
Prime Video Channels will also be a strategic partner of NBA League Pass, the subscription service that streams live games on demand in the United States and internationally.
“The digital opportunities offered by Amazon are a perfect fit with the global interest in the NBA,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
“Prime Video’s massive subscriber base will significantly increase our ability to reach our fans in new and innovative ways.”
International rights for live matches extend worldwide except China, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands.