The NBA has recently made significant moves in its broadcasting rights. An 11-year agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery ensures the continued development of content like Inside the NBA, which will grace ABC and ESPN. This comes after a lawsuit by Warner Bros. Discovery when the NBA dropped TNT's licensing package. In July, the NBA chose licensing deals with Amazon's Prime Video, Disney, and NBCUniversal over TNT, leading to the lawsuit. During the 2025 - 2026 season, dozens of regular-season and playoff games will stream on Prime Video, while some will still be on ESPN, ABC, and NBC.

Highlight Rights and Partnerships

Warner Bros. Discovery's settlement includes the highlight rights to NBA games. These rights allow them to produce content for TNT Sports, the Bleacher Report, and House of Highlights. As David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, stated in the press release, "We are pleased to partner with the NBA and Disney/ESPN, and to have solidified long-term rights and revenue for WBD."

This partnership not only secures the future of NBA content but also opens up new avenues for fans to enjoy the highlights and analysis of their favorite games. It showcases the importance of these rights in the digital age, where content distribution is crucial.

The ability to use these highlight rights across multiple platforms will enhance the viewing experience for fans and potentially attract new audiences. It also demonstrates the value of these partnerships in the highly competitive media landscape.

College Sports and TNT

In addition to its NBA deal, Warner Bros. Discovery has struck a deal with ESPN, one of its partners in the Venu sports streaming service. This deal will bring 15 live college basketball games and 13 college football games each season from the Big 12 to TNT.

This expansion into college sports is a strategic move by Warner Bros. Discovery. It allows them to tap into a different fan base and provide more diverse programming. College sports have a huge following, and this deal gives fans the opportunity to watch these games on TNT.

The addition of college football and basketball games to TNT's lineup will enhance the network's sports offerings and attract more viewers. It also shows Warner Bros. Discovery's commitment to providing a wide range of sports content to its audience.

International NBA Rights

Warner Bros. Discovery will retain live NBA rights outside the US for 11 years in the Nordics, Poland, and Latin American countries except Brazil and Mexico.

This international expansion of NBA rights is a significant development. It allows fans in these regions to enjoy live NBA games and increases the global reach of the league. It also presents new opportunities for Warner Bros. Discovery to build a loyal fan base in these markets.

The retention of these rights for a long period shows the confidence of Warner Bros. Discovery in the NBA's popularity overseas. It will enable them to invest in local marketing and promotion to grow the fan base and generate revenue.