NBC reportedly interested in reacquiring NBA rights

Cue the "Round Ball Rock"!!!🤣

The NBA Could Return to NBC in 2 Years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDCa3l6NA6Q

ESPN and TNT have Television Rights to the National Basketball Association until the end of the 2024 Season. NBC Comcast is looking to bring the NBA back, and healthy competition for ESPN will be good, as the coverage of the game could improve with more suitors.

Comcast president: ‘I’d like to see us take a look at’ NBA rights

https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/comcast-nba-rights-peacock.html

“We’re always looking to see if there are ways to add more value to our business,” Cavanagh said. “Obviously, the NBA is coming up. That’s a terrific property. We don’t necessarily need it given the portfolio we have, but given its strength and our historical involvement in the sport, it’s something I’d like to see us take a look at.

Be still my heart. Yawn

Longtime media executive Nick Khan has ‘heard rumblings’ that NBC and TNT could partner on an NBA rights bid

https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nick-khan-rumblings-nbc-turner-partner-nba-tv-rights.html

"The numbers that the NBA wants and the numbers that they deserve, it's going to be tough for just two separate entities to go forward and pay that."

Report: NBC Could Steal NBA Rights from TNT to the Tune of Around $2.5 Billion Per Year

https://barrettsportsmedia.com/2024/04/29/report-nbc-could-steal-nba-rights-from-tnt-to-the-tune-of-around-2-5-billion-per-year/

A report from the Wall Street Journal says NBC is making an offer around $2.5 billion per year to obtain part of the NBA media rights package. Joel Flint, Amol Sharma and Isabella Simonetti all contributed to the story which says Warner Bros. Discovery is making a “last-ditch effort” for TNT to continue as an NBA partner.

The TNT portion of the current agreement, which expires after next season, is an average of $1.2 billion. ESPN had been paying $1.5 billion and that is expected to increase over $1 billion annually.

Last week, reports surfaced from Puck’s John Ourand that ESPN was nearing completion of their portion of the package and that it would include the NBA Finals staying on ABC. All indications had been there would be more than two partners in the next deal and that it would include a streaming network. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic also reported last week that Amazon Prime Video and the league “have the framework of a deal” and that it would include “significant regular season and postseason games, perhaps even conference finals.”

The WSJ report says NBC’s discussions with the NBA have been about carrying two prime-time games a week. This is important as WBD has matching rights in their current agreement. However, they do not own a broadcast network and therefore could not offer something similar to NBC.

Multiple reports have said any new agreements will be for a period of ten years.