NBA Signs Lucrative New Broadcast Deals with ESPN & TNT

Walt Disney owned ESPN and Turner Broadcasting System’s TNT have extended their rights deal with the National Basketball Association (NBA) for a further nine years.

The deal takes effect starting with the 2016-17 season and increases ESPN’s television, digital, highlights, data, audio and international NBA rights. Games will continue to air on ESPN and TNT through the 2024-25 season.

ABC will remain the exclusive network for the NBA Finals and both ESPN and ABC will combine for up to 44 postseason games, including the conference finals. ESPN will continue to air the draft, draft combine and draft lottery.

The New York Times reports the deal’s value at more than $2.5 billion per year. ESPN’s current relationship covering NBA games on television began in 2002, when the network won the rights from NBC. TNT has been covering the NBA since 1988.

“The NBA has never been more popular and it continues to grow under Adam’s leadership,” Skipper said Monday in a statement. “By acquiring significantly more NBA content for both existing and yet-to-be created platforms, we will establish a vibrant, year-round NBA presence for fans. For ESPN, this agreement continues our fruitful, longstanding relationship with the NBA and bolsters what is already the sports industry’s most impressive and impactful collection of media rights.”

David Levy, President of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc added: “This is a significant deal for our company and we are pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with the NBA, its fans, owners and players,” said Levy.  “The agreement locks in some of the most valuable, original, premium live sports programming that we’ll continue to monetize across TNT and all other platforms within our extensive portfolio and will help further grow our businesses into the next decade.”

“The Walt Disney Company and Turner Broadcasting share responsibility for the growing popularity and interest the NBA enjoys, and we are thrilled to extend our partnerships,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.  “With these new agreements, our fans will continue to benefit from the outstanding NBA coverage and programming provided by ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV and their digital platforms.”

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