Warner Bros. Discovery Ends Pursuit of NBA Broadcasting Rights

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) shares increased on Monday after the media conglomerate decided to cease its efforts to broadcast live NBA games in the US starting in the 2025-26 season. This decision resolves all legal disputes with the NBA.

The media company had previously filed a lawsuit against the NBA in July, claiming the league had prevented it from exercising its matching rights on a package of live games. Instead, the NBA selected Disney (NYSE: DIS), Comcast’s NBCUniversal, and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Prime Video as its US media partners for an 11-year deal starting next season, which is reported to be valued at approximately $77 billion and includes WNBA games.

The announcement of the settlement on Monday, coupled with a separate agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and ESPN, allows the media company to remain engaged with NBA content through production collaborations and licensing agreements. However, it formally concludes Turner Sports’ 40-year history as a US broadcaster of live NBA games after this season.

According to the deal, Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports will retain access to NBA highlights for its Bleacher Report news platform and its social media channel, House of Highlights, for the next 11 years.

David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, stated, "Together these agreements ensure fans will continue to enjoy TNT’s Inside the NBA and create tremendous value for our entire portfolio as we accelerate the growth of TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and our global sports business."

The agreement also permits Warner Bros. Discovery to license and distribute NBA content across its platforms, including live game rights in the Nordic countries, Poland, and Latin America, excluding Brazil and Mexico.

Additionally, the settlement extends the partnership between NBA Digital and TNT Sports for five more seasons, allowing the NBA to work with Warner Bros. Discovery on various services, such as production and content development.

While the league will not pay Warner Bros. Discovery anything beyond the terms of the settlement, the agreement ensures a steady revenue stream from their collaboration with the NBA.