Amazon nearing deal to stream NBA games in next media rights deal, per report

2024-12-24 03:11:45 source: category:Stocks

Amazon Prime could soon have a stronger hand in U.S. sports as the streaming service is nearing a deal with the NBA to become one of the league's broadcast partners, The Athletic reported.

The outlet reported the deal, which would begin with the 2025-26 season, will include a significant number of regular-season and postseason games, and it could also involve conference finals. The deal is anticipated to last at least 10 years. It would be the first time the NBA enters the streaming world. The NFL, MLB, NHL, WNBA and NWSL already broadcast games on streaming networks.

Reported news of Amazon's involvement in the NBA comes as the league nears the end of its current media rights deal. The NBA has contracts with ESPN and TNT, and it;s set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.

ESPN is expected to continue broadcasting the NBA, including the NBA Finals. That leaves TNT without any reported involvement in the next media rights deal. The Athletic reported the next media rights deal would include ESPN airing less games in favor of a third network joining the fold.

NBC, which lost the rights to broadcast the NBA in 2022, is reportedly interested in getting back into the league, which could move TNT out of the picture. Warner Bros. Discovery, the owner of TNT, has the right to match any deal with the NBA, according to The Wall Street Journal.

If Amazon Prime is part of the next media rights deal, it would give the streaming service another U.S. sports league to stream. Amazon Prime took over the rights to the NFL's "Thursday Night Football" in 2022, and it will begin its third season in 2024. Amazon also has deals with the WNBA and NWSL.

More:Stocks

Recommend

Best fits for Corbin Burnes: 6 teams that could match up with Cy Young winner

Let’s be clear: Everybody could use a Corbin Burnes – or three – in their starting rotation.The righ

Who is playing in the Big 12 Championship game? A timeline of league's tiebreaker confusion

Twelve weeks into the 13-week college football season has not been enough to determine even one of t

Justin Fields runs for 104 yards and passes for 169 in his return. Bears lose to Lions 31-26

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Fields was an inch from a perfect return.After missing three games with a disl