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NBA rejects TNT Sports' bid to match Amazon's '$1.9 billion' offer as league announces $77 billion TV rights megadeal with streamer, ESPN and NBC 'ahead of looming legal battle'
The NBA has rejected TNT Sports' bid to match Amazon's media rights deal with the league, and as a result, has announced its $77 billion agreement with that streaming service, ESPN and NBC. The 11-year pact is set to begin with the 2025-26 season.
TNT Sports responded to the news on Wednesday evening by arguing that the NBA does not have the right to reject the network's decision to match Amazon's $1.9 billion offer.
'We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it,' TNT Sports representatives said in a statement to DailyMail.com.
TNT Sports spokespeople argued that the NBA has 'grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights.' The dispute will likely result in a legal battle, The Athletic reports.
The WNBA also cut its own deal with Amazon, ESPN and NBC worth around $2.2 billion (or $200 million annually), DailyMail.com has learned. What's more, the 'W' is still free to make other media deals, potentially adding to its nine-figure annual haul.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver appears to see a future for the NBA without TNT Sports
Charles Barkley and the rest of 'Inside the NBA' appear to have one season left on TNT
Wednesday's news only serves to put the future of TNT's popular studio show, Inside the NBA, into further doubt.
There remains a chance that Amazon Prime could try to lure the quartet of Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith over to its platform. However, Barkley, for one, has expressed skepticism about joining another network.
NBC Sports announced the move on its social media, with the familiar instrumental 'Roundball Rock' by John Tesh playing in the background. It was later popularized in a sample in 'Heart of a Champion' by Nelly.
For its part, the NBA is saying that TNT's offer 'did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video's.'
The league ultimately hangs its decision on that issue.
'Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans,' read the NBA statement.
'Our new arrangement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable and streaming packages that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements. All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience.
'We are grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT.'
TNT Sports and its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, insist the NBA does not have the right to reject its offer.
'In doing so, they are rejecting the many fans who continue to show their unwavering support for our best-in-class coverage, delivered through the full combined reach of WBD's video-first distribution platforms — including TNT, home to our four-decade partnership with the league, and Max, our leading streaming service,' the TNT Sports statement continued.
The deal also involves the WNBA, which will bank at least $2.2 billion over the next 11 years
'We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond, and we will take appropriate action. We look forward, however, to another great season of the NBA on TNT and Max including our iconic Inside the NBA.'
Both the NBA and WNBA's In-Season Tournaments are expected to be streamed on Amazon Prime.
'Partnering with Disney, Amazon and NBCU marks a monumental chapter in WNBA history and clearly demonstrates the significant rise in value and the historic level of interest in women's basketball,' said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a release.
'These agreements allow the league to continue to build a long-term and sustainable growth model for the future of women's basketball and sports which will benefit WNBA players, teams and fans.'
Oddly, TNT will have a heavy broadcast schedule for the upcoming NBA season while potentially taking the league to court.