NBC and two other major streaming services could make a strong push to land an NBA TV rights deal in 2025.
A couple of generations of NBA fans grew up only knowing NBA national games on NBC. As well as the legendary NBA on NBC broadcast jingle. Well, that could return in 2025 if the massive network gets what it reportedly wants next year.
On Monday, CNBC reported that “NBC Sports is prepared to make an aggressive offer to win back NBA rights after more than 20 years without them.” The outlet added that NBCUniversal informed the league of their interest, and is looking to have NBA Playoff games on their flagship network, however, there is also a possibility of NBA games being broadcast on the streaming service Peacock.
Related: Cowboys-49ers draws near-record ratings for FOX
Yet, NBC Universal may not be the only horse in a possible NBA TV rights race. CNBC also revealed that both Amazon and Apple could also get into a bidding war to land exclusive rights for NBA games in the future.
When does the current NBA TV rights deal end?
While NBCUniversal, Amazon, and Apple may be interested in adding NBA content in the future, it will be quite some time before that would happen. The current NBA TV rights deal between the league and Disney (owner of ESPN), and Warner Bros. Discovery (owner of TNT) runs through the 2024-2025 season.
That is far off, but television rights deals traditionally occur well over a year before broadcasts under a new package begin. However, NBC may never even get a chance to put in a bid on the NBA television product since CNBC reports that Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have an exclusive negotiating window that does not end until April 2024.
Coming to terms on a new deal with the current broadcasters is exactly what happened in 2014 when the league signed a new pact to have games on ESPN/ABC and TNT for a reported $24 billion over nine years.
With the league at a strong point, an NBA TV rights deal is a massive revenue source for the league’s owners and they may prefer to get powerhouses like NBCUniversal and Amazon involved to up the final amount in a bidding war.