TBS, Warner Bros. Discovery file lawsuit against NBA after losing bid for broadcast rights
TBS and Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit against the NBA in New York County Supreme Court on Friday in response to the league rejecting the network’s attempted match of the Amazon media rights bid, per Daniel Wallach of The Athletic.
“Given the NBA’s unjustified rejection of our matching of a third-party offer, we have taken legal action to enforce our rights,” TNT Sports said in a statement Friday. “We strongly believe this is not just our contractual right, but also in the best interest of fans who want to keep watching our industry-leading NBA content with the choice and flexibility we offer them through our widely distributed WBD video-first distribution platforms — including TNT and Max.”
It was announced Wednesday that the NBA rejected TNT’s media rights offer, instead opting to enter an arrangement with Amazon for at least the next 11 years beginning with the 2025-26 season. The NBA’s new media rights deal with Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBC and Amazon is worth $77 billion over 11 years. Amazon‘s portion is worth $1.8 billion, an offer which TNT claimed it matched.
The 2024-25 season will instead be the final season in which NBA games will be broadcasted on TNT. The network has held rights to broadcast NBA games dating back to 1989. In a statement released by TNT Sports Wednesday, the network threatened to take action against the NBA.
Charles Barkley releases statement after TNT loses NBA rights: ‘It’s a sad day’
Charles Barkley issued a statement of his own Friday, calling it a “sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans.” Barkley, 61, has served as an analyst on TNT since 2000. He, alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal, make up the on-air crew for the popular pre and postgame show, “Inside the NBA.”
“Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning,” Barkley wrote. “I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance. TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn’t want to piss them off. It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks.
“I just want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the last 24 years. They are the best people and the most talented and they deserve better. I also want to thank the NBA and its fans — the best fans in sports. We’re going to give you everything we have next season.”