The league issued a statement Wednesday saying TNT parent Warner Bros. Discovery did not match the terms offered by Amazon, which will reportedly pay about $1.8 billion annually for the rights to stream NBA games on Prime Video. NBCUniversal and Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN will be the television outlets for the NBA.Discovery-owned unit said in a statement.
The deal makes Amazon’s Prime Video a bigger powerhouse in the TV sports business thanks to its deep pockets. Amazon is already a player in the live sports streaming arena because of its Thursday Night Football package with the NFL.
The statement noted that the league sought a streaming partner to “maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for fans.” Streaming has become the platform of choice for young viewers who are bypassing traditional pay-TV services.
