The National Basketball Association announced an expansion in the partnerships with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and The Walt Disney Company with a new, nine-year agreement. Under the new agreement, ESPN, ABC, and TNT will televise NBA games starting with 2016-2017 season through the 2024-2025 season.
“The Walt Disney Company and Turner Broadcasting share responsibility for the growing popularity and interest the NBA enjoys, and we are thrilled to extend our partnerships,” said Commissioner Silver.
The NBA and Turner will continue its partnership jointly managing the NBA’s digital assets that include: NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA Mobile, and NBA LEAGUE PASS. Turner Sports will also receive enhanced digital rights to NBA content that could result in selected camera angles, statistic feeds and video to complement the telecasts. Turner sports will also have the opportunity to distribute new content for Bleacher Report to incorporate into the brand’s Team Stream Now videos.
No specific details on the exact dollar figures for the deal were announced. However, sources say that the new deal will more than double yearly revenue from the last deal, which was just under $1 billion. One source states that ESPN alone has already committed to pay over $1 billion per year.
The new agreement also grants ESPN with enhanced digital rights that will provide NBA content for ESPN platforms ESPN.com and WatchESPN. The new deal also establishes the framework for the NBA and ESPN to launch a new service in which the league would receive an equity interest. This new service will be available to people who do not subscribe to cable or satellite services. Currently, ESPN’s WatchESPN app requires a paid TV subscription to watch any games. Offering digital services without paying for TV has rapidly increased in popularity after the success of services such as Netflix and Hulu.