From CNBC: 2024-05-16 19:14:28

The NBA is in a tough spot as NBCUniversal offers $2.5 billion per year for games, putting its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery at risk. The new deal could triple in value from $24 billion to $76 billion. Legal hurdles may arise if Warner Bros. Discovery tries to match NBCUniversal’s offer.

Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, and Fox team up to launch Venu, a sports streaming platform that will offer bundled sports networks and ESPN+ at a potentially lower price than cable. The service is set to debut in the fall, pending regulatory approval. Losing the NBA rights would impact the service’s value.

Warner Bros. Discovery could redirect funds from not obtaining NBA rights to acquiring other sports content, like MLB games or UFC. ESPN plans to launch its standalone streaming service in 2025. NBCUniversal, parent company of CNBC, continues to position itself in the ever-evolving sports media landscape.



Read more at CNBC: NBA TV rights deal hinges on Warner Bros. Discovery