NBA
How much is Amazon paying the NBA for their broadcasting rights?
The NBA is officially entering the modern era of sports broadcasting by closing a TV rights deal with streaming service Amazon.
On Friday, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported that Amazon Prime is expected to sign a rights deal with the NBA, marking a significant shift for the league.
Amazon Prime is set to become the first streaming service to broadcast NBA games after the league’s current media rights deal expires. The deal is expected to begin during the 2025-26 season and run through the next decade it covers both regular season and postseason games, including potential conference Finals.
How much is Amazon paying for the NBA broadcasting rights?
The NBA’s current rights deal with ESPN/ABC and Turner is worth about $23 billion.
Reports suggest that the league hopes to secure up to $75 billion in total during this next round of rights negotiations. Amazon, as a non-traditional viewing platform, may need to pay a steep price, there is still no concrete number for this deal.
This is a historic moment for US sports
For the first time ever, the NBA will be exclusively broadcast on a streaming platform. Previously, NBA games were available only on cable or broadcast television. Major League Baseball has a league-wide deal with Apple TV, and the NFL broadcasts Thursday Night Football on Amazon. Now, the NBA joins the streaming world with Amazon Prime.
What It means for fans
Fans who want to watch every NBA game after next season will need a Prime subscription.
The move to streaming opens up new possibilities for viewership and accessibility. Basketball enthusiasts can look forward to a historic moment as the NBA embraces the digital age.
The NBA’s deal with Amazon Prime represents a groundbreaking shift in sports broadcasting, and fans can expect more exciting developments in the years to come. This is the new norm as traditional TV has to change for the future.