The NBA and network executives have finalized contracts introducing NBC and Amazon Prime Video as new partners, while continuing to broadcast the NBA Finals on ABC/ESPN, a deal worth $76 billion, according to sources.
The NBA is still allowing Turner Sports to negotiate an opportunity to be involved in the next 11-season deal. The current agreement combines $2.6 billion for ESPN and TNT. If they do not renegotiate, the nearly four-decade-long “Inside The NBA” may come to an end. Reports indicate that all three networks are planning to recruit the full team to their respective networks.
Once this deal goes into effect, there will be a nationally broadcast game almost every day of the week throughout the season. Amazon Prime will feature marquee games on Friday and Saturday nights and will be the home of the Play-In tournament. ESPN’s coverage will be reduced from 100 to 80 games, with Friday night coverage beginning after the NFL season. Peacock will air the new Tuesday nationally televised game of the week and have exclusive games on Mondays, which will also be streamed on the Peacock app.
Amazon and NBC will alternate broadcasting the conference finals, while ESPN maintains its coverage of the conference finals and the NBA Finals. The board of governors will vote on the deal during next week’s NBA Summer League at their annual meetings. Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle are potential candidates for the play-by-play announcer role on NBC and Amazon, according to reports. Dwyane Wade will take on Olympic coverage for NBC and is in prime position to become the network’s lead game analyst.
While Turner Sports is not yet out of the running, the finalization of this deal without their inclusion is somewhat discouraging for NBA fans. Turner Sports is considering making one last bid to be part of the deal and has even contemplated continuing “Inside The NBA” without broadcasting games.
