Warner Bros. sues NBA over media rights loss
Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit against the NBA on Friday, alleging that the league breached its contract by declining its offer for a new media rights deal and instead signing Amazon.
The lawsuit was filed in New York Supreme Court, and a summons obtained by ESPN stated that the NBA has 20 days to respond.
"Given the NBA's unjustified rejection of our matching of a third-party offer, we have taken legal action to enforce our rights," TNT Sports said in a statement Friday. "We strongly believe this is not just our contractual right, but also in the best interest of fans who want to keep watching our industry-leading NBA content with the choice and flexibility we offer them through our widely distributed WBD video-first distribution platforms - including TNT and Max."
Editor's PicksNBA TV deal: Amazon, NBC join ESPN; TNT out1dNBA TV deal FAQ: What's next for ESPN, NBC, Amazon and 'Inside the NBA'23hTim BontempsBarkley says he'll retire from TV after 2024-2541d2 Related"Warner Bros. Discovery's claims are without merit and our lawyers will address them," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Friday.
The lawsuit comes two days after the NBA signed a new 11-year media rights deal worth nearly $76 billion with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video from the 2025-26 season through the 2035-36 season.
WBD previously said it had matched Amazon's offer at $1.8 billion per year, but the league declined to accept, effectively ending a nearly four-decade business relationship with Turner, which began airing NBA games in the 1984-85 season.
"The digital opportunities with Amazon align perfectly with the global interest in the NBA," league commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement Wednesday. "And Prime Video's massive subscriber base will dramatically expand our ability to reach our fans in new and innovative ways."
After that decision was announced, Turner Sports said the league had "grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights" and hinted at taking the league to court.
"We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it," TNT Sports said in a statement Wednesday "In doing so, they are rejecting the many fans who continue to show their unwavering support for our best-in-class coverage, delivered through the full combined reach of WBD's video-first distribution platforms. ... We will take appropriate action."
On Friday, TNT Inside the NBA host Charles Barkley decried the league's decision to sign with Amazon.
"Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I'm not sure TNT ever had a chance," Barkley said in a statement. "TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn't want to piss them off. It's a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks."
Warner Bros. sues NBA over media rights loss
Warner Bros. sues NBA over media rights loss
Warner Bros. sues NBA over media rights loss
Warner Bros. sues NBA over media rights loss
Warner Bros. sues NBA over media rights loss
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