Turner Sports intends to continue its longtime relationship with the NBA.
Warner Bros. Discovery informed the league Monday that it will match the $1.8 billion per year offer by Amazon Prime Video . Turner has had an NBA package since 1984 and games have been on TNT since the network launched in 1988.
If the NBA accepts the matching offer, TNT would likely carry games on Thursday with the other nights being streamed on Max. People familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Amazon’s offer included a provision to pay multiple years up front into an escrow account, which many thought would make it hard to match. However, WBD has told the league it has the financial resources to be able to do that.The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they weren’t at liberty to discuss such impending matters.
Retaining the NBA would also mean that the popular “Inside the NBA” show would continue. Charles Barkley had been critical of WBD’s negotiating posture and was not optimistic about it matching. Barkley announced at the end of this season that he intended to retire after next season.ESPN and ABC, which will keep the league’s top package, will have a conference finals every year as well as the NBA Finals. NBC and WBD would alternate which one carries one of the conference finals series.
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