After months of negotiations, the NBA has approved a new media rights deal worth $76 billion over 11 years. This deal includes partnerships with Disney, Comcast’s NBCUniversal, and Amazon, starting with the 2025-26 season. However, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), a long-time NBA partner, was left out, possibly ending its 35-year relationship with the league.
WBD has a brief window to match Amazon’s $1.8 billion per year offer. This process might lead to legal disputes since WBD’s offer would need to adapt to a streaming model, unlike their previous cable-focused contract.
Key Deal Highlights:
- Duration: 11 years
- Total Value: $76 billion
- Annual Payments: ESPN ($2.6 billion), NBC ($2.5 billion), Amazon ($1.8 billion)
- WNBA Share: $200 million annually, with potential additional deals
This agreement significantly impacts the WNBA, which is set to receive $2.2 billion over the deal’s duration. While this is a notable increase from the current $43 million annually, many argue that it undervalues the league’s rapid growth.
The WNBA’s Growth and Future Prospects
The WNBA has seen impressive growth across all metrics—attendance, viewership, and merchandise sales. Sixteen games have averaged over a million viewers this season, a milestone not reached in the previous 16 years combined. This surge suggests the WNBA could join America’s “Big Four” sports leagues.
Despite this, the new media deal might be too modest and too long-term. The WNBA’s annual value still lags behind the NHL and is closer to what MLS receives from Apple. This deal doesn’t fully account for the league’s future growth, potentially limiting its financial upside.
Additionally, WNBA owners will only receive less than half of the revenue due to the league’s ownership structure, shared with NBA owners and an investment group.
Potential for Future Adjustments
An opt-out clause in the contract could allow for renegotiations, potentially aligning the deal more closely with the WNBA’s growth. The WNBAPA’s Executive Director, Terri Carmichael Jackson, emphasized the league’s unprecedented growth and the need for fair valuation.
The WNBA’s path forward will require patience and strategic adjustments. The NBA’s substantial investment in the WNBA over the past 25 years is starting to pay off, positioning the league as a premier sports property with the expectation of turning its first profit next year.
Stay tuned for updates as the WNBA navigates this pivotal moment in its history.
This article first appeared on Huddle up
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