Warner Bros. Discovery has taken legal action against the NBA.
The company, which owns TNT Sports, claims that the NBA broke their contract by not letting them match Amazon’s offer for broadcasting rights. This lawsuit was filed in New York Supreme Court, and the NBA has 20 days to respond.
TNT Sports released a statement through Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com:
> โGiven the NBAโs unjustified rejection of our matching of a third-party offer, we have taken legal action to enforce our rights. 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 โ including TNT and Max.โ
NBA spokesperson Mike Bass responded by saying that Warner Bros. Discoveryโs claims are baseless and will be addressed legally .
Legal Battle Over Broadcast Rights
TNT Sports has been a longtime partner of the NBA and had some form of matching rights in their current deal. However, it’s unclear how these rights apply now since Amazon’s agreement with the league involves different methods of distribution and games compared to TNT’s previous deal. This lawsuit might lead to either a settlement involving other NBA rights or financial compensation.
Charles Barkley from “Inside The NBA” also weighed in on this situation via Bleacher Report:
> โClearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. Iโm not sure TNT ever had a chance,โ Barkley said. โTNT 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 didnโt want to p-ss them off. Itโs a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over fans. It just sucks.โ
Fans might feel disappointed about this news as it seems like money is taking priority over their viewing experience.
Barkley has previously mentioned his plans to retire after TNTโs deal ends following the 2024-25 season but is drawing attention from other networks like ESPN/ABC, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video according to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.
Speaking with Andrew Marchand of The Athletic and Dan Patrick on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Barkley confirmed heโs open to offers from other networks if TNT doesnโt fulfill his 10-year $210M contract but still plans on retiring for now.
Marchand’s sources suggest that another TV or streaming partner could take over “Inside The NBA” while keeping its Atlanta studio base intact. However, Barkley doubts Ernie Johnson would leave TNT and hasnโt discussed future plans with Kenny Smith or Shaquille OโNeal yet; they aim to โgo out with a bangโ next season.
Barkley isnโt hopeful about anything positive coming out of TNT’s lawsuit:
> โThe NBA clearly wanted to break up with us,โ he told Marchand. โI donโt want to be in a relationship where I have to sue somebody to be in it. That makes zero sense.”
What do you think about all this?
