The NBA is seeking upward of $75 billion for its next media right package that will start in 25-26.
Under the current deal that runs through the 24-25 season, ESPN and TNT are paying a combined $24 billion, or $2.6 billion annually.
ESPN and TNT are now playing defense against streaming giants such as Amazon and Apple.
“I would say that all of the leading technology companies are interested in the NBA. Amazon is just one of them. I think Apple, I think Google. All of them,” said John Kosner, former NBA and ESPN executive turned media advisor and the founder of Kosner Media.
“And keep in mind the definition of what’s a ‘rights package’ going forward doesn’t have to be what we grew up with,” he added. “A company like Discord (a social platform with 150 million monthly users) could become an NBA rights holder at some point, too. I think they’re all interested.”
The NBA could put together a linear TV deal with ESPN and TNT while also selling an exclusive streaming package. The NBA already has a $1.5 billion per year streaming deal with Tencent Holdings in China.
The NFL secured its long-term $100 billion-plus media rights payday last year and the NBA is hoping to match it or come close.
