• The regional broadcasting rights held by the Diamond Sports Group are being targetted by various streaming companies
• Walt Disney, Apple, Amazon, and Google have shown interest, according to a recent report
• 16 NBA teams had regional broadcasting deals with the Diamond Sports Group
An unexpected battle for NBA regional streaming rights is taking place after the Diamond Sports Group declared bankruptcy earlier in 2023. Diamond Sports Group would use their Bally Sports Network to broadcast NBA games in their 15 markets.
Bloomberg is reporting that Walt Disney, Apple, Amazon, and Google (YouTube), among others, have shown interest in acquiring rights to streaming local NBA games held by bankrupt Diamond Sports Group.
Amazon, Apple, DirecTV, Disney, and Google have expressed interest in streaming local NBA games, per @business
(h/t @awfulannouncing ) pic.twitter.com/stFfB3pPKJ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 8, 2023
All of these services have started competing with each other in the arena of live sports, and getting regional distribution for the NBA in specific markets could be extremely fruitful for the teams and the league.
With Diamond Sports Network’s bankruptcy, there’s no guarantee that NBA teams will receive what they’re fully owed with their regional broadcast rights, a massive problem given how lucrative they are.
The Value Of NBA Media Rights
The NBA’s current media rights deal with Disney and Warner Bros. sees the league net $2.7 billion annually combined from both providers. The current deal will expire in 2025 and open the doors for a possible 10-figure deal to follow it up.
Not only will Disney and Warner Bros. want to keep a hold of the NBA, but they’ll be bidding against tech giants like Amazon, who are also showing interest in regional contracts right now. The league is as popular as it’s ever been and is ushering in a new era of stars.
The viewer base is among the youngest in pro sports, so the league is bound to keep growing. The new player contracts reflect that, as the NBA is multiplying its value every single season.
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