While the NFL remains the top media attraction on the strength of its ratings and advertising prowess, the NBA solidified its hold on second place among professional sports leagues this week with a new 11-year, $76B rights package with ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime Video.
As reported by The Associated Press, the deal will begin with the 2025-26 season. It will average $6.9 billion per season, and could top $7 billion if TNT is included in the mix. The NFL averages $10 billion per year through its five partner networks
According to The AP's Joe Reedy, ESPN and ABC will continue to be home of the league’s marquee matchups, as well as the NBA Finals.
Even though the NBA will have two broadcast partners for the first time, the Walt Disney Company was adamant about not sharing the Finals. It will cost Disney $2.6 billion per year, which is just shy of the $2.7 per season it pays to the NFL for Monday Night Football, two playoff games and the Super Bowl in 2027 and 2031.
Under the current nine-year deal which expires next season, ESPN/ABC pay the NBA $1.4 billion per year.
NBC, which carried NBA games from 1990 through 2002, returns to air a Sunday night package of games once the NFL regular season concludes, as well as NBA All-Star Weekend. It will regularly air games on Tuesday nights and have a package of Monday games streaming on Peacock.
NBC’s deal averages $2.5 billion per season, which is more than the $2 billion it gives to the NFL for Sunday Night Football. "Considering though that Sunday Night Football has been the top primetime program for 13 straight years, it is money well spent," Reedy wrote.
