The NBA’s exclusive negotiating window with ESPN and TNT ended last night, according to a source familiar with the existing contract terms. As per the terms of the current agreement, ESPN and TNT have the right to match any potential new media deal that the league may strike with a third party. This means that if the NBA were to bring in a third party like Amazon, NBC/Peacock, or another streaming service for a package, ESPN or TNT would have the opportunity to match that deal. Similarly, if another company like NBC were to attempt to take over an existing linear TV deal held by ESPN or TNT, the incumbents would also have the right to match that offer.
Before the exclusive negotiating window closed, Sports Business Journal reported that the NBA, ESPN, and TNT were already well on their way to reaching a new deal. While no formal agreement was reached before the deadline, the sides were reported to be 75% of the way there when negotiations opened last month. The NBA did not provide a direct comment on the right to match clause, stating only, “Although the exclusive negotiating period has ended, we are still in discussions with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery regarding our media deals.” The league is looking to alter how it delivers games in its new media deals, signaling a potential shift in how fans will consume NBA content in the future.