Warner Bros Discovery sues NBA

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has filed a lawsuit against the NBA in New York, claiming the league breached its contract by rejecting WBD's matching bid for media rights, which amounted to $1.8 billion annually. The NBA recently signed new contracts with Amazon, NBCUniversal, and Disney worth nearly $76 billion over 11 years, ending a long-standing partnership with WBD that began in 1984. WBD contends that its offer should have been accepted under the terms of their agreement, arguing that the NBA's rejection was unjustified and detrimental to fans who prefer its distribution platforms. The NBA, however, maintains that WBD's offer did not match the terms of Amazon's deal. In response to the lawsuit, the NBA stated that WBD's claims are without merit and will be addressed by their legal team. This legal conflict highlights ongoing tensions between WBD and the NBA as they prepare for a year of remaining collaboration before the contractual shift.