WBD Sues NBA Over Rejected Media Rights Deal

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has filed a lawsuit against the NBA after the league rejected its bid to match Amazon's $1.8 billion-per-year streaming deal, which was part of a larger $77 billion, 11-year media rights agreement involving Disney, Comcast, and Amazon. WBD contends that their existing contract grants them the right to match any third-party offer, but the NBA argues that the terms were not identical due to differences in streaming exclusivity and financial arrangements. The lawsuit seeks to enforce WBD's contractual rights and maintain their long-standing partnership with the NBA, which has significant implications for WBD's TNT network and Max streaming service. The NBA has dismissed WBD's claims as baseless, setting the stage for a legal battle that could impact future media rights negotiations and the fate of popular programming like 'Inside the NBA'. The case highlights broader tensions as traditional broadcasters and streaming services compete for lucrative sports rights.