Apple in the running for NBA rights package

The NBA’s exclusive negotiating window with incumbent media partners Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery will likely pass without a deal announcement, CNBC reports Friday citing “people familiar with the matter.” Apple, Amazon, NBCUniversal, Netflix, and YouTube TV have all expressed preliminary interest in talks with the NBA about potentially buying a package of games as a new partner, CNBC reported last year.
Alex Sherman for CNBC:
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Beginning next week, the NBA will be able to work on agreements for new partners to show packages of games. Amazon, Apple, YouTube TV, Comcast’s NBCUniversal/Peacock and Netflix have all had preliminary conversations with the league expressing potential interest, CNBC reported last year. The exclusive negotiating window with the league’s incumbent partners officially ends Monday.
While no agreement is expected to be announced by the deadline, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery both continue to work on terms with the league, an NBA spokesperson confirmed. The NBA would like to bring in at least one new partner to serve as a flagship streamer, CNBC reported last year. The league wants a “robust” streaming partner that will use marketing and reach to make the games a priority on their platform, CNBC reported.
The NBA is looking to double the $24 billion it generated from its previous media rights deal with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery by adding new partners and charging more for rights, CNBC reported last year… Both Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery aren’t eager to lose the rights they already have. Still, the league is looking for a large increase in fees, and neither company wants to carry the full burden of paying significantly more for what they already have, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

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MacDailyNews Take: Apple should continue to maximize usage of the Apple TV app and give Apple TV+ subscribers even more value (by offering lower subscription fees than non-subscribers à la MLS Season Pass) wherever it makes sense financially; live sports is a major way to do it.
Perhaps Cook should consider bidding for and winning NFL Sunday Ticket away from Direct TV, buying rights to Premiere League and La Liga games, etc. and making them Apple TV exclusives. Go directly to the sports leagues with boatloads of cash. – MacDailyNews, May 6, 2014
Hit series and blockbuster movies come and go, but live sports is the eternal differentiator. – MacDaiyNews, Octobr 2, 2023
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