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With NBA executives sequestered in almost around-the-clock negotiations with a fistful of networks — from old-school NBC to new-school Amazon to out-of-school Warner Bros. Discovery — the end game has begun to cross most people’s minds at the league’s 5th Avenue office.
There are going to be winners, albeit at the heavy price of
roughly $2.6 billion annually from ESPN and
about $1.8B annually from Amazon. But the prospect of saying goodbye to WBD’s Turner, after a 35-year run that turned Ernie Johnson into the league’s favorite uncle and Charles Barkley into a pseudo-Howard Cosell, is real and becoming more inevitable by the day.
Sources continue to insist Comcast’s NBCUniversal will capture the third NBA package — and likely unveil a “Basketball Night in America’’ telecast — with its
annual bid of $2.5B. Although details are still being massaged with nothing finalized, those sources believe there is little WBD CEO David Zaslav can do to overtake NBC unless he perhaps coughs up as much as $2.8B or more to overpay for the package. Or, according to the sources, unless he takes the league to court.
Reports surfaced last month that incumbent WBD exited its exclusive negotiating window with the league believing it could match any bid from NBC or the like, dollar for dollar. However, sources reiterated Wednesday that the NBA believes a dollar-for-dollar match is not enough, that NBC is an over-the-air network with multiple broadcast windows and an RSN infrastructure that WBD cannot replicate.
“NBC has made their bid, and they're not budging,’’ a media industry source said. “So it's over, right? And Warner Bros. is saying, ‘We'll match it,’ and (Commissioner Adam Silver) is probably saying: ‘It's not matched.’ ’’
That gray area of what a “match’’ is could turn into a lawsuit against the league, or at least have lawyers weighing in, according to sources. In the meantime, those sources said Silver is contemplating how to cut Turner loose and simply wants to do so in a gentle way.
“There's no mystery to this," the source said. “It's pretty blatant what's happening. David Zaslav realizes he has to have this and doesn't want to pay more than $2.5B. And Adam's saying, honestly, it's not matched at $2.5. And [Zaslav] goes, ‘Yes, it is,’ and they're going back and forth.’ And so that's where we are. How do you let [WBD] down? Is there a way? Or does Zaslav come up with more money? Because then it doesn't have to be matching because David's paid more.
“And that's where we are. Adam's trying to be nice to David right now until David backs off his dogs. He’s trying to help David save face.’’
One source indicated Turner could go a different direction, focusing solely on the WNBA — considering the network already gained rights in April to broadcast WNBA games in the UK and Ireland. The idea that Turner could also keep a Thursday night-only NBA package is remote, considering that would water down NBC’s proposed package.
As of now, NBC’s package is expected to include Sunday Night games following the NFL season, while perhaps taking over ESPN’s Friday night slate and TNT’s second-round playoff and conference final package. Amazon would likely have one weekday night (Tuesday or Thursday) and Saturday nights, as well as the Play-in tournament, the In-Season Tournament, first-round playoff games and likely some international rights. Apple is out, Google seems to be pursuing the NBA’s League Pass package and ESPN —while also likely retaining some international rights — will continue with its “A” package of the Finals every year.
“ESPN did not want to alternate the finals, which I think Adam wanted to do,’’ a source said. “Adam wanted to make a package for NBC and alternate the finals with ESPN. ESPN fought it, fought, fought it, and finally said fine, ‘We'll pay the $2.6B, but no alternating the finals.’ And WB thought the league would never get that [$2.5] price from NBC. They said, ‘Sure, go shopping.’ They shopped it, they got the price. And now David Zaslav goes, ‘We’re screwed.’’’
The source said even Johnson, Barkley and iconic “Inside the NBA’’ studio would have no bearing on the league decision with Turner.
“I think it’s the greatest show on television, but it didn't cure cancer,’’ an industry source said. “Guess what else ended? Sopranos is off the air. Friends. Mash. Seinfeld. All great shows do come to an end. Sometimes it's time to go.’’
