Sources: NBA Nearing Agreement On New Media-Rights Deal With Turner Sports, ESPN

The NBA and its network partners, Turner Sports and ESPN, "expect to reach an agreement in principle on new long-term media deals by the start of the regular season," according to sources cited by Lombardo & Ourand of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Talks "have progressed so rapidly that details are emerging on a massive agreement that would see the league’s annual rights fee more than double, with ESPN and Turner combining to pay" more than $2B per year on average. A source said that ESPN "already has committed to pay 'well over'" $1B annually, and Turner is "not far behind for a media rights extension that would kick in" with the '16-17 season. Sources said that a final deal "might not be signed or announced before the new season, but talks with ESPN and Turner are advanced enough that ... there is little chance the NBA will carve out a third package for another network, like Fox Sports or NBC Sports" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/8 issue).