WNBA’s media rights deals set league up to receive $2.2 billion over next 11 years: Sources
5 months, 1 week ago

WNBA’s media rights deals set league up to receive $2.2 billion over next 11 years: Sources

New York Times  

The WNBA’s next national media rights package has come into shape. The NBA negotiated the WNBA’s new deals during its just-completed rights talks, where it reached an agreement with Disney, NBC and Amazon on an 11-year, approximately $75 billion set of contracts. The NBA’s board of governors approved those media rights deals Tuesday but they are not yet official since Warner Bros. The new rights fees could have as much as six times multiple of the league’s current media rights fees since the new deals leave room for the WNBA to bring in new partners. There is an agreement between the league and the media partners to revisit the rights deals with good faith talks after three years that could reprice them to reflect the league’s growth.

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History of this topic

WNBA Players Union Demands New Collective Bargaining Agreement
2 months ago

WNBA Players Union Demands New Collective Bargaining Agreement

CNN  

The WNBA players union has opted out of the current collective bargaining agreement early, demanding a new deal that better reflects the growth of the game. The decision comes after a historic season for the league, which saw audience figures skyrocket and many players become household names on the level of other professional sports in the US. The WNBA is …

As the WNBA's historic season comes to an end, players say it's time for higher pay
2 months ago

As the WNBA's historic season comes to an end, players say it's time for higher pay

NPR  

As the WNBA's historic season comes to an end, players say it's time for higher pay toggle caption Steph Chambers/Getty Images WASHINGTON — The WNBA players' union has opted out of its collective bargaining agreement, a historic move aimed at securing higher salaries for players amid a record-breaking year for women's basketball. If the league and players are unable to …

How the NBA’s new media rights deal could impact the current CBA — and the teams
4 months, 2 weeks ago

How the NBA’s new media rights deal could impact the current CBA — and the teams

New York Times  

As the NBA waits for its next media rights deal to kick in, there has been plenty of consideration on how it will impact the salary cap and player salaries. Usually, the salary cap grows in lockstep with basketball revenue, but the league’s incoming media rights deal is expected to create a situation where they get divorced. If there is …

Warner Bros Discovery sues NBA over bid for broadcast rights
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Warner Bros Discovery sues NBA over bid for broadcast rights

Hindustan Times  

By Dawn Chmielewski Warner Bros Discovery sues NBA over bid for broadcast rights -Warner Bros Discovery and its sports division, Turner Broadcasting System, filed a lawsuit on Friday against the National Basketball Association in New York over the league's rejection of its matching bid for media rights. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Warner Bros Discovery's claims are "without merit." The …

WNBA announces landmark 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC
4 months, 4 weeks ago

WNBA announces landmark 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC

Associated Press  

More than 100 WNBA regular-season games will be broadcast each season through an 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC that the league announced Wednesday. “These agreements allow the league to continue to build a long-term and sustainable growth model for the future of women’s basketball and sports which will benefit WNBA players, teams and fans.” The …

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese jersey sales skyrocket as WNBA reports 1000% increase in merchandise purchases
4 months, 4 weeks ago

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese jersey sales skyrocket as WNBA reports 1000% increase in merchandise purchases

Daily Mail  

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have already helped lead the WNBA's massive boost in ratings and attendance at games. New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, who was the late Kobe Bryant's protégé, ranked third in jersey sales, while Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin and her teammate, A'ja Wilson, rounded out the top five. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have …

Warner Bros. Discovery vows to ‘take appropriate action’ after NBA rejects offer
5 months ago

Warner Bros. Discovery vows to ‘take appropriate action’ after NBA rejects offer

LA Times  

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21. The NBA has completed an 11-year, $76-billion media rights pact that will change the lineup of partners after next season, ending its decades-long relationship with cable network TNT and entering a new partnership with Amazon. “We think grossly misinterpreted …

NBA announces $77 billion deals with ESPN, NBC and Amazon; TNT Sports threatens to sue, per sources
5 months ago

NBA announces $77 billion deals with ESPN, NBC and Amazon; TNT Sports threatens to sue, per sources

New York Times  

The NBA announced new 11-year TV deals with incumbent ESPN and newcomers NBC and Amazon Prime Video, rejecting TNT Sports’ right to match, which is expected to lead to a legal battle between the network and the league, according to sources briefed on the deal. TNT Sports, according to sources briefed on the matter, has honed its sights on Amazon’s …

WNBA players’ union leader is concerned the league is undervalued in NBA rights deal
5 months ago

WNBA players’ union leader is concerned the league is undervalued in NBA rights deal

LA Times  

Sparks forward Dearica Hamby brings the ball down the court against the Atlanta Dream during the 2024 season. The WNBA players’ union’s leader is concerned the league’s latest media rights deal is too low. The executive director of the WNBA players’ union is concerned the league is being undervalued with the $2.2 billion over 11 years it will receive as …

NBA’s new TV deal with Disney, NBC, Amazon won’t include matching rights: Sources
5 months ago

NBA’s new TV deal with Disney, NBC, Amazon won’t include matching rights: Sources

New York Times  

While the NBA remains in a media rights purgatory, waiting to see if and how Warner Bros. Discovery will use its matching rights to try to retain a part of the league’s new rights package, it has ensured that this high-stakes game of corporate chicken won’t happen again the next time around. The NBA’s new media rights agreements do not …

WNBA players’ union leader is concerned league being undervalued in new media rights deal
5 months ago

WNBA players’ union leader is concerned league being undervalued in new media rights deal

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The executive director of the WNBA players’ union is concerned the league is being undervalued with the $2.2 billion over 11 years it will receive as part of the NBA’s recently approved media rights deals. “We have wondered for months how the NBA would value the WNBA in its media rights deal,” executive director of the union Terri …

Here's what you need to know about the NBA's upcoming 11-year, $76 billion media rights contracts
5 months, 1 week ago

Here's what you need to know about the NBA's upcoming 11-year, $76 billion media rights contracts

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The deals with ESPN/ABC, NBC …

Here’s what you need to know about the NBA’s upcoming 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal
5 months, 1 week ago

Here’s what you need to know about the NBA’s upcoming 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal

Associated Press  

The NBA might not be happy with the NFL making Christmas Day a regular part of its schedule. The deals with ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime Video will average $6.9 billion per season. It will cost Disney $2.6 billion per year, which is just shy of the $2.7 billion per season it pays to the NFL for “Monday Night Football,” …

NBA agrees to terms on a new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, AP source says
5 months, 1 week ago

NBA agrees to terms on a new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, AP source says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

NBA agrees to terms on a record 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, AP source says
5 months, 1 week ago

NBA agrees to terms on a record 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, AP source says

Associated Press  

The NBA has agreed to terms on its new media deals, a record 11-year agreement worth $76 billion that would assure player salaries will continue rising for the foreseeable future and one that will surely change how some viewers access the game for years to come. NBC — whose deal is expected to be $2.5 billion per season — would …

WNBA backed by Caitlin Clark continues to hemorrhage money despite record attendance and ratings
6 months, 1 week ago

WNBA backed by Caitlin Clark continues to hemorrhage money despite record attendance and ratings

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Despite the recent explosion …

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says finalizing the new media rights deals is ‘complex’ process
6 months, 2 weeks ago

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says finalizing the new media rights deals is ‘complex’ process

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Getting the NBA’s next round of media rights deals completed is an extremely complex proposition, Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday, especially because nobody can say with any certainty what the viewing landscape will look like in the future. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sounded an ominous note in late 2022, saying that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have …

NBA media negotiations are in the 4th quarter. The outcome remains very much in doubt
6 months, 3 weeks ago

NBA media negotiations are in the 4th quarter. The outcome remains very much in doubt

Associated Press  

The conference finals and Bronny James’ decision to remain in the draft are far from the only things dominating NBA conversations lately. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sounded an ominous note, as well as giving competitors something to shoot for, when he said during an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA” …

NBA media negotiations are in the 4th quarter. The outcome remains very much in doubt
6 months, 3 weeks ago

NBA media negotiations are in the 4th quarter. The outcome remains very much in doubt

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The NBA media rights negotiations for deals beginning with …

What to expect in the NBA’s next media deal: Amazon, NBC contenders to join
8 months ago

What to expect in the NBA’s next media deal: Amazon, NBC contenders to join

New York Times  

In TV rights negotiations, the NBA is seeking new decade-long — or longer — contracts that will alter how it traditionally delivers games, with streaming becoming the principal distribution method, according to league and television executives briefed on the plans. ET, the exclusive financial negotiation window between the NBA, ESPN and TNT Sports will officially close, allowing league commissioner Adam …

Next NBA media rights deal already subject of speculation before negotiations even start
1 year, 1 month ago

Next NBA media rights deal already subject of speculation before negotiations even start

Associated Press  

The NBA will have its own version of March Madness this season. “You’re clearly seeing an evolution or a morphing of media moving continually to streaming services.. Obviously other entrants in the market would potentially be interested.” The league’s 45-day negotiation period with the incumbents, ESPN/ABC and TNT, for the next media rights deal formally begins March 9. ESPN’s Wednesday …

NWSL seeking new media rights deal: What the league should expect
1 year, 2 months ago

NWSL seeking new media rights deal: What the league should expect

New York Times  

The NWSL is at a crossroads. A deal by the end of the season Earlier this month Berman said the goal was to “be in a position to finalize our media deal in conjunction with the playoffs and the conclusion of our season.” The hope is that viewership numbers spike again for the NWSL Championship — maybe cracking one million …

Pay equity in women’s sports: How the WNBA is playing the long game
2 years, 4 months ago

Pay equity in women’s sports: How the WNBA is playing the long game

LA Times  

Katie Lou Samuelson had the perfect shoes to mark the anniversary of Title IX. “We’re the league that put your money where your mouth is,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. With WNBA salaries stagnating, “there’s a lot more weight on sponsorships and brand partnerships,” Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike said. “But the pot doesn’t necessarily get bigger for every player if …

AP Was There: NBA approves plans to launch WNBA
2 years, 10 months ago

AP Was There: NBA approves plans to launch WNBA

Associated Press  

The NBA recognized the popularity of the women’s game in 1996 as its Board of Governors approved plans to start a new pro basketball league the following summer. The board approved the Women’s National Basketball Association to begin play in June 1997 with the slogan of “We Got Next.” It started with plans for eight teams to play a 25- …

WNBA announces $75 million capital raise
2 years, 10 months ago

WNBA announces $75 million capital raise

Associated Press  

The WNBA received $75 million from a group of investors that includes Michael Dell, Nike, Swin Cash and a few NBA owners in its first capital raise and the largest ever for women’s sports. “It’s a historic moment, I’m really excited to close on a very successful capital raise,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “Women’s sport is one of the …

WNBA raises $75 million in capital; investors received equity in league
2 years, 10 months ago

WNBA raises $75 million in capital; investors received equity in league

New York Times  

The WNBA has announced a $75 million round of capital raise, the largest amount ever raised in a single investment round by a women’s sports franchise. The group of investors includes some current owners in the WNBA and NBA — such as Liberty/Nets owners Joe and Clara Tsai, Wings owner Bill Cameron and Mystics/Wizards owner Ted Leonsis — as well …

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