NBA, ESPN renew deal; NBC returns, while Amazon replaces WBD - ESPN

The NBA signed its 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday after saying it was not accepting Warner Bros. Discovery's $1.8 billion per year offer to continue its longtime relationship with the league.

The media rights deals were approved by the league's board of governors last week and will bring the league about $76 billion over those 11 years.

WBD had five days to match a part of those deals and said it was exercising its right to do so, but its offer was not considered a true match by the NBA. That means the 2024-25 season will be the last for TNT after a nearly four-decade run — though not long after the NBA signing was announced, WBD said it would take «appropriate action» and said it believes the NBA has to accept its offer.

«The digital opportunities with Amazon align perfectly with the global interest in the NBA,» NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. «And Prime Video's massive subscriber base will dramatically expand our ability to reach our fans in new and innovative ways.»

Turner Sports strongly disagreed with the NBA's move, saying it believes the league «grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights.»

«We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it,» TNT Sports said in a statement. «In doing so, they are rejecting the many fans who continue to show their unwavering support for our best-in-class coverage, delivered through the full combined reach of WBD's video-first distribution platforms.… We will take appropriate action.»

TNT said it continues looking forward to the coming season, «including our iconic 'Inside the NBA.'»

Under the provisions of the new deal, Amazon Prime Video will carry