Shocking Battle: Amazon & WBD Clash over Lucrative NBA TV Rights Deal – Who Wins?

1. The current status of NBA television rights contracts is that Warner Bros. Discovery has matched Amazon’s bid as of Monday. However, this does not necessarily imply that TNT will retain the NBA and Amazon will be excluded.

In response, the NBA released a statement stating, “We have received WBD’s proposal and are currently reviewing it.”

The NBA may choose to accept the offer. Alternatively, the league could challenge the interpretation of “match”. The NBA appears to be interested in transitioning away from cable and collaborating with a streaming service. Amazon has a presence in over 200 million households, compared to TNT’s 89 million households.

Therefore, the contract’s definition of “match” will be the determining factor in this situation. If the NBA rejects WBD’s equivalent offer, the matter could potentially result in litigation. Is WBD’s match an attempt to secure some form of settlement?

Some speculate this could be the case.

Other legal experts believe that the NBA and WBD won’t reach the point of litigation. As stated by Sportico’s Michael McCann:

“Another potential obstacle is whether the NBA’s contract with WBD includes terms requiring the parties to mediate and/or arbitrate disputes prior to seeking legal remedies. If such terms exist, a judge is likely to dismiss a lawsuit until all dispute resolution methods have been exhausted.”

I’m not as certain as others TNT matching necessarily means it will battle the NBA in court. For one, the NBA could accept the match. Even if the NBA rejects it, arbitration language might preempt litigation. Both have reasons to avoid litigation, too: https://t.co/Dtr6BrHkwe. pic.twitter.com/UBWU6VHB9N

— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) July 22, 2024

At this point, we can’t definitively predict the outcome, but it’s quite evident that the NBA prefers Amazon. Ultimately, Amazon is likely to acquire the third package, and TNT’s association with the NBA will likely conclude after the upcoming season.

2. In light of a recent debacle with airlines and several canceled flights over the weekend, ESPN’s Adam Schefter informed Pat McAfee that he resorted to hiring a taxi to transport him from Detroit back to New York.

Interestingly, McAfee did not inquire about the cost of Schefter’s taxi journey, a detail I am eager to discover.

“Airlines are basically being shut down and I’ve never seen a scene like I saw last night..

I hired a cab to drive us back to New York and we’re still four hours out” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/3Vgg3GIjhG

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 22, 2024

3. The long-held wish of NFL fans for the Super Bowl to be scheduled on the Sunday before Presidents’ Day may soon be realized. The Washington Post reports that discussions are underway between the NFLPA and the league regarding an 18-game schedule.

If an additional game is added along with an extra bye week, the season could be extended far enough into February for the Super Bowl to coincide with the holiday weekend, allowing many people to enjoy a day off on the Monday following the big game.  

The NFL Players Association has engaged in high-level discussions with the NFL about the potential implementation of an 18-game regular season, the NFLPA’s executive director said.
https://t.co/JLOy78FOum

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 23, 2024

4. Great news for fans of Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on SiriusXM, and those who rely on the content provided by the Radio Hall of Famer: He will continue to be with SiriusXM for the next three years.

I’m back baby!!! Thrilled to announce I’ve signed on with the Great @SIRIUSXM for 3 more years! Your favorite little talk show host in America is back! @MadDogRadio

For More:https://t.co/61uEqC8vm8

— Chris Mad Dog Russo (@MadDogUnleashed) July 23, 2024

5. In the second quarter of 2024, Peacock lost 500,000 subscribers.

Peacock Sheds 500,000 Subscribers, Comcast Earnings Dragged Down by Revenue Drop at Studios and Parks https://t.co/bmCpb5tbQ8

— TheWrap (@TheWrap) July 23, 2024

I am curious to know how many of these were NFL fans who realized they were still subscribing to the streaming service after signing up to watch the NFL playoff game in January.

It will be intriguing to see whether Peacock’s subscriber numbers increase following the Olympics, especially considering the platform announced price hikes just before the start of the Games.

6. The most recent episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast features an interview with NBC’s play-by-play announcer, Noah Eagle.

In the podcast, Eagle discusses his upcoming assignments to provide commentary for the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball games at the Paris Summer Olympics. At the age of just 27, he talks about his extensive broadcasting career, his dream sport to commentate on, and his experience of commentating an NFL playoff game.

Eagle also shares his childhood ambition to become a TV dentist and tells stories about the legendary Bill Raftery, who has been a part of his life since he was a child.

Following the conversation with Eagle, Sal Licata from WFAN and SNY joins for the weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. The segment covers topics such as the off-season version of Hard Knocks, the embarrassment Major League Baseball faces by featuring games on Roku, and the Home Run Derby. The segment also pays tribute to recently deceased personalities Dr. Ruth, Richard Simmons, and Shannen Doherty.

You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina below, or on Apple and Spotify.

Also, you can watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: A very happy 59th birthday to Slash. As a special treat, here’s a video of Slash performing “Dream On” with Steven Tyler at Howard Stern’s 60th birthday party, which I had the privilege of attending.

Make sure to catch up on previous editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter and Instagram.