Warner Bros. Discovery lost out on a distribution rights deal for several NBA games after the NBA announced it was securing the deal with Amazon.
Topline
Warner Bros. Discovery sued the NBA on Friday for breach of contract after the league said the TNT owner did not match Amazon’s $1.8 billion bid for an 11-year distribution rights deal, according to multiple outlets, though Warner Bros. Discovery has claimed provided a valid match and is arguing the NBA cannot deny its offer because it has matching rights enshrined in its 2014 deal with the league.Key Facts
The suit was filed under seal in New York County Supreme Court, according to Yahoo Finance, which obtained a copy Friday.
Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement Friday the “NBA’s unjustified rejection of our matching of a third-party offer” spurred them to sue the league, adding it believes TNT Sports’ broadcasting of NBA games is their “contractual right.”
The lawsuit reportedly aims to maintain TNT’s broadcast rights for live NBA games over Amazon, which can show 66 NBA regular-season games and more on Prime Video through the 2035-36 season under an 11-year deal, which was announced alongside parallel arrangements with Disney and NBCUniversal earlier this week.
The NBA has said Warner Bros.
