Warner Bros. Discovery may be more interested in going after an NBA package earmarked for Amazon than on games slated for NBCUniversal, sources say.
Warner Bros. Discovery's internal focus has been on potentially matching a package of games earmarked for Amazon, sources tell CNBC.
It's the latest turn in what's been a relatively messy renegotiation for Warner Bros. Discovery, one of two incumbent holders of NBA rights, along withto partner with the NBA to broadcast a package of games as the league plans its next media partners, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private.
It's possible Warner Bros. Discovery chooses not to match any of the packages, or it may push to strike a side deal with the league for either a settlement or a smaller, fourth package of games. It's unclear whether the NBA would be amenable to either of those solutions. That could gum up an NBA deal with either NBCUniversal or Amazon or potentially lead to a lawsuit between Warner Bros. Discovery and the league. It's unclear if the league can reject Warner Bros. Discovery's matching rights if it chooses a different partner.
The College Football Playoffs deal and the company's recent rights agreement for a package of NASCAR races beginning in 2025 has put Zaslav in a place where he's content to lose the NBA if Warner Bros. Discovery management decides the cost is too much, according to people familiar with the matter. Warner Bros. Discovery could use the money saved from not spending on the NBA for other sports, including UFC, which will likely sign a new rights deal next year.Zaslav views NBCUniversal as a direct competitor in a fight for survival among legacy media companies, according to people familiar with his thinking. If NBCUniversal ends up paying too much for the NBA, he views that as a competitive advantage for Warner Bros. Discovery, they said.
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