Disney and NBA Reach Major 11-Year Deal
by Ray Keating
News
July 24, 2024
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The Walt Disney Company and ESPN announced today an agreement with the NBA that will extend their agreement for 11 years.
The deal covers NBA seasons from 2025-26 through 2035-36, as well as the 2026 through 2036 WNBA seasons. ESPN, as noted in a company statement, will be the “exclusive home of the NBA’s crown jewel event, the NBA Finals.”
(Photo courtesy of The Walt Disney Company)
One season remains on the current NBA deal.
ESPN’s forthcoming streaming service apparently plays a key part. The company noted, “ESPN’s full package of NBA and WNBA live events and programming, including the championship events, will be available on ESPN’s upcoming flagship direct-to-consumer platform, launching in the fall of 2025.”
Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN Chairman, said, “As the media landscape continues to evolve, this forward-thinking agreement represents a significant and bold step in our mission to serve sports fans, anytime, anywhere, including opportunities to successfully navigate the global digital transition. Through a premium collection of regular and post-season game rights, culminating with the NBA Finals and WNBA Finals, plus studio and original content initiatives, we look forward to building upon our legacy of innovation with the NBA and continuing to play an important role in the extraordinary growth trajectory of the WNBA.”
Among some key points of the deal noted in the company statement:
All 11 NBA Finals exclusively, plus 10 exclusive NBA Conference Finals series through 2035
Exclusive packages of NBA Playoffs first and second round games
Rights to launch new NBA studio show featuring whip-around coverage on game nights
NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC and NBA Sunday Showcase packages
Exclusive home of the NBA Draft, NBA Draft Lottery and NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Wednesday and select Friday NBA games on ESPN
All five NBA Christmas Day games annually; exclusive national coverage of regular-season’s final day
For good measure, the agreement includes a gambling aspect: “The new agreement provides ESPN with all necessary rights to create best-in-class sports betting experiences for NBA and WNBA fans. ESPN will have increased rights to utilize NBA and WNBA highlights and content within its sports betting coverage and to support or integrate into ESPN BET promotions. Furthermore, ESPN has secured the rights to future NBA-focused sports betting specials and series.”
And it doesn’t stop there, as there is a superhero aspect, with an “ongoing collaboration between the NBA and various Disney business areas, including with Marvel Studios... The NBA and Marvel Studios will collaborate on custom content to reach younger fans that leverage Marvel’s rich library of characters and environments.”
And as for those of us who have viewed ESPN Wide World of Sports in Walt Disney World as being under-utilized, the NBA will have a “dedicated presence” there.
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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books.
The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?