Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is actively negotiating to retain its NBA rights, positioning itself as the underdog but striving for a successful outcome. CEO David Zaslav's approach to negotiations has been noted, with a focus on competing with Amazon rather than NBC. The outcome of these talks will determine WBD's future in NBA broadcasting.
$WBD $AMZN | Warner Bros. Discovery’s NBA Rights Offer Could Put It In Competition With Amazon, Not NBC – @CNBC https://t.co/ieuycOevyb
In the latest turn of NBA rights negotiations, I'm told Warner Bros. Discovery's focus will likely be on the package of games earmarked for Amazon more than NBCU. Story here: https://t.co/zw05CLn8Py
More on this story and why $WBD still isn’t out of the NBA sweepstakes (even if it appears to be making contingency plans) up ahead on @LastCallCNBC in about 10 minutes. https://t.co/StN8d3qj9N
Two years ago, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav dunked on the NBA saying, “We don’t have to have the NBA.” We’re about to find out if that’s true. @AndrewMarchand explains, from the archives: https://t.co/jDW8NRWPAp https://t.co/qRiSEgg0HJ
If NBC wins NBA rights, it'll be because of WBD's austerity the last few years. So a reminder of why NBC lost NBA in the first place: "If winning the rights to a property brings with it hundreds of millions of dollars in losses, what have you won?," NBC Sports boss said in 2002. https://t.co/1JMdJVZx62
WBD's David Zaslav Entered Negotiations With NBA Bargaining Harder Than ESPN https://t.co/lyXHAm4b9R
NEW: Warner Bros. Discovery is still very much alive at the negotiating table to try to retain its NBA rights, sources with direct knowledge of the talks tell FOS. WBD is still "the underdog," but it’s working to pull off a "last-second buzzer beater." @MMcCarthyREV's column ⬇️