(Reuters) -Warner Bros Discovery and its sports division, Turner Broadcasting System, filed a lawsuit on Friday against the National Basketball Association in New York over the league’s rejection of its matching bid for media rights. The Warner Bros NBA lawsuit alleges that the NBA’s refusal to honor its right violates the Turner agreement. The media company claims that the NBA’s actions breach the terms set with Warner Bros. The dispute centers on the Warner Bros NBA agreement and its right to match third-party offers. #WarnerBrosNBA
“We strongly believe this is not just our contractual right, but also in the best interest of fans who want to keep watching our industry-leading NBA content,” TNT Sports said in a statement.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Warner Bros Discovery’s claims are “without merit.”
The NBA announced on Wednesday that it had awarded ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Amazon.com rights to carry NBA games. The 11-year deal is valued at $77 billion.
The NBA rejected a last-minute offer from TNT Sports, saying it fell short of Amazon’s proposal. This ends a nearly four-decade relationship with the media company after next season.
Turner argues it has a vested interest in retaining the rights to carry NBA games. It has invested billions for the distribution rights. Turner also invested hundreds of millions in production and talent, including the Emmy-winning “Inside the NBA” show with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith. #WarnerBrosNBA
The media company argues NBA games are “unique assets” that drive significant viewership and ratings. This affects the price Turner can charge advertisers. It also provides competitive advantages in negotiating rights with other leagues, the company claims.
