Disney “Interested” In New NBA Deal, CEO Bob Chapek Says As He Touts Recent Basketball Ratings
deadline.comAs sports rights prove the small screen game changer, the ball is in Disney’s court when it comes to the NBA.“We are interested in a renewal with the NBA,” said CEO Bob Chapek today after the company issued its surprisingly strong quarterly earnings reports.
However, for all his praise of the ratings from the basketball league’s Golden State Warriors winning finals this year, the almost always circumspect exec added the caveat that “we will only do it if it is accretive to shareholder value.”Currently under the almost decade long agreement the ESPN-owning House of Mouse and the now entitled Warner Bros Discovery has with the Adam Silver run NBA, Disney pays out around $2.5 billion a year.
That hoops deal is set to expired after the 2024-2025 NBA season, which may or may not be won by Steph Curry the Warriors again.
Looking at the huge sums the NFL has hauled in from networks, streamers and more in recent negotiations, the NBA in angling to significantly increase its current $24 billion deal.Disney’s Streaming Services Just Passed Netflix In Total SubscribersWhispers are that the league is looking at an up-to-$75 billion payout from potential bidders.
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