- Amazon, YouTube TV, ESPN and DAZN all in talks to host streaming hub
- Service could host up to 22 NBA teams’ rights, including 13 signed with Main Street
- Distribution agreement could be worth billions of dollars
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has reportedly told teams it is considering launching a streaming hub for local game broadcasts as soon as next season.
According to Sports Business Journal (SBJ), the launch of the hub is being fast-tracked a year earlier as a result of Main Street Sports Group’s looming bankruptcy in April. Main Street operates the FanDuel Sports Network regional sports network (RSN), which owns the local broadcast rights for 13 NBA franchises.
While a format is yet to be decided, SBJ reports the league is in talks with a number of broadcasters, including YouTube TV, DAZNAmazon and ESPNover the possibility of housing local games for several teams. Any streaming service would be reliant on the NBA guaranteeing a certain number of franchises are involved before agreeing to a deal, which could be worth billions of dollars.
The hub would likely include the 13 NBA franchises currently signed to deals with Main Street, according to SBJ. This group consists of the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs.
The collective could potentially be joined by four more franchises in the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings. SBJ reports that NBC Sports, which owns the local rights for the quartet, is still intent on exiting the RSN business, which would make their rights available.
Five additional teams have already abandoned the RSN model, and should the NBA add their local rights to its hub, the streaming service could show games from up to 22 franchises. The quintet includes the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans.
Meanwhile, the remaining eight NBA teams, who all run their own networks, could also be enticed to join the league, although there are potential complications given their RSNs also broadcast games from other major leagues.
According to SBJ, YouTube TV and DAZN have stepped up their pursuit of local broadcast rights, with both holding talks with the NBA. DAZN is said to have asked individual teams to be considered as an alternative streaming option if the NBA delays the launch of its hub until the 2027/28 season. It is prepared to offer one-year bridge deals, with the ambition of putting itself ahead of competitors to bid for the league’s centralised service.
For the teams partnered with Main Street, their immediate focus is to secure a deal for next season, with linear and streaming options both on the cards. SBJ reports most teams are negotiating over-the-air deals with local stations or creating direct-to-distributor packages.
SportsPro says…
With reports suggesting Main Street increasingly unlikely to pull itself out of financial trouble, the NBA is clearly keen to push ahead with a contingency plan that might just be a long-term solution given the league’s desire to centralise more of its broadcast inventory.
While the NBA has strong national appeal, many of its games have more local value – something that would make this hub hugely attractive to a streamer and increase revenues. Meanwhile, individual teams would benefit from greater certainty and potentially wider reach.
Longer term, the NBA could look to merge its local streaming hub with the out-of-market NBA League Pass, which is currently distributed by Amazon Prime Video.
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