NBA’s Next TV Deal Could Put Playoff Games — Including Finals — Exclusively on Streaming Services: Report

Jason DeCrow/AP

The NBA’s next media rights deal will have an emphasis on streaming, with Amazon reportedly favored to secure a piece of the pie.

The negotiation window for the next deal — set to begin with the 2025-26 season — ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday. According to The Athletic reporter Andrew Marchand, the deal will make streaming the “principal distribution method.” While ESPN/ABC and TNT are all vying to retain their rights, a new partner is expected to join the mix.

While Amazon is the favorite, NBC is looking to make its return to the NBA via its streaming service Peacock. Netflix, Apple, and Google/YouTube are also considered to be potential partners.

Executives told The Athletic that Amazon landing late-season games — including the conference finals and even the NBA Finals — is a “possibility” at some point down the road.

The NBA’s push for streaming follows a recent trend among the major North American sports leagues. The MLB has broadcast games exclusively on Apple TV+, and Amazon is already the home of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football.

That push, however, has come with some pushback from fans. This past NFL season, NBC purchased the rights to stream an NFL playoff game exclusively on Peacock. Though many expressed outrage over the move, it was streamed by more than 20 million people.

Next season, Amazon will also stream a playoff game.