Warner Bros. Discovery is suing the NBA to maintain their video games on TNT

Warner Bros. Discovery ( WBD ) filed a lawsuit towards the NBA on Friday to maintain the league’s video games on its cable networks and streaming platforms.

The media large filed the lawsuit in New York State Supreme Courtroom after the NBA rejected its provide to match the league’s cope with streaming rival WBD. Sort Reviews.

WBD has partnered with the NBA for the previous three a long time to broadcast the league’s video games on its TNT cable community. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, the NBA introduced new partnerships with Amazon, Disney and NBCUniversal that can permit them to stream and broadcast some NBA video games from 2026.

WBD mentioned in court docket papers that its present settlement with the league preempts any third-party bid for future NBA broadcast rights and that the NBA breached its settlement by rejecting the provide. his

“Given the NBA’s unjustified rejection of our third-party provide, we now have taken authorized motion to implement our rights,” Warner mentioned in a press release to Selection. -this is just our contractual proper, but in addition for the advantage of followers who need to proceed watching our industry-leading NBA content material with the selection and adaptability we provide them by way of the -our video distribution platforms.” , together with TNT and Max.

Shedding rights to NBA video games could be a significant blow for WBD, which already has issues with its tv networks.

WBD CEO David Zaslav has reportedly been exploring numerous methods to spice up the corporate’s share value, together with Cut up your streaming and studio property out of your cable community enterprise.

Regardless of working one of many Only a few worthwhile streaming platformsWarner Bros. Discovery dragged down by its serial tv property. The corporate’s shares have fallen 70% because the merger it created in 2022.