Apple and Amazon have expressed interest in acquiring an National Basketball Association (NBA) streaming package, according to CNBC. However, they’re not the only interested party.
According to CNBC, NBCUniversal is preparing to make a strong bid to win back National Basketball Association broadcast rights more than 20 years after the company lost them to Disney and Turner Sports. NBC Sports purportedly wants a package that would include playoff games to air on NBC’s broadcast network.
No formal discussions can take place with non-incumbent bidders unless Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns Turner Sports, and Disney agree to waive their exclusive negotiation windows, which end in April 2024, according to CNBC.
If — and that’s a big IF — Apple landed the NBA streaming package, it would be the tech giant’s second foray into pro sports streaming. In June 2022, Apple and Major League Soccer announced that the Apple TV app would be the exclusive destination to watch every single live MLS match beginning in 2023. And Apple is purportedly interested in landing the streaming rights to the European Super League.
