Amazon’s entry into the NBA will include an even bigger lean into its all-important Black Friday.
Building on the streaming and online retail giant’s existing NFL presence on the unofficial U.S. holiday, the company plans to air an NBA primetime doubleheader after an NFL game in the afternoon featuring the Bears at the defending champion Eagles.
“This is going to be the greatest Friday in sports,” said Charissa Thompson, host for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football, during an upfront presentation in New York to advertisers. The blending of NFL and NBA coverage was further reflected by the company’s announcing teams for both leagues appearing on stage together.
The heavy dose of sports content also attempts to bring the two main parts of Amazon’s business together, with viewers repeatedly directed to the company’s online shopping.
“The holiday shopping season stands as one of the most critical stretches of the year for advertisers and retailers looking to attract the massive audiences that congregate around major events,” said Prime Video VP and global head of sports and advertising Jay Marine. “Prime Video has an unparalleled sports lineup during this important period.”
Amazon’s NBA plans also join NBC Sports’ high-tech initiative for the league on Peacock. After the conclusion of the NFL season, Amazon will continue with its Thursday night live sports presence with more NBA doubleheaders in that slot.
NFL Reveal
Like NBC did early Monday and Fox later in the day, Amazon revealed Monday night its initial NFL broadcast plans, with the Black Friday game, Amazon’s third, joined by the nightcap of a recently finalized Christmas tripleheader will involve the Broncos at the Chiefs.
The game reveals precede the full release of the 2025 NFL regular-season schedule that will involve a series of critical changes. With the announcements by NBC, Fox, and Amazon, three of the Eagles’ 17 games in their title defense are already known.
Doc Plans
Amazon, meanwhile, will continue its multiyear run of sports documentary development, unveiling plans to show new films on the NFL’s Jets and former star wide receiver Terrell Owens.
The Home Team: NY Jets is a six-part series that chronicles six Jets players during the 2024 season, mixing between personal and football matters. Developed by Prime Video Sports, Skydance Sports, and NFL Films, the project bears some similarity to the long-running Hard Knocks, but has a more specific focus on a smaller group of players.
A still-untitled Owens documentary looks at a talent who amassed some of the most prolific statistics in league history, including the third-best receiving yards total behind only Jerry Rice and Larry Fitzgerald, but frequently clashed with the five teams he played for over his career. This project also involves Prime Video Sports, Skydance Sports, and NFL Films.
