• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 17, 2025

NBA Renews Push to Dismiss TNT Sports Media-Rights Lawsuit

  • The NBA cited a 51-year-old case involving the league itself in making its latest argument.
  • The latest court filing seeks to advance a bid to have the media-rights dispute dismissed now.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The NBA has made its final push to have TNT Sports’ lawsuit against the league dismissed, arguing the network’s purported match of the Amazon rights deal was instead a counteroffer.

Responding to TNT Sports’ recent claim that the league inserted a series of “purposely onerous and immaterial” contractual provisions—in effect “poison pills” designed to thwart the network and protect Amazon—the league said prior case law explicitly allows for extensive customization in its dealmaking.

“Under New York law, ‘every competitor has a right to attempt to win a contract by offering terms which its competitors can’t meet,’ and the seller is ‘free to seek and accept such terms as were consistent with its legitimate business interests,’” the league wrote in a filing late Wednesday with the Supreme Court of the State of New York, where the case is being heard.

In making that argument, the NBA cited a previous case involving the league itself, Am. Broadcast Co. vs. Kennedy from 1973, in which CBS gained NBA media rights previously held by ABC. Similar to the current claim from the Warner Bros. Discovery–owned TNT Sports, ABC then alleged a conspiracy and claimed NBA owners dealt in “bad faith,” but that suit was dismissed.

Following Up

The NBA’s latest argument seeks to advance a prior motion to dismiss filed in late August, one in which the league argued TNT Sports improperly sought to rewrite several key provisions of the Amazon agreement to facilitate a contract match. Many of those arguments were revisited in the latest response.

“[TNT Sports does] not deny, as [the NBA] stressed, that [the network] revised eight of the Amazon offer’s 27 sections, changed 11 definitions, struck nearly 300 words, and added over 270 new words,” the league wrote. “Plaintiffs’ redline was a counteroffer, not a match. That should be the end of this case.”

Without an immediate ruling to dismiss by Judge Joel Cohen or a settlement, the case will almost certainly intersect with the 2024–2025 NBA season. The NBA preseason begins Friday, and the regular season starts Oct. 22. 

The two sides have agreed to an expedited schedule, and a trial, should the case get to that point, is tentatively set for early April. Appeals, however, could see the dispute potentially drag into the 2025–2026 season, when the new set of national rights that also include ESPN and NBC Sports in addition to Amazon are due to start.

Amazon’s “C” package with the NBA—estimated at more than $1.8 billion per year and including a conference final every other season—also features early-round playoffs in line with what is currently on NBA TV, weekly regular-season broadcasts, the Emirates NBA Cup, and WNBA rights, among other assets.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Dave Checketts

Former Knicks President: When David Stern Accused Me of Circumventing Cap

The Knicks walked away clean when accused of cap circumvention in the 1990s.
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.

NBA Tries to Solve Fragmentation Issue It Helped Create

A new “Tap to Watch” feature will direct fans to live games.
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Semaj Morgan (0) makes a catch for a first down in the first half against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Michigan Board Publicly Opposes Big Ten Investment Proposal

“The Big Ten does not need to be sold to save college sports.”
Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of ESPN broadcast camera during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.

ESPN’s New NBA Segment Resists Hot Takes

LeBron James tweeted in favor of the new segment.

Featured Today

May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive
October 10, 2025

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Second place Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) sprays champagne on winner Mercedes driver George Russell (63) at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Apple Officially Taking F1 Rights From ESPN in $700M Deal

ESPN has broadcast F1 in the U.S. since 2018.
WNBA
October 16, 2025

WNBA Says All-Star Game Will Return to Chicago Next Year

The league’s CBA expires in two weeks.
October 16, 2025

NHL Expansion Fee Soars to $2B As League’s Value Surges

The buy-in price for the league will more than triple.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
October 15, 2025

NHL Raises Concerns Over 2026 Olympic Arena’s Delayed Construction

The commissioner says construction progress in Italy remains a deep concern.
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the first quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the Texas Longhorns at Amalie Arena.
October 14, 2025

Dawn Staley Says NBA Far From Ready to Hire a Female Head..

South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach interviewed with the Knicks.
October 14, 2025

Cavaliers Go All In, Lead NBA With Record $392M Payroll

The Cavs are the only second-apron violator in the NBA.
Dec 23, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the NBA logo and Portland Trail Blazers logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center.
October 13, 2025

NBA Reopens Doors in China—and Eyes the WNBA Next

The Mavericks and Rockets are set to play games in Macao next year.