• Loading stock data...
Thursday, May 29, 2025

Zaslav: NBA Exit a ‘Great Decision’ As WBD Prioritizes Other Sports

Last summer, Warner Bros. Discovery was actively trying to retain NBA game rights, even suing the league. Now, the company says it was “great” that those rights went elsewhere. 

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Warner Bros. Discovery is continuing to reframe its relationship with the NBA, with CEO David Zaslav now saying it was a “great decision” to not retain live rights with the league.

Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, & Telecom Conference, Zaslav said not renewing live NBA game rights has allowed the TNT Sports parent to reconstruct its sports rights portfolio with other properties such as the French Open, NASCAR, and simulcasts of the College Football Playoff. Perhaps most importantly to WBD, that retooled set of rights now comes at a much lower aggregate cost to the company.

“Our job is to make sure we have enough quality sports so that we’re creating real value for the distributors. And it turns out not doing the NBA was a great decision for us,” Zaslav said. “We picked up the College Football Playoff, we picked up NASCAR in the summer, we have a great lineup globally, and we saved a huge amount of money.”

Zaslav’s comments at the conference amplified those he made last week with the release of WBD’s fourth-quarter earnings. There, he said, “We don’t need any more sports anywhere in the world to support our business.”

Indeed, WBD has been able to retain key distribution agreements and at better rates, in part through the strength of its non-sports content.

“We’re getting [subscription] fee increases across the board,” Zaslav said. 

The latest NBA comments, however, differ significantly from the prior position of Zaslav and WBD regarding the league. After the NBA elected last summer to strike deals instead with Amazon, NBCUniversal, and ESPN, WBD sued the league, alleging breach of contract. The legal matter quickly grew bitter, and was seemingly headed toward trial before a large-scale settlement was ultimately struck

That deal, also heavily involving ESPN, will see WBD retaining U.S. highlight rights for the NBA, and it will license out the famed Inside the NBA show to the Disney-owned network.

“A lot of the young generation don’t want to watch the whole game,” Zaslav said. “They want to go to one place. [Our highlights] are almost like a RedZone for basketball. So we think that’s a great growth engine.”

Measured on Sports

Zaslav, meanwhile, reiterated several other points from last week’s earnings report, namely that he views sports as often a lesser priority compared to other intellectual property that it can fully own and monetize over a long-term period. 

“Sports is a rental business. And so you, you’ve got to look and say, ‘Are we going to be able to make money on this?’ We’re money-good on virtually all of our sports,” Zaslav said. “We’re not going to pay more than we think we can afford or we can make money on. We’d rather invest. If we saved a huge amount of money by not doing the NBA [live rights], it’s more money that we could spend on the quality content that we can make global, that we think can strategically help us.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA East Finals Delivers Strong TV Ratings, but West Is Struggling

The Knicks and Thunder are both up 3–1 in their conference finals series.
Mar 16, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) drives to the basket as Memphis Tigers forward Nicholas Jourdain (2) defends during the first half at Dickies Arena.

Prospects Picking College Over NBA Draft at Record Rate

The 2025 NBA draft has its lowest number of early entrants since 2015.

Clark, Fever Set Another Ratings Record Before Two-Week Injury

Caitlin Clark is out for a minimum of two weeks due to injury.
Apr 25, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum.

Marc Lasry: NBA Valuations Won’t Keep Skyrocketing

Lasry sold his Bucks stake in 2023 at a 218% increase over the 2014 purchase price.

Featured Today

How Rolex Paved the Way for Luxury’s Love Affair With Tennis

“It’s almost impossible to think about tennis without thinking about Rolex.”
Mar 23, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) reacts after winning a point against Madison Keys (USA)(not pictured) on day six of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
May 24, 2025

Alex Eala Is Defying Her Country’s Odds to Make French Open History

The Philippines native has overcome a unique set of financial odds.
May 24, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Basketball Universe—Thanks to Both Pro Teams

The Fever and Pacers are thriving at the same time.
Around the Horn - October 26, 2020
May 23, 2025

‘Quirky, Nutty, Bombastic’: 10 ‘Around the Horn’ Faces on Their Top Moments

“A quirky, nutty, bombastic, mostly wrong, sometimes right, crazy sports family.”
May 28, 2025

PGA Tour’s $100M Playoffs Alter Bonus Payout for Tour Championship

The Tour Championship will no longer award $25 million to its winner.
May 28, 2025

Big 12 Men’s Coaches in Favor of Expanding March Madness

Kansas coach Bill Self said the conference supports the idea.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In Episode 7 of Portfolio Players, go inside the boardroom with Avenue Capital CEO and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry on Giannis’s future, women’s sports, and upstart leagues like TGL and Unrivaled. 
May 27, 2025

WNBA Finds No Proof of Racist Comments at Sky-Fever Game

The Chicago Sky did not respond to a request for comment.
Mar 16, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) looks to pass as Memphis Tigers forward Dain Dainja (42) defends during the first half at Dickies Arena.
May 27, 2025

Projected NBA First-Rounder Picks Michigan Over Entering Draft

Houston’s Milos Uzan also withdrew from the NBA draft.
Jan 6, 2024; St. Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota goalie Maddie Rooney (35) defends her net against Montreal during the second period in a PWHL ice hockey game at XCel Energy Center.
May 27, 2025

PWHL Expansion Rules Threaten Budding Minnesota Dynasty

Minnesota captured its second straight PWHL Walter Cup on Monday night.
May 27, 2025

SEC Push for More CFP Power Draws Congressional Attention

Greg Sankey attacks the Big 12 and ACC while seeking more autonomy.