From the 2025-26 season, live NBA games will be split between Sky Sports and Amazon Prime Video in an 11-year TV rights deal.
- WBD loses UK and Ireland rights after just two seasons.
- Bulk of games on Sky Sports from 2025/26, with Prime Video offering additional coverage.
The 11-year deal sees live NBA basketball coverage return to Sky Sports next year. It’s part of a wider international deal between the NBA and Sky’s sister company NBCUniversal, both owned by Comcast. Meanwhile, Amazon Prime Video has picked up additional rights.
NBCUniversal will distribute 100 NBA regular-season games per season via Sky Sports in the UK, Ireland and other European countries where Sky operates. Additionally, NBCUniversal will distribute WNBA games internationally and be the home of all USA Basketball Senior Men’s and Women’s National Team games.
It’s a blow for WBD who acquired live NBA rights in the UK and Ireland only last year for its TNT Sports service. At the time, TNT Sports spoke of a “multi year deal”, that proved to be for just two years. The 2024/25 NBA season will continue to be broadcast on TNT Sports, before the new deal kicks in.
About Prime Video’s NBA coverage from 2025/26
Amazon Prime Video’s NBA coverage in the UK and Ireland will include a minimum of 20 additional primetime regular season games each year. It also includes a Conference Finals series each year, and the NBA Finals in six of the 11 years.
Prime Video will also become the NBA’s strategic partner and third-party global destination of NBA League Pass – the league’s live NBA game subscription service. Amazon gains expanded distribution rights for NBA League Pass in the US and internationally.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: NBA