TNT sports announces move to keep NBA on channel

TNT Sports announced Monday that they will invoke a matching clause in its current rights deal with the National Basketball Association to retain some of its broadcast rights after its current contract ends after the 2024-2025 season.
TNT announced the move in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying the move will, “allow fans to keep enjoying our unparalleled coverage, including the best live game productions in the industry and our iconic studio shows and talent.”
TNT is the home of Inside the NBA, which is widely recognized as one of the best studio shows in sports.
USA TODAY reported earlier this month that the Association was reviewing a combined 11-year deal from Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBC and Amazon, worth approximately $76 billion.
The NBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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TNT is aiming to take Amazon’s “C” package estimated at $1.8 billion, which includes a conference final every other year, weekly broadcast rights, WNBA rights and early round playoff game broadcasts, according to reports in Front Office Sports confirmed by USA TODAY. 
Turner did not name which contract it intended to match in its statement and the company did not provide further comment.
The Amazon contract included, according to The Spots Business Journal, a “poison-pill” where the value of the first three years — approximately $5.85 billion — of the deal would be placed in escrow. The Journal reported that WBD, the parent company of TNT Sports, would be able to cover the cost.