ESPN & NBA reach nine-year agreement for significantly enhanced multiplatform rights

ESPN has reached a forward-looking, nine-year, multiplatform agreement with the National Basketball Association, beginning with the 2016-17 season, which will significantly enhance the company’s NBA rights and content offerings. The agreement, effective through 2024-25, substantially increases ESPN’s television, digital, highlights, data, audio and International NBA rights. It was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and ESPN president John Skipper.In addition, the parties have also established a framework for ESPN and the NBA to negotiate the launch of a new over-the-top offering in which the league would receive equity interest. ABC will also remain the exclusive home of the NBA Finals. In addition to the over-the-top service, the new and enhanced rights also include: 10 additional regular-season games for ESPN or ABC bringing the regular season total to 100; 10 more exclusive regular-season windows; and increased team appearances to showcase the most popular teams and most compelling matchups more times throughout the season. As part of the new agreement, ESPN will substantially increase its NBA-focused programming with 750 new hours of NBA content on linear and digital platforms, establishing a significant year-round presence for the NBA on ESPN.While increasing its English-language distribution rights, ESPN Audio will become the exclusive Spanish-language national rights holder through ESPN Deportes Radio on terrestrial radio, satellite and all forms of radio devices including digital and third party platforms; additional regular-season and playoff games for ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes+.ESPN International – In Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, ESPN will carry significantly more exclusive regular-season and playoff games on ESPN platforms.This new agreement will ensure a 23-year continuous relationship between the network and league, which began in 2002. There are two years remaining on the existing rights agreement, which is effective through the 2015-16 season.