NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Urged by Media to ‘Shut Down’ WNBA
Adam Silver
The NBA’s media expansion could be headed for another big payday, with YouTube reportedly emerging as the favorite to land the league’s local streaming hub in a deal that could be worth as much as $1.2 billion.
According to Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal, the NBA and YouTube are in advanced talks over a centralized platform that would begin during the 2027-28 season and potentially house local broadcasts for almost every team in the league.
“The NBA media rights deal 2.0 is all about local broadcasts and the cha-ching that could come with it. Sources tell SBJ that the NBA and YouTube remain in advanced talks about a 2027-28 aggregated hub for 20 to 25 teams — and eventually 29 of the league’s 30 clubs — for a potential price tag north of $1B.”
“Some in the industry expect either a deal or stalemate by possibly this fall — the latter of which could open the door for DAZN, ESPN or Amazon. But as of now, sources contend YouTube (whose head of sports and live partnerships Jen Chun spent nine years at the league office) is the favorite to acquire the moving target that is local NBA TV.”
“The gray area of who’s in and who’s out is the holdup for now. Sources said the league — which declined comment — envisions a scenario in Year 1 where local telecasts for at least 25 teams are streamed and geofenced exclusively in one place. Meanwhile, perhaps four more franchises (minus the Raptors, who have an ironclad deal with Rogers Communications) could simulcast games in the hub and arrive full-time later in waves. That would make 29.”
“The more teams, the merrier. Sources believe if the NBA can offer YouTube 29 clubs, it will want roughly $1.2B in return. Then, the league would siphon off rights fees to each team individually, based on market value. For instance, the Heat and Sixers would get a larger piece of the $1.2B pie than the Grizzlies or Pelicans but likely less than the Lakers and Knicks (two unknowns who we’ll get to).”
The ultimate price would depend on the participation of the teams. If the NBA can deliver local rights for 29 of its 30 teams, sources think that the league would seek approximately $1.2 billion from YouTube. The Toronto Raptors are expected to remain outside the arrangement because of their existing deal with Rogers Communications.
If participation drops to around 25 teams or fewer, YouTube’s potential offer could reportedly drop to around $850 million.
That is why the next few months are very critical for the NBA.
The league’s vision reportedly has at least 25 teams having their local games streamed and geographically restricted to one platform during the first year. Other teams would initially simulcast games before joining the hub full-time.
For fans, the obvious attraction is convenience. Local NBA broadcasts are currently spread across regional sports networks, cable packages, and multiple streaming services. Putting them under one digital roof would theoretically make finding games much easier, but that does not mean it will make watching the NBA cheaper.
YouTube would reportedly look to recover its big investment through subscriptions, with the potential deal expected to run approximately nine years, including a five-year option. The timing would allow the deal to expire around the same time as the NBA’s current 11-year, $77 billion national media rights agreement.
YouTube also reportedly has competition. DAZN is viewed as another serious candidate and would need to offer at least $1.4 billion to beat a reputed platform like YouTube. ESPN and Amazon also have interest, but both companies are already spending billions annually on the NBA’s national package.
One major question involves the league’s biggest local markets.
The Lakers are expected to receive about $210 million in local media rights fees during the 2027-28 season through Spectrum SportsNet, which makes it difficult for a centralized model to immediately replace that revenue. The Knicks also have a valuable existing local arrangement with MSG.
That uncertainty is the reason why nothing has been finalized yet.
Still, the direction is obvious. The NBA has already secured a record-setting national television agreement, and now it is attempting to transform the local broadcasting business.
If YouTube ultimately lands 29 teams for approximately $1.2 billion, it would represent another enormous shift away from traditional regional television and toward streaming as the primary home of NBA basketball.