As most fans would know, the new deal between the NBA and TNT to avoid the legal hassle is sending Inside the NBA on ESPN. Yes, that means you’ll soon see Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal breaking down high-stakes matchups during the regular season, playoffs, and even the Finals on a new network. But don’t worry, ESPN’s Countdown isn’t going anywhere either—it’s sticking around for other regular-season games on the network. Meanwhile, TNT will reportedly retain complete editorial control of Inside the NBA as it will still produce the show.

This, however, is not all for the partnership between the two networks. As a part of an agreement that doesn’t involve the NBA, ESPN will also be allowing TNT to broadcast 13 Big 12 football games and 15 men’s basketball games each season, from 2025. To contest this new arrangement, it seems Amazon has come up with plans of its own. Primarily focused on merging basketball and football, just like the deals between TNT and ESPN are doing for them.

Amazon Prime to pair NBA with NFL to compete with new arrangements between ESPN and TNT

Amazon Prime Video is pulling out all the stops to transform Black Friday from a shopping spectacle into a sports lover’s dream. Think about it–the day after Thanksgiving could soon be all about touchdowns and slam dunks along with product discounts. If that sounds ambitious, it’s exactly the energy Amazon is bringing.

Spoon Daftary, Prime’s senior coordinating producer, summed it up perfectly in an article by Front Office Sports. “We’re trying to embrace this as truly a new holiday. Yes, we’re going to talk about the game. But we’re really wrapping our arms around the idea that this is a new holiday for football. We want to celebrate that.” And who wouldn’t love a new reason to gather around the screen after Thanksgiving?

And just to clear it out, Amazon isn’t just sticking to football. Starting in 2025, the streaming giant will bring NBA games into the Black Friday mix. Imagine an NFL/NBA doubleheader on a day that already feels larger than life. It’s the kind of move that could change how we think about sports programming entirely.

This year’s marquee event, a clash between the Chiefs and Raiders, promises to be a blockbuster. Considering Thursday Night Football has averaged a staggering 14.31 million viewers this season, it’s safe to expect an even bigger turnout. And here’s the kicker: you don’t even need a Prime membership to watch. If you have an Amazon account, you’re in—for free. That’s a pretty sweet deal, right?

But Amazon’s plans go beyond just streaming the game. They’re pulling together a star-studded lineup for their pre-and post-game shows, featuring Charissa Thompson, Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Richard Sherman, Taylor Rooks, and Albert Breer. Plus, a sprawling outdoor set at Arrowhead Stadium will bring fans right into the heart of the action.

By blending live sports with cutting-edge features like shoppable TV, Amazon is making a bold play to change the game—literally and figuratively. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery, too, is getting more than just Inside the NBA survival from its legal settlement with the NBA.

A closer look at other aspects of the new deal between NBA and WBD

If you’ve been following this saga, you might recall WBD suing the league in July, claiming the NBA didn’t honor its matching rights clause on a package of live games. Well, that dispute has now been settled. And TNT officially stepped back from the chase to secure live NBA games in the US for the 2025-26 season and beyond.

As most fans would know, the NBA opted for three media partners. Disney, Comcast’s NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime Video. Starting next season, these three heavyweights will broadcast live NBA games in the US for the next 11 years. The total value of this deal, which includes WNBA games? A staggering $77 billion.

And as mentioned earlier, WBD struck a separate deal with ESPN, ensuring it remains connected to NBA content, albeit in a different capacity. But let’s take a moment to reflect—this marks the end of Turner Sports’ incredible 40-year journey as a live game broadcaster. Turner Sports first teamed up with the NBA in 1984, with TNT becoming a household name for NBA games in 1988.

Why the breakup, you ask? The NBA is looking ahead. It sees the future in broadcast networks like Disney and Comcast and the digital dominance of streaming giants like Amazon. Cable TV? It’s not cutting it anymore when it comes to attracting younger viewers. But WBD isn’t leaving the court entirely. TNT Sports still gets access to NBA highlights for Bleacher Report and House of Highlights for the next 11 years.

Imagine the creative ways WBD could use this to keep fans engaged! Plus, WBD retains rights to distribute NBA content globally in regions like the Nordics, Poland, and parts of Latin America. To sweeten the deal, the partnership between NBA Digital and TNT Sports continues for another five seasons. This includes promotional collaborations and production support, ensuring WBD stays in the NBA ecosystem.

While this might feel like the end of an era, it’s also the start of something new. The NBA is reimagining how it connects with fans, and WBD, though stepping back as a broadcaster, isn’t entirely out of the game. Meanwhile, Amazon, as mentioned earlier, is experimenting with its ways to get the best for itself despite the new partnership between TNT and ESPN.