Netflix Expressing Interest in Carrying NBA In-Season Tournament Games

Streaming giant Netflix has expressed interest in carrying games involving the NBA’s new In-Season Tournament, according to John Ourand of Sports Business Journal.

“It’s still way too early in the NBA’s negotiating process to know if Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is serious about making such a big splash in live sports rights,” Ourand wrote. “After all, the league’s 45-day exclusive negotiating window with ESPN and Turner doesn’t start until March 9, which means that we’re still months away from serious talks.”

This would be one way for Netflix to begin streaming live sports — a notion company officials indeed have been pondering, per CNBC’s Alex Sherman, via Ourand.

While NBA ratings have been uneven in the early going — though incredibly strong for some games — it seems the league will have no trouble finding future broadcast partners. And the bidding is expected to be intense when the time comes.

“The league’s media rights package should see a lot of interest from current rightsholders ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery,” Ourand wrote. “NBC has said that it is interested in getting involved with the NBA again. Amazon, Apple and Google/YouTube also have shown interest.”

Netflix has expressed some preliminary interest in picking up the rights to the NBA's In-Season Tournament, per sources.

SBJ Media:https://t.co/lyfpYPZI2j

— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) November 14, 2023