ESPN and TNT are mulling NBA deals with fewer games per season

ESPN and TNT are reportedly exploring media rights deals with the NBA that involve smaller packages of games per season, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal.

This arrangement would enable the league’s main long-term partners to continue with more budget-friendly annual commitments, while simultaneously providing the NBA the opportunity to craft a package tailored for a streaming service.

Notably, Amazon and Apple have already shown interest in bidding for a package with the NBA.

“They’re benefitting from the fact that there are new entrants who look to want to play,” said Jonathan Miller, former NBA executive and chief executive of Integrated Media, which specializes in digital media investments.