Sky Sports lose TV rights to major league as rivals TNT Sports add it to Champions League and UFC
SKY SPORTS have lost the rights to broadcast the NBA.
Rival broadcaster TNT Sports has officially been named as the new home of the NBA.
At least nine games will be shown live on air each week during the regular season, which starts in late October and finishes in April.
TNT Sports will also broadcast the NBA draft and select games from the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, the NBA Playoffs, the Finals, and the NBA All-Star game.
It is a blow for Sky Sports who have lost coverage of the UFC and the Champions League to TNT Sports in recent years.
Tyson Fury also fights exclusively on the platform while Anthony Joshua also ended his partnership with Sky Sports last year.
TNT Sports was formed earlier this year as BT Sport merged with Eurosport.
The creation of a new brand follows last year’s acquisition of BT Sport by Warner Brothers Discovery, who also own Eurosport, in a deal worth up to £650million.
TNT Sports also have the rights to the Europa League and Europa Conference League, and occupy the Premier League Saturday lunchtime slot.
However Sky Sports still dominate Prem coverage and will show 128 games throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
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That number is set to increase too after clubs agreed a new broadcast deal last month.
It is understood there will be an increase in live TV games available in the UK from the current 200 per season to “at least” 250.
Broadcasters are also expecting a reduction in the number of “packages” of games from seven to five, with club bosses hoping that will help nudge the value of the UK deal above £2billion per season.