Amazon Prime, Which is Expected to be in a Billion Dollar Bidding War With Apple Over NBA Package, Agrees With Overtime Elite For Broadcasting Rights
According to Front Office Sports, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is attempting to offer an exclusive streaming package in its next domestic broadcast agreements with a goal of obtaining at least US$1 billion for the rights. But instead of sticking with its current US$24 billion deal, the NBA is reportedly aiming for a staggering US$75 billion for its upcoming rights cycle starting in 2025 and is hoping an exclusive streaming package would entice major firms like Amazon or Apple.
However, the 16 to 20-year-old players’ basketball league Overtime Elite and Amazon’s Prime Video have now established a multiyear, international distribution arrangement, which will see the streamer exclusively show 20 live games every season for the following three seasons.
Amazon agrees with Overtime Elite for broadcasting rights amidst the bidding war for NBA package
A season-long unscripted series will also be produced for Amazon and will start airing in the middle of next year, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, who also claims that Amazon Prime Video will live broadcast 20 Overtime Elite games in each of the following three seasons.
Amazon has signed a three-year exclusive media rights deal with Overtime Elite to stream 20 games live each season.
Amazon also joins OTE as an investor through its latest funding round. pic.twitter.com/euihnRsbLy
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 2, 2022
In addition, in the middle of 2023, Prime Video will debut an unscripted season-long series centered on the YA league Overtime Elite (OTE). OTE is a worldwide YA basketball league with the goal of developing players for the collegiate and professional levels. The YNG Dreamerz, Cold Hearts, City Reapers, Bruins, Falcons, and Rams are the six teams in the league.
THE FUTURE OF BASKETBALL IS HERE 🚨 Watch @OvertimeElite starting this Friday on Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/l9iI94wm2G
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) November 2, 2022
Prospects can play and get paid in the six-team Overtime Elite league in order to get ready for their next step professionally rather than playing in college, abroad, or in the NBA G League.
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