TNT Sports has announced a new multi-year agreement to become the exclusive English-language broadcaster for major FIBA basketball tournaments. This deal marks a significant return of 5-on-5 professional basketball to the network following its loss of NBA rights.
Broadcasting Scope and Content
The partnership includes high-profile events such as the upcoming women’s Basketball World Cup, the men’s World Cup scheduled for next year, and the 2029 EuroBasket. The coverage will begin this Wednesday with the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament. This broadcast is expected to attract significant viewership, as the United States roster may feature marquee talent including Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese.
Strategic Context Amid Corporate Shifts
This announcement represents the first rights deal finalized by TNT Sports since its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, reached a merger agreement with Paramount last week. Before the Paramount bid, TNT Sports was expected to be spun off into an independent entity known as Discovery Global. Current projections suggest that, pending regulatory approval, TNT Sports will instead be integrated into CBS Sports.
Industry analysts note that this FIBA agreement was likely in progress well before the recent corporate reshuffling. CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels had previously stated that the company maintained an appetite for sports rights, though it remains unclear how the transition into the Paramount-WBD structure will affect future acquisition strategies.
Market Impact
The return to 5-on-5 professional basketball is a notable development for the network. While TNT Sports continues to air the 3-on-3 women’s league Unrivaled, the FIBA partnership offers a different level of prestige by featuring top-tier talent from both the NBA and WNBA.
This FIBA agreement shifts the rights landscape significantly, as the World Cup previously aired on ESPN networks and EuroBasket coverage was hosted on the streaming service Courtside 1891. Notably, the deal does not encompass USA Basketball tune-up games preceding major events, as those rights were previously acquired by NBCUniversal.