NBC's NBA Deal Could Cost Network the NFL

Executives at the NFL are irritated by NBC's massive NBA contract, which could impact future NFL media rights negotiations.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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NBC is in the first year of an 11-year, $27 billion deal with the NBA. However, the deal is already causing concerns, with some NBC executives warning it will be a "money loser in the near term." The NBA agreement has also "irritated" NFL executives, who are concerned that NBC is paying more for Sunday Night Basketball than Sunday Night Football. This strained relationship with the NFL is particularly concerning for NBC, as the league is expected to opt out of its current media deals in 2029 and will likely face competition from deep-pocketed tech companies like YouTube, which has expressed interest in airing more NFL games.

Why it matters

NBC's massive investment in the NBA could jeopardize its future with the NFL, which remains one of the network's most valuable and highest-rated properties. The NFL is expected to seek even higher rights fees in the next round of media negotiations, and NBC may not have the resources to compete with tech giants like YouTube or Amazon, which could overwhelm the network in a bidding war.

The details

NBC is paying about $2.5 billion per year for the NBA and roughly $2 billion per year for the NFL. Executives at the NFL are "irritated" that NBC is paying more for Sunday Night Basketball than Sunday Night Football. This could lead the NFL to "turn the screw" on NBC during future rights negotiations. Additionally, NBC's streaming service Peacock lost $552 million in Q4 2025, a 48% increase in losses from the previous year, further straining the network's finances.

  • NBC is in the first year of an 11-year, $27 billion deal with the NBA.
  • Last month, NBCU reported that Peacock lost $552 million in Q4 2025, a 48% increase in losses from Q4 2024.
  • The NFL is expected to opt out of its current media deals in 2029.

The players

Dave Pietrycha

NBCU executive who worked on the NBA deal and said the deal "is going to be a money loser in the near term."

Brian Roberts

Comcast CEO, who has never been a seller and may have to sell Comcast's streaming assets or merge with a company such as Paramount Skydance.

Christian Oestlein

YouTube VP of subscription products, who expressed that the company wants to air more NFL games.

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What they’re saying

“All of these deals lose money discretely.”

— Dave Pietrycha, NBCU executive (The Wall Street Journal)

“Executives at the NFL are irritated. That deal irritated them. The idea that NBC is paying more for Sunday Night Basketball than for Sunday Night Football. These are people and personalities, and it makes the executives at the NFL crazy that that happens. So could they come in and just start to turn the screw because of that NBA deal?”

— John Ourand, Media reporter (Andrew Marchand)

“We really value our partnership with the NFL. Everything we've done with them so far has been really successful. And so we're very excited about the idea that we could be doing more with them.”

— Christian Oestlein, YouTube VP of subscription products (Bloomberg)

What’s next

The NFL is expected to opt out of its current media deals in 2029, setting the stage for a new round of negotiations where NBC will have to fend off competition from deep-pocketed tech companies like YouTube.

The takeaway

NBC's massive investment in the NBA could jeopardize its future with the NFL, one of the network's most valuable and highest-rated properties. The NFL is likely to seek even higher rights fees, and NBC may not have the resources to compete with tech giants like YouTube or Amazon, which could overwhelm the network in a bidding war.