Amid the ongoing battle with NBC to maintain NBA media rights, TNT Sports has announced a five-year deal to sublicense select College Football Playoff (CFP) games from ESPN, per an announcement by the College Football Playoffs. Starting from the 2024 season, TNT Sports will showcase two College Football Playoff first-round games in 2024 and 2025. They will also include two quarterfinal games annually from 2026 to 2028. TNT is the main network airing the sublicensed CFP games, along with other TNT Sports platforms. ESPN will broadcast the rest of the College Football Playoff games, including the CFP National Championship Game, and oversee the sponsorship program for the event.

“We're delighted to reach this agreement with ESPN, providing TNT Sports the opportunity to showcase these College Football Playoff games on our platforms for years to come. TNT Sports aims to delight fans and drive maximum reach and engagement for these marquee games.” said Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO, TNT Sports. ”

“ESPN is pleased to sublicense to TNT Sports a select number of early round games of the College Football Playoff, an event we've helped to grow – alongside the CFP – into one of the preeminent championships. “We're confident in the reach and promotion that this new agreement will provide as we enter the new, expanded playoff era,” said Rosalyn Durant, ESPN executive vice president, programming & acquisitions.

“It is exciting to add TNT Sports, another highly respected broadcaster, to the College Football Playoff family. Sports fans across the country are intimately familiar with their work across a wide variety of sports properties over the past two decades, and we look forward to seeing what new and innovative ideas they bring to the promotion and delivery of these games,” said Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff.

TNT Sports has prior experience in college athletics. In 2011, Turner and CBS teamed up to air the annual men's March Madness tournament. The games were broadcast on CBS's over-the-air channel and TNT's cable properties like TBS, TNT, and TruTV. TNT Sports agreement sublicense the College Football Playoffs with ESPN coincides with the event's expansion from four to twelve teams. The first round of the CFP will feature four games held at home campus venues, with teams seeded 5-8 hosting teams seeded 9-12.

TNT entering College Football Playoffs also coincides with reports from Sports Business Journal about NBA nearing a partnership deal with NBC, joining Disney/ESPN and Prime Video. This week, Disney, NBC, and Amazon are in the final stages of media rights negotiations with the NBA, working on written contracts and finalizing details.

The NBA secures $2.8 billion from ESPN for media rights, encompassing NBA Finals, conference finals, primetime games, WNBA, and global rights. NBC's deal is valued at $2.6 billion, covering primetime slots, conference semifinals, and a final match. Amazon's agreement spans $1.8 billion to $2 billion for different NBA events, playoffs, WNBA, and international rights.

Warner Bros. Discovery, the governing body over Turner Sports, could take legal action in their ongoing battle with NBC over matching rights.