USA: average value of an NBA franchise increased by 72% in one year ($1.1bn), according to Forbes

The financial value of the 30 franchises NBA (National Basketball Association, USA-CAN) is $1.1bn (€945m), representing an increase of 72% year on year, according to a study published by US business magazine Forbes on 21/01/2015.

"This increase in one year is the highest recorded since Forbes began assessing the value of the franchises of the four major US professional leagues in 1998," stated Forbes.

The extension of domestic media rights to the NBA, in October 2014, with the US pay-TV groups Disney and Turner, for a total of $24bn (€19.1bn at the time) for nine years (from 2016-17 to the end of the 2024-25 season) is presented as the major reason for the increase in the value of franchises.

• In addition to the increasing domestic TV rights of the NBA, Forbes advance three other explanations for the rise in the value of NBA franchises:
  • higher TV ratings (+23% since 2002-03);
  • increasing amounts of local TV rights;
  • the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) signed between players and owners in 2011 (which reduced the players' revenue share of "basketball-related income" (BRI…