Barkley, Crew Got Next: 'Inside The NBA' Switching Courts From TNT To ESPN

By Barry Janoff

UPDATED November 18, 2024: ESPN, TNT Sports and the NBA today confirmed the deal that would see Inside The NBA move from TNT Sports to ESPN beginning with the 2025-26 NBA season.

"Inside the NBA is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said via the network.

"We have long admired the immensely talented team and are thrilled to add their chemistry and knowledge to our robust set of NBA studio offerings to super-serve NBA fans like never before. The addition of Inside the NBA further solidifies ESPN as the preeminent destination for sports fans."

"At TNT Sports, we take great pride in our Inside the NBA show and know its success is both a reflection of the iconic talent on set and the incredible people behind the scenes who consistently demonstrate the creativity and craft of our great team," TNT Sports CEO Luis Silberwasser said via the network.

“We are thrilled to continue to produce Inside the NBA for ESPN and ABC, ensuring fans are able to keep enjoying the magic of this show during the NBA season."

"The opportunity to continue the iconic and Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA is a huge win for basketball fans everywhere," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said via the league.

“We look forward to building on our longstanding partnership with TNT Sports and working together to promote NBA content across key WBD and NBA platforms."

November 17, 2024: The NBA and TNT Sports are in their final year as an on-court tandem.

But TNT Sports’ iconic Inside The NBA will continue to play on.

Parent company Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA have resolved their breach of contract lawsuit, according to AP Sports and The Wall Street Journal, which arose after the league in July signed new media deals with ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon’s Prime Video but did not renew with TNT Sports.

Warner Bros. Discovery subsequently filed a lawsuit which in part said the NBA bypassed its proposed deal and chose to sign with Amazon’s Prime Video.

Under the reported resolved agreement, TNT Sports’ multi-Emmy winning Inside the NBA — and its stars Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal — would move to ESPN beginning with the 2025-26 season, according to AP Sports and The Wall Street Journal.

Inside the NBA started in 1989. Johnson became the host in 1990, while Smith joined full-time in 1998. Barkley in 2000, O'Neal in 2011.

TNT Sports will continue to produce the studio show from Atlanta, except when it goes on the road.

The new agreement will keep TNT Sports and the NBA aligned for the next decade, with the ability to develop shows with NBA content and international NBA rights in northern Europe and Latin America countries, except for Mexico and Brazil.

The resolution will also see Warner Bros. Discovery retain access to NBA content for its digital platforms at Bleacher Report and House of Highlights while continuing to oversee the NBA's digital operations, including NBA TV.

The deal does not extend the NBA on TNT, which loses the rights it has had since 1989, after the 2024-25 season.

The NBA will allow Warner Bros. Discovery to use its content for the next decade to create a variety of programs, including talk and variety shows or docuseries.

Among them, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to develop a sports spin-off of Inside the NBA.

In addition, the reported deal would see ESPN sub-license Big 12 college football and basketball games to Warner Bros. Discovery to air on TNT and the Max streaming service.

Earlier this year, Warner Bros. Discovery signed a five-year sub-licensing deal with ESPN to air College Football Playoff games this season and two additional quarterfinal match-ups beginning in 2026.

Financial terms were not given in the AP Sports and The Wall Street Journal reports.

When TNT Sports did not get a new NBA media deal, Barkley initially said he would retire after the current season.

In August, he switched gears, saying he would uphold a ten-year deal signed with TNT Sports in 2022, valued at more than $200 million, according to industry analysts.

At the time, TNT Sports said Barkley had “reaffirmed his long-term commitment that will see the broadcasting icon and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer exclusively contribute to TNT Sports for many years to come.”

He now will be able to work with TNT Sports on other projects while maintaining he role on Inside the NBA when it moves to ESPN.

Barkley also works as a commentator and analyst during March Madness as part of the NCAA’s media deal with TNT Sports and CBS Sports.

Under the new NBA media deals, Disney, will pay $2.6 billion annually and NBC $2.45 million annually, according to industry analysts.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports current expiring deal is valued at $1.2 billion annually.

In July, Warner Bros. Discovery informed the NBA it would match the reported $1.8 billion per year offer by Amazon Prime Video. Turner has had an NBA package since 1984 and games have been on TNT Sports since the network launched in 1988.

The response: “We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it," TNT Sports said in a statement. "We will take appropriate action."

With the resolution, Inside the NBA will have a plethora of airtime on ESPN beginning with the 2025-26 season.

Inside the NBA is expected to air during such jewel events as opening night, Christmas Day, the playoffs and the NBA Finals.

It is also is projected to air on Saturday nights the second half of the season when ABC has a prime-time package of games, according to AP Sports and The Wall Street Journal.

Under the new deals, Disney (ABC/ESPN) will distribute a total of 80 NBA regular-season games per season, including more than 20 games on ABC (generally on Saturday nights with NBA Saturday Primetime and on Sunday afternoons with NBA Sunday Showcase) and up to 60 games on ESPN (generally on Wednesday nights and, on occasion, Friday nights).

ABC/ESPN will continue to telecast all five NBA games on Christmas Day and provide exclusive national coverage of the final day of the regular season.

During the playoffs, ABC/ESPN will telecast approximately 18 games in the first two rounds each year and one of the two Conference Finals series in ten of the 11 years of the agreement.

ABC will remain the exclusive home of the NBA Finals, which it has broadcast since 2003.

ABC/ESPN will continue to telecast the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, NBA Draft, NBA Draft Lottery and half of all NBA Summer League games.

ABC/ESPN platforms will also continue to distribute a package of WNBA and NBA G League regular-season and postseason games.

NBC will become the home of NBA All-Star, including Rising Stars, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, featuring AT&T Slam Dunk, Starry 3-Point Contest and Kia Skills Challenge, and the All-Star Game.

In the playoffs, NBC and/or Peacock will telecast approximately 28 games in the first two rounds of the playoffs, with at least half of those games airing on NBC. NBC will also telecast one of the two Conference Finals series in six of the 11 years on a rotating basis with Amazon, beginning with the 2025-26 season.

Photos: TNT Sports

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