London London. “Inside the NBA” will continue, even though games will no longer air on TNT at the end of this season. The popular studio show will appear on ESPN and ABC starting next season, part of an agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA , which was announced Monday.Warner Bros. Discovery, parent company of TNT Sports, sued the NBA in New York state court in August after the league asked the company for one package of its new 11-year media rights deal. Milan did not accept the offer, which would start from the 2025–26 season.
Even though “Inside the NBA” will be on ESPN and ABC, TNT will continue to produce the sports show and it will air from Atlanta except when the show is on the road. Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal The quartet will remain with the show. Barkley signed an extension with WBD in August despite the company losing the NBA. “Inside the NBA” is expected to air during key moments of the league's calendar – opening week, Christmas Day, the playoffs and the NBA Finals. There is also a possibility that it will air on Saturday nights in the second half of the season when ABC has a prime-time package of games.
“The opportunity to continue the iconic and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside the NBA’ is a huge win for basketball fans around the world,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “We look forward to furthering our long-term partnership with TNT Sports and working together to promote NBA content on major WBD and NBA platforms.”
“Inside the NBA” debuted in 1989, with Johnson becoming host in 1990 while Smith joined full-time in 1998. Barkley joined in 2000 and was followed by O'Neal in 2011. The show has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards.
The agreement grants TNT Sports, Bleacher Report and House of Highlights a global license for NBA content for the next 11 years without any rights fees. Warner Bros. Discovery will also continue its relationship with the league's digital operations, including NBA.com, for five seasons. TNT Sports and the NBA have jointly managed NBA Digital since 2009. Although TNT Sports will not broadcast games in the United States starting next season, it has the rights to broadcast a full package of games in select countries, including Latin America (except Brazil and Mexico), Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden . TNT Sports will also begin showing 13 Big 12 football and 15 men's basketball games next season as part of a sub-license with ESPN. TNT will also broadcast two College Football Playoff games beginning this season under sub-license with ESPN. Turner Sports has had an NBA package since 1984 and games have been on TNT since the network launched in 1988. It will end after this session.
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