Famous tv sports show Inside the NBA, previously aired on TNT Sports, will now appear on ESPN and ABC beginning next season as part of a US lawsuit settlement deal between Warner Bros Discovery and the NBA.
The deal between US two entities, Warner Bros Discovery and the NBA, had been reported last week but was officially confirmed on Monday by ESPN.
The much-loved quartet of Ernie Johnson Jr, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will remain with the show. Barkley signed an extension with Warner Bros Discovery in August despite the company losing its NBA broadcast rights. ESPN said on Monday that Inside the NBA “will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including ESPN’s pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, Conference Finals, NBA Playoffs, all ABC games after January 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season and other marquee live events.”
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro welcomed the deal in a statement on Monday. “Inside the NBA is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports,” Pitaro said. “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.”
Warner Bros Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, sued the NBA in New York state court after the league did not accept the company’s matching offer for one of the packages in its new 11-year media rights deal, which will begin with the 2025-26 season.
Even though Inside the NBA will be on ESPN and ABC beginning with the 2025-26 season, TNT Sports will continue to produce the popular studio show and it will air from Atlanta, except when the show goes on the road.
“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,” Luis Silberwasser, CEO and chairman of TNT Sports said on Monday. “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 settlement gives TNT Sports, Bleacher Report and House of Highlights a global content license for NBA content with no rights fee for the next 11 years.
Warner Bros Discovery will also continue its relationship with the league’s digital operations, including NBA.com, for five seasons.
Even though TNT Sports will not be airing games in the United States beginning next season, it does have rights to air a full package of games in select countries, including Latin America and Poland.
TNT Sports will also begin showing Big 12 football and men’s basketball games next season as part of a sublicense with ESPN. TNT will air two College Football Playoff games beginning this season also under a sublicense with ESPN.
Warner Bros Discovery acquired rights to the French Open tennis tournament as well as Big East basketball earlier this year.
Turner Sports has had an NBA package since 1984 and games have been on TNT since the network launched in 1988. That will end after this season.
