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TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ will move to ESPN next year

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TNT's 'Inside the NBA' will move to ESPN next year

As a long-time sports enthusiast and TV aficionado, I must say that the news about the continuation of “Inside the NBA” has brought a sense of relief and joy to me. This iconic show, with its unique blend of humor, candor, and insightful analysis, has been an integral part of my basketball-watching experience for decades.

As a die-hard movie buff, I’m thrilled to share that “Inside the NBA,” TNT’s legendary studio show, isn’t vanishing; it’s merely transitioning to new grounds following the loss of live game rights next season. The magic will continue!

According to two sources close to the matter who prefer anonymity, ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is expected to reveal this week that they will obtain the license for “Inside the NBA” and air it concurrently with their NBA coverage once their new league agreement begins in the next year.

Representatives for ESPN and TNT Sports declined comment.

It appeared as though “Inside the NBA,” featuring Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, might no longer continue due to Warner Bros. Discovery losing the domestic television rights for the NBA.

In August, the league secured a fresh 11-year contract worth $77 billion, shifting their games to ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. This move effectively ends TNT’s long-standing role of broadcasting games, a position they held since 1989.

Warner Bros. Discovery has initiated a lawsuit stating that they were denied the chance to meet Amazon’s offer for broadcasting rights, which includes regular season games, the NBA Finals, and playoff matches on their streaming platform, Prime Video. As part of the settlement agreement, expected to be dismissed this week, the “Inside the NBA” team will remain intact.

With the ESPN deal and the resulting legal settlement, Warner Bros. Discovery remains involved in the NBA’s commercial endeavors.

Under a fresh 11-year agreement with the league, Warner Bros. Discovery acquires worldwide rights to NBA content on their popular digital platforms, Bleacher Report and House of Highlights, which cater significantly to younger audiences.

This agreement encompasses global broadcasting rights for NBA games airing on Warner Bros. Discovery’s networks in Nordic regions, Poland, and a large part of Latin America. Additionally, TNT Sports will maintain their joint management role over NBA TV cable channel and NBA.com platform for the upcoming five years.

1) “Inside the NBA” will still be made by TNT from their studios in Atlanta. However, ESPN will broadcast the show on all its channels, while keeping the advertising earnings. In exchange, TNT Sports obtains broadcast rights for over a dozen college football and basketball games from ESPN’s Big 12 Conference package.

According to reports, ESPN Chairman James Pitaro is reportedly advocating for “Inside the NBA” to be part of Disney’s division, with a focus on enhancing their studio content. Despite this, TNT will retain creative control over “Inside the NBA,” and they can also produce other projects featuring the show’s on-air personalities.

The show “Inside the NBA” debuted in 1989, coinciding with TNT’s start of airing NBA games. Charles Barkley became a part of the program in 2000, while Shaquille O’Neal joined during the 2011-2012 season.

The frankness and wit that NBA legends infused into “Inside the NBA” was what made it adored by fans. When TNT lost the broadcasting rights for the league, speculation about its possible end became a significant topic in sports media.

From the 2025-26 season onwards, “Inside the NBA” will be broadcast during ESPN’s coverage of NBA Finals, Conference Finals, playoff games, as well as halftime, pregame, and postgame segments. Additionally, the program will air during regular season games on ABC, specifically on Christmas day and after January 1st.

As your go-to movie critic, I’m thrilled to share that ESPN won’t be shaking up its NBA coverage routine! You can still catch “NBA Countdown” and “NBA Today,” two fan favorites, during their regular season NBA broadcasts. The charismatic Malika Andrews will continue to grace our screens, hosting both programs. So, get ready for another exciting NBA season with ESPN!

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2024-11-18 01:01

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