The NBA broadcast rights bidding war is heating up as TNT is facing the possibility of losing its national broadcast package after the 2024-25 season. ESPN/Disney, NBC Universal, and Amazon are reportedly outbidding Warner Bros. Discovery, the company that owns TNT, for the rights to broadcast NBA games. ESPN is expected to pay about $2.8 billion annually for the league’s “A” package, while NBC’s proposed “B” package is believed to be worth $2.6 billion annually. Amazon’s deal is estimated to be between $1.8 billion and $2 billion.
If Warner Bros. Discovery is unable to match NBC’s bid, it could mark the end of TNT’s prolific run of broadcasting NBA games, including its signature studio show “Inside the NBA.” Charles Barkley, a panelist on the show since 2000, expressed concern for the potential loss of jobs if TNT loses the NBA rights. Ernie Johnson, the lead studio host of “Inside the NBA” for 35 years, is expected to stay with Turner and continue his role in other sports programming if TNT loses the NBA package. Barkley has stated that he has an opt-out in his contract if Warner Bros. Discovery is outbid.
The potential loss of the beloved studio show “Inside the NBA” has fans concerned as the show has been a staple of NBA broadcasts since its debut in the 1989-90 season. The show has featured iconic personalities such as Barkley, Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal over the years. Barkley reportedly signed a 10-year contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports in 2022, coinciding with renewals for Johnson, Smith, and O’Neal. The uncertainty surrounding the future of “Inside the NBA” has left fans wondering about the fate of the show beyond the 2024-25 season.
Negotiations on the NBA broadcast contracts, which are set to go into effect after next season, are nearing completion with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon expected to secure the rights. ESPN is likely to retain the NBA Finals and other key games in its package, while NBC is looking to establish a “Basketball Night in America” on Sunday nights. Amazon’s deal is expected to include various NBA tournaments and international rights. The new broadcast partners will have the task of re-hiring the talent and crew from “Inside the NBA” if Warner Bros. Discovery is outbid, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations. The future of NBA broadcasts and the iconic studio show “Inside the NBA” hang in the balance as the bidding war for broadcast rights approaches its conclusion.
