โInside the NBAโ will continue, even though games will no longer be airing on TNT at the end of this season.
The popular studio show will appear on ESPN and ABC beginning next season as part of a settlement between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA that was announced on Monday.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, sued the NBA in New York state court in August after the league did not accept the companyโs 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 โInside the NBAโ will be on ESPN and ABC, TNT Sports will continue to produce the show. It will air from Atlanta, except when the show goes on the road.
The quartet of Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille OโNeal will remain with the show. Barkley signed an extension with Warner Bros. Discovery in August despite the company losing the NBA.
โ'Inside the NBA' is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports," ESPN chairman Jimmy 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 โInside the NBAโ further solidifies ESPN as the preeminent destination for sports fans.โ
โInside the NBAโ will handle pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals and the NBA Playoffs. During the regular season, it will be part of opening week coverage, as well as Christmas Day, all ABC games after Jan. 1, the final week of the season and other marquee events.
โThe opportunity to continue the iconic and Emmy Award-winning โInside the NBAโ is a huge win for basketball fans everywhere,โ NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. โWe look forward to building on our longstanding partnership with TNT Sports and working together to promote NBA content across key WBD and NBA platforms.โ
โInside the NBAโ started in 1989, Johnson became the host in 1990 while Smith joined fulltime in 1998. Barkley came aboard in 2000 followed by O'Neal in 2011. The show has garnered 21 Sports Emmy Awards.
ESPN will also continue to produce โNBA Countdownโ and โNBA Today."
The settlement gives TNT Sports, Bleacher Report and House of Highlights a global 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. TNT Sports and the NBA have jointly managed NBA Digital since 2009.
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 (excluding Brazil and Mexico), Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
TNT Sports will also begin showing 13 Big 12 football and 15 menโs 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.
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.
โTogether these agreements ensure fans will continue to enjoy TNTโs โInside the NBAโ and create tremendous value for our entire portfolio as we accelerate the growth of TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and our global sports business,โ Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said in a statement. โWe are pleased to partner with the NBA and Disney/ESPN, and to have solidified long-term rights and revenue for WBD.โ
Sports Week in Photos: NFL takes center stage, NHL and NBA in full swing
Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Austin Mack (81) stands on his head as he celebrates his touchdown against the Toronto Argonauts during the fourth quarter of a CFL eastern conference final football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Japan's Tomoki Osada tries to pull back France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between France and Japan at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Tyler Reddick, right, and Ryan Blaney race during a NASCAR Cup Series Championship auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Brentford's goalkeeper Mark Flekken reacts after conceding a goal scored by Fulham's Harry Wilson, his sides first goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Brentford at Craven Cottage stadium in London, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Britain's Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan, centre, sprints to win the Prudential Singapore Tour De France Criterium, Sunday, November 10th, 2024. (AP Photo/Danial Hakim)
Sturm's Otar Kiteishvili, left, challenges Dortmund's Felix Nmecha during to the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Sturm Graz in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Coco Gauff of the U.S. reacts after winning against China's Qinwen Zheng in their women's singles final match of the WTA finals at the King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo)
New Zealand's Mark Tele'a, is tackled by Ireland's Garry Ringrose, during the the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off on 15th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Charalampos Pitsolis of Greece crosses the finish line to win the 41st Athens Marathon, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
England's captain Jos Buttler throws his bat as he walks off the field, caught by West Indies' captain Rovman Powell for 83 runs, during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, right, shoots as San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, top, defends and center Ivica Zubac watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola reacts during the UEFA Champions League opening phase soccer match between Sporting and Manchester City in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Zaquin Moses, left connects with a punch against Michael Ruiz, right, during the fourth round of a Super-Featherweight bout Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Philadelphia. Zaquin Moses win by unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, right, drives against Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe is challenged by Osasuna's Lucas Torro during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Niklas Hojgaard of Denmark plays his third shot on the 18th hole during the third round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) trips over Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
PSG's Bradley Barcola, left, and Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone, right, fight for the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
West Indies' Matthew Forde celebrates taking the wicket of England's Will Jacks during the third ODI cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14), defended by Washington Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, catches a 16-yard pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Inter Milan's fans cheer for their team prior to a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Napoli at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller, center, dunks between Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., left, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. compete in the ice dance rhythm dance program at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating series competition in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
