TNT
The king is dead, long live the king! Beloved NBA studio show Inside The NBA appears to be coming to an end as the NBA is finalizing contracts with Disney, NBC, and Amazon to become their new broadcasting partners, according to reports.
One of the most notable aspects of the NBA’s broadcasting rights going up for sale is the impact it would have on Inside The NBA, the beloved pre-and-post-game show that TNT has been airing for almost 35 years.
If (when) the NBA does officially sign deals with Disney (ESPN), NBC, and Amazon, that leaves Warner Bros. Discovery — who own Turner Sports and therefore TNT — on the outside looking in, spelling the end for Inside The NBA, which would see its final season air in 2024/25.
According to Sports Business Journal, ESPN and ABC — who will splashed $2.8 billion per year for the rights — will remain the home of the NBA Finals, one of the conference finals, and weekly primetime games as it reportedly landed the NBA’s “A package.”
NBC, who broadcasted the NBA from 1954 to 1962 and again from 1990 to 2002 (which birthed the iconic “Roundball Rock” theme song), will seemingly take over TNT’s “B package” to the tune of $2.6 billion annually — as it’ll have the rights to two weekly primetime games, conference semifinals, and one of the conference finals.
A program titled Basketball Night in America will also take over Football Night in America‘s slot following the conclusion of the NFL season.
Finally, there’s Amazon’s Prime Video, which will pay between $1.8 and $2 billion per year fo the Emirates In-Season Tournament, the SoFi Play-In Tournament, and first-round playoff games. ESPN and Amazon will also be sharing WNBA rights and international rights.
The current Inside The NBA crew features host Ernie Johnson alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith.
Johnson has been with the show virtually since its inception in 1989 and was then followed by Smith in 1998, Barkley in 2000, and Shaq in 2011. Other former analysts include Magic Johnson, Reggie Miller, and Chris Webber.
Inside The NBA has won 18 Sports Emmys awards in the three-plus-decades since its premiere. Just this week, in fact, Johnson gave an emotional speech about gratitude while accepting the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Studio Host.