Getty Image / Mike Coppola
When it became clear that TNT may lose rights to broadcast NBA games starting in the 2025-2026 season, people were very worried. It wasn’t so much that TNT would lose rights, though they do a good job, but it could’ve spelled the end of the hit show, Inside the NBA.
The studio show is a massive hit. Everyone loves host Ernie Johnson and hilarious panelists Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley. It might be the best part of the entire NBA season.
While it would’ve been possible if TNT lost the rights that the panelists went as a package deal somewhere else, Ernie Johnson has a long term deal with TNT that encompasses all sports, and it just wouldn’t be the same. Plus, multiple netw0rks would’ve been trying to pry away the panelists, and they could’be been separated.
Thankfully, it seems we have avoided that scenario. After months of debate over whether TNT and their parent company Warner Bros. Discover would match the huge offers made by companies like NBC and Amazon looking to get a piece of the NBA pie, it appears that they have indeed matched Amazon’s offer, and maybe saved Inside the NBA.
TNT Sports' statement on NBA media rights: pic.twitter.com/PteJJKJO5x
— TNT Sports U.S. PR (@TNTSportsUS) July 22, 2024
“We’re proud of how we have delivered for basketball fans by providing best-in-class coverage throughout our four- decade partnership with the NBA. In an effort to continue our long-standing partnership, during both exclusive and non-exclusive negotiation periods, we acted in good faith to present strong bids that were fair to both parties.
Regrettably, the league notified us of its intention to accept other offers for the games in our current rights package, leaving us to proceed under the matching rights provision, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we have paid for under it.
We have reviewed the offers and matched one of them. This will allow fans to keep enjoying our unparalleled coverage, including the best live game productions in the industry and our iconic studio shows and talent, while building on our proven 40-year commitment for many more years.
Our matching paperwork was submitted to the league today. We look forward to the NBA executing our new contract.” the statement said.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, it’s Amazon’s deal that TNT matched. That’s despite Amazon trying to poison pill TNT by agreeing to pay three years’ worth of TV money to the NBA at once. But, it appears that WBD has acquired credit to be able to do just that.
It may not be over, though. WBD reports that there’s likely to be a lawsuit to force the NBA to honor the match provision in TNT’s current rights deal. That kind of legalese is beyond my pay grade, but a lot of lawyers are going to get rich.
As for now, it seems much more likely that Inside The NBA survives than it did before. We should all be thankful for that.
