TNT
While reports indicate that the NBA has closed a deal with Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBC, and Amazon Prime Video for their A, B, and C packages, respectively, a new report has revealed that TNT is now negotiating for the rights to a “fourth package,” which would ultimately save Inside the NBA.
Currently, TNT’s deal to broadcast the NBA’s “B package,” which includes the rights to two weekly primetime games, conference semifinals, and one of the conference finals. That package looks likely to be secured by NBC.
Front Office Sports reports, however, that Warner Bros. Discovery is now negotiating a deal for a smaller fourth package. This fourth package could include some regular season and postseason games.
If Warner Bros. Discovery fails to strike a deal with the NBA then the 2024-25 season will be the last to air on TNT, and will therefore bring about the end of Inside the NBA.
“Sources tell me TNT is still at the table for a smaller, less-expensive fourth package that could include regular-season and some playoff games. Another scenario? For the NBA to slice off a package of locally televised games from teams and turn them into national games for TNT, according to Puck.”
FOS suggests that Warner Bros. Discovery could be looking to make a deal with the NBA as a “face-saving strategy” following the uproar from the sports world when it was reported Inside the NBA could be taken off the air, which was just the latest in a long line of public faceplants from WBD. CEO David Zaslav.
If TNT does wind up without any NBA rights, Charles Barkley has said he would consider hiring Inside the NBA co-hosts Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith to his production company to then make a new show and license it out to another network.