TNT’s wildly popular “Inside the NBA” program, featuring Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, will stay on the air next year. The show will reportedly move to ESPN and ABC, as Turner Sports will no longer broadcast NBA games in 2025-26.
Warner Bros. Discovery, Turner’s parent company, also settled a lawsuit with the NBA regarding broadcast rights, according to multiple reports that emerged on Saturday. “Inside the NBA” will still be produced by Turner next season, but the program will air exclusively on the ESPN and ABC networks owned by Disney.
The future of “Inside the NBA” was in jeopardy after the NBA signed a new media rights deal over the summer that boxed out Warner Bros. Discovery in favor of Disney, Amazon and NBC. Warner Bros. Discovery filed a $76 billion lawsuit in July, claiming it was unfairly barred from matching its competitors’ offers.
As part of the settlement with the NBA, Warner Bros. Discovery will still be permitted to use NBA content for talk shows or documentary series, according to multiple sources. The company will also broadcast NBA games in northern Europe and Latin America for the next 11 years.
Analysts expect the companies to release more details about the settlement on Monday. ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA have not publicly commented on the reports.
“Inside the NBA” is expected to retain its on-air talent as it moves to ESPN, including Barkley, O’Neal, Kenny Smith and host Ernie Johnson.
As ESPN holds the rights to air the NBA Finals, the move will also allow the show’s popular personalities to host pregame broadcasts for the league’s championship series.
The news delighted longtime fans of the program over the weekend.
“NO WAY WE ARE SO BACK WOW,” one X user wrote.
“INSIDE THE NBA IS SAVED,” another commenter wrote. “PRAISE THE LORD.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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