According to the Sports Business Journal, TNT's award winning studio show "Inside the NBA" will have its final run in the 2024-2025 NBA season.
The NBA has reportedly reached deals with NBC and Amazon, as well as a new one with ESPN. Per the SBJ, ESPN will be paying $2.8 billion for what will include weekly prime time games, a conference final series, and the NBA Finals. NBC will be paying $2.6 billion for the league's "B" package, which will include two prime time windows per week, the conference semifinals, and a conference final series. Like the NFL, the NBA will get a "Basketball Night in America" that will start after the NFL season. Amazon, meanwhile, will pay $1.8 to $2 billion for the rights to broadcast the NBA's In-Season and Play-In Tournaments, first round series', and the WNBA as well as international rights. ESPN will also get the WNBA and international rights.
"Inside the NBA" has been a TNT mainstay since the 1989-1990 NBA season, with Ernie Johnson taking over hosting duties in 1990-1991. Johnson is expected to stay at Turner Sports. Kenny Smith started as Johnson's co-host in 1998, Charles Barkley became the third analyst in 2000, and Shaquille O'Neal joined the team in 2011. The show has won 18 Sports Emmy Awards, with Johnson and Barkley winning multiple individually, Johnson as studio host and Barkley as analyst.
NBC previously held NBA rights from 1954-1962 and from 1990-2002, with ESPN and ABC taking the reins from 2002 to current.
Whether Barkley, Smith, or O'Neal sign new deals with NBC is anyone's guess, as age could perhaps mean retirement for Barkley, who turned only 61 in February but who has been doing television for what will end up being 25 years (including next season). If Barkley does not carry over, it seems unlikely that Smith or O'Neal would, as the trio has been joined at the hip for so long. The network could opt to go with the younger crop of players-turned-analysts that have been on air in the past couple seasons, like Jamal Crawford and Vince Carter.
John Tesh, appearing on Dan LeBatard's radio show, said that NBC will be reprising the iconic theme "Roundball Rock" for its new run. This will be a great touch for fans who grew up on the NBA on NBC.
While it will be bittersweet for most to see Inside the NBA go, the new TV deal for the league is yet another example of sports leagues evolving with their coverage, especially in the way of streaming. The NFL has already transitioned to Amazon Prime and will have games on Netflix starting this upcoming season, while Major League Baseball games stream on Apple TV+. Amazon now gets that opportunity with the NBA.
Comments