ESPN Acquires the Rights to ‘Inside the NBA’
A titanic shift in the NBA media landscape will occur next year when Inside the NBA moves from TNT to ESPN.
For those who don’t know, Inside the NBA is widely considered the gold standard for sports studio shows. Starring Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, the series has served as the NBA’s halftime and postgame studio show on TNT since 1989.


Photo: TNT
Since the addition of Barkley in 2000, Inside the NBA has been a powerhouse in ratings.
Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA Settle Their Lawsuit
When reports emerged earlier this year that the NBA had reached a new television deal with Disney, NBC Sports, and Amazon, it looked like Inside the NBA would end following the 2024-2025 NBA season.
The new deal was especially notable because TNT’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, was excluded from the agreement. Subsequently, the media giant filed suit against the NBA, arguing that a clause in its current contract allowed Warner Bros. to match any new media deal and retain TNT’s basketball rights.


Photo: ESPN
After a four-month legal battle, Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA have reached a settlement. While the details of the agreement remain under wraps, a fourth television package will not be forthcoming. This means that for the first time since 1989, the NBA will not be broadcast on TNT.
‘Inside the NBA’ Is Coming to ESPN
With no more NBA games to broadcast, Warner Bros. is reportedly set to license Inside the NBA to ESPN. The iconic studio show would then be used as ESPN’s NBA halftime and postgame show.
While ESPN’s interest in Inside the NBA has been well known, it was ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro who reportedly prioritized the show’s acquisition.


Photo: Disney
“Inside the NBA is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports, Pitaro said.
“We have long-admired the immensely talented team and are thrilled to add their chemistry and knowledge to our robust set of NBA studio offerings to super-serve NBA fans like never before. The addition of Inside the NBA further solidifies ESPN as the preeminent destination for sports fans.”
The Trade
In exchange for the show, TNT will acquire the rights to numerous Big 12 college football and basketball games.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Inside the NBA will continue to be produced by TNT and will still be filmed in Atlanta.


Photo: The Mirror
The ESPN version of Inside the NBA will air during the NBA Finals, Conference Finals, and NBA playoff games. The studio show will also run during the regular season on ABC after January 1.
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