“Inside the NBA” will appear on ESPN and ABC starting in the 2025-26 season via a partnership with TNT Sports and the NBA, the league and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced Monday.
TNT Sports will continue to independently produce “Inside the NBA” with same quartet of hosts
According to The Associated Press, except when the show goes on the road, TNT Sports will continue to independently produce “Inside the NBA” from its Atlanta-based studios.
WBD has also received telecast rights in a number of international markets. Those include Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, and parts of Latin America.
The “Inside the NBA” commentator quartet of Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal will remain with the show.
NEWS: @wbd and the @NBA have reached an 11-year agreement to expand their long-standing media relationship. 🏀
Official release: https://t.co/buD8toDEwX pic.twitter.com/I7Cj3PKULa
— TNT Sports U.S. PR (@TNTSportsUS) November 18, 2024
“Inside the NBA” started in 1989. Johnson became the host in 1990, while Smith joined full-time in 1998. Barkley signed his contract in 2000, followed by O’Neal in 2011. Barkley signed an extension with WBD (WBD) in August.
Per multiple reports, the show will appear on ESPN and ABC to cover high-profile live events, including ESPN’s pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC.
“Inside the NBA” will appear on ESPN, ABC for the NBA playoffs, all ABC games after Jan. 1, Christmas Day, and opening week
Additionally, “Inside the NBA” will appear on those networks for the conference finals, NBA playoffs, all ABC games after Jan. 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season, and other marquee live events.
“Inside the NBA is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.
ESPN will be the exclusive home of the iconic 'Inside the NBA' starting with the 2025-2026 season
The pregame, halftime & postgame show for NBA Finals, NBA Playoffs, Christmas Day, NBA on ABC & more
Details: https://t.co/0y3YDenAUJ pic.twitter.com/ABBdsM74VH
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) November 18, 2024
“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.”
Of course, ESPN will continue to broadcast “NBA Countdown” and “NBA Today.” The 2025-26 season marks the first of ESPN’s 11-year rights extension with the NBA.
TNT Sports will begin showing 13 Big 12 football and 15 men’s basketball games next season
As part of the agreement, TNT Sports will also begin showing 13 Big 12 football and 15 men’s basketball games next season as part of a sublicense with ESPN. TNT will air two College Football Playoff games beginning this season as well.
“At TNT Sports, we take great pride in our Inside the NBA show and know its success is both a reflection of the iconic talent on set and the incredible people behind the scenes who consistently demonstrate the creativity and craft of our great team,” TNT Sports CEO Luis Silberwasser said in a statement.
“We are thrilled to continue to produce Inside the NBA for ESPN and ABC, ensuring fans are able to keep enjoying the magic of this show during the NBA season.”
The agreement is part of a settlement after WBD, the parent company of TNT Sports, sued the NBA in New York state court in August after the league did not accept the company’s matching offer in its new 11-year media rights deal. The media rights contract will begin in the 2025-26 season.
Bleacher Report, House of Highlights, and TNT Sports have a global license for NBA content, no rights fee for the next 11 years
Furthermore, the settlement gives TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, and House of Highlights a global license for NBA content with no rights fee for the next 11 years.
“The opportunity to continue the iconic and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside the NBA’ is a huge win for basketball fans everywhere,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
“We look forward to building on our longstanding partnership with TNT Sports and working together to promote NBA content across key WBD and NBA platforms.”
Turner Sports has had an NBA package since 1984, and games have aired on TNT since the network launched in 1988. However, that package will end after this season.
In July, the NBA announced a new media deal with the Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video that will see games split across the three broadcasters.
