It’s almost certain that TNT will lose their rights to broadcast the NBA and Amazon will get them down the line. The thing is, there’s a pretty good chance Inside the NBA won’t make it to their side of the fence once the smoke clears.
Just recently, the NBA officially announced that it has rejected TNT Sports’ proposal and entered into a long-term media rights deal with Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, and NBC. This decision comes after Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, failed to match the terms of Amazon’s offer.

22 Charles Barkley At Event
The new 11-year agreement, valued at approximately $76 billion, will commence in the 2025-26 season and run through the 2035-36 campaign. The league stated that the primary objective in these negotiations was to maximize the reach and accessibility of their games for fans, and the new arrangement with Amazon, ESPN, and NBC supported this goal.
The loss of the NBA media rights is a significant blow to TNT Sports, as it ends their four-decade partnership with the league. Veteran sports analyst Charles Barkley has also announced his plans to retire from television after the 2024-25 season, further adding to the uncertainty surrounding TNT’s NBA coverage going forward.
The Reason Why Inside the NBA Will Not Go To Amazon

A lot of fans expect Amazon to continue Inside the NBA once the rights revert to them. But according to an article Tom Friend wrote for Sports Business Journal, there’s no chance the beloved show will make the transition to another company down the line.
“Marine told SBJ that Amazon Prime Video used “Inside the NBA” as a model for its Thursday night NFL pregame, halftime and post-game show, and — should the TNT cast of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson become available — said, “Obviously, there’ll be a lot of interest, and we’ll just have to see how that plays out.’’
But sources familiar with Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns “Inside the NBA,” said today that there is “essentially zero chance of the show going anywhere intact” — because, Johnson is reportedly not interested in exiting Turner and, because Barkley, O’Neal and Smith are under long-term contracts,” Friend wrote.
Inside the NBA is a popular postgame show for TNT’s NBA broadcasts, featuring a panel of hosts and analysts. It debuted in 1989 and has been hosted by Ernie Johnson since 1990. It is known for its lively discussions, bold commentary, and recurring segments like “Shaqtin’ a Fool.” The show has won multiple Sports Emmy Awards and is considered one of the best sports analysis programs on television.

It remains to be seen where Johnson and company will end up once TNT’s time broadcasting the league is done. In any case, fans all around the world will be saddened to see the beloved show conclude its run down the line.

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