*In a significant shift for sports broadcasting, ESPN and Amazon are reportedly ready to offer substantial deals to acquire the entire cast of “Inside the NBA” after TNT failed to secure a media rights deal for the 2025 season.
The NBA announced on Wednesday that it had finalized a long-term media agreement with Amazon. This deal, along with existing agreements with ESPN and NBC, effectively excludes TNT from future broadcasts.
Despite this, TNT has vowed to take “appropriate action,” claiming it has the right to match Amazon’s offer and retain the rights.
For many fans, losing the NBA on TNT also means the potential loss of “Inside the NBA,” the Emmy Award-winning show featuring Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson.
Barkley announced during the NBA Finals that he plans to retire from broadcasting after next season, which marks the end of the current media deal.
However, a report from Front Office Sports suggests that ESPN and Amazon are interested in keeping the iconic cast together on their networks.
Sources informed FOS’s Michael McCarthy that both networks are considering possibly bringing on the entire “Inside the NBA” team, reports Media-ite.
If this plan doesn’t come to fruition, Barkley remains the most coveted free agent in sports media. His current contract with TNT includes a clause allowing him to leave if the company loses NBA rights. This could see him commanding more than $20 million annually if he decides to delay his retirement.
In contrast, O’Neal, Smith, and Johnson do not have similar clauses in their contracts. Johnson, in particular, is known for his strong loyalty to TNT Sports.
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