'Inside the NBA' Set to Air on ESPN and ABC Under New NBA Agreement
Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley on “Inside the NBA.” (TNT sports)
Photo Cred: TNT
By: Joshua Martin
The popular studio show will now appear on ESPN and ABC at the beginning of the 2025-2026 NBA season. This news comes after a settlement between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA was finalized early Monday morning. TNT Sports will continue to produce the show and it will air from Atlanta, except for when the show goes on the road.
“Inside the NBA” is expected to air during key moments on the league’s calendar, including opening week, Christmas Day games, Saturday night primetime games during the second half of the season, the playoffs and the NBA Finals.
“The opportunity to continue the iconic and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside the NBA’ is a huge win for basketball fans everywhere. 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. ”
The new 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. Warner Bros. Discovery will also continue its relationship with the league’s digital operations, including NBA.com, for five more seasons. Even though TNT Sports will not be airing games in the United States beginning next season, it does have rights to air a full package of games in select countries, including Latin America (excluding Brazil and Mexico), Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
“Together these agreements ensure fans will continue to enjoy TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ and create tremendous value for our entire portfolio as we accelerate the growth of TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and our global sports business. We are pleased to partner with the NBA and Disney/ESPN, and to have solidified long-term rights and revenue for WBD.”
“Inside the NBA” started in 1989, the same year TNT started broadcasting NBA games. Barkley joined the show in 2000 while O’Neal came aboard during the 2011-2012 season. The humor and insight the NBA legends bring to the game of basketball has made the program a fan favorite and the recipient of 21 Emmy awards since its inception.
ESPN will continue to produce “NBA Countdown” and “NBA Today,” which will continue to run during the network’s regular season NBA coverage. Malika Andrews will continue to host both programs.
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