NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery Enter 11-Year Media Partnership

«Inside the NBA,» the widely acclaimed sports show hosted by Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal, is set to be aired on ESPN and ABC starting from the 2025-26 season. This development comes through a collaborative effort between TNT Sports and the NBA, as announced on Monday. TNT Sports will continue to independently produce the show from its Atlanta-based studios, except when the production is taken on the road.

The enduring program, which has garnered 21 Sports Emmy Awards since its inception, will appear alongside ESPN’s coverage of high-profile NBA events, including the pregame, halftime, and post-game shows during the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals, playoffs, and various notable games throughout the season, as stated in a release.

Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN chairman, commended the collaboration saying, «Inside the NBA is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports. 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.»

In addition to the «Inside the NBA» arrangement, TNT Sports will broadcast 13 Big 12 football games and 15 men’s basketball games under a sublicense with ESPN, beginning next season. TNT will also air two College Football Playoff games this year as part of the settlement reached with ESPN.

Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, secured this agreement following a legal dispute with the NBA over media rights, which culminated in August in New York state court. As part of the settlement, TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, and House of Highlights received a global license for NBA content for the next 11 years without a rights fee.

Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner, expressed his enthusiasm for the agreement, remarking, «The opportunity to continue the iconic and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside the NBA’ is a huge win for basketball fans everywhere.»

Moreover, Warner Bros. Discovery will continue its involvement with the NBA’s digital operations for five more seasons. Although TNT Sports will not be broadcasting NBA games in the United States next season, it retains rights to air games in selected international territories, including several countries in Latin America, as well as Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, acknowledged the deal saying, «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.»

The longstanding partnership between TNT Sports and the NBA dates back to 1984, evolving significantly with this new agreement aimed at enhancing NBA content distribution globally.