The NBA has decided to part ways with its nearly 40-year relationship with TNT Sports, the league announced July 24. In exchange, it agreed to an 11-year television rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon that will put NBA games on ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime Video.
NBA on TNT, and with it “Inside the NBA,” has become a fixture of league coverage over the years, hosted by Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith. But its time is coming to an end.
It’s not just fans of the show who are upset about its termination. The day after the new deal was announced, Barkley took to social media to express his disdain for the decision. Here’s what he had to say about the league’s stance on its future television rights package and the exclusion of its flagship show.
Charles Barkley’s statement on the NBA broadcast rights deal
Barkley He has not been shy about speaking his mind throughout the NBA negotiating process, and his latest statement accuses the league of abandoning the spectacle that has brought so much joy to fans over the years.
“It’s clear the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance,” Barkley wrote in his statement. “TNT matched the amount, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double their offering in the future. The NBA didn’t want to upset them.
“It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over fans. It’s a real shame.”
Charles Barkley, the legendary analyst of TNT Inside the NBA, releases a statement photo.twitter.com/oP3depz9xd
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 26, 2024
He also made sure to take the time to thank everyone who stood by his side at the network during his time on the show, as well as the league and its fans.
“I want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the past 24 years. They are the best and most talented people and they deserve better. I also want to thank the NBA and its fans, the best fans in the game. We will give them everything we have next season.”
What’s going on with ‘Inside the NBA’?
Despite an attempt by Warner Bros., Turner’s parent company, to match Amazon Prime Video’s offering, the NBA opted to enter “a long-term agreement with Amazon.” That said, “Inside the NBA” will continue through 2024-25 until its current television deal ends at the end of next season.
Barkley himself, though he signed a 10-year deal with TNT in 2022, added a buyout clause to his contract in case Turner lost his NBA license. Because of this, his future with the network after the 2024-25 season is uncertain.
The future of Johnson, O’Neal and Smith with TNT is also up in the air, though none of them have explicitly stated whether they will remain with the network or leave when the deal ends.
For now, fans of the show have one more year to enjoy the basketball banter on “Inside the NBA” before it airs for the final time.
