‘Inside the NBA’ will air on ESPN and ABC as part of settlement with NBA

“Inside the NBA” will continue, even though games will no longer be airing on TNT at the complete of this period.

The popular studio display will appear on ESPN and ABC beginning next period as part of a settlement between Warner Bros. finding and the NBA that was announced on Monday.

Warner Bros. finding, the parent business of TNT Sports, sued the NBA in recent York state court in August after the league did not receive the business’s matching propose for one of the packages in its recent 11-year media rights deal, which will commence with the 2025-26 period.

Even though “Inside the NBA” will be on ESPN and ABC, TNT Sports will continue to produce the display. It will air from Atlanta, except when the display goes on the road.

The quartet of Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will remain with the display. Barkley signed an extension with Warner Bros. finding in August despite the business losing the NBA.

“’Inside the NBA’ is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said. “We have long-admired the immensely talented throng and are thrilled to add their chemistry and knowledge to our robust set of NBA studio offerings to super-serve NBA fans like never before. The addition of ‘Inside the NBA’ further solidifies ESPN as the preeminent goal for sports fans.”

“Inside the NBA” will handle pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals and the NBA Playoffs. During the regular period, it will be part of opening week coverage, as well as Christmas Day, all ABC games after Jan. 1, the final week of the period and other marquee events.

“The chance to continue the iconic and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside the NBA’ is a huge triumph for basketball fans everywhere,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “We look forward to building on our longstanding collaboration with TNT Sports and working together to promote NBA content across key WBD and NBA platforms.”

“Inside the NBA” started in 1989, Johnson became the host in 1990 while Smith joined fulltime in 1998. Barkley came aboard in 2000 followed by O’Neal in 2011. The display has garnered 21 Sports Emmy Awards.

ESPN will also continue to produce “NBA Countdown” and “NBA Today.”

The settlement gives TNT Sports, Bleacher update and House of Highlights a global license for NBA content with no rights fee for the next 11 years.

Warner Bros. finding will also continue its connection with the league’s digital operations, including NBA.com, for five seasons. TNT Sports and the NBA have jointly managed NBA Digital since 2009.

Even though TNT Sports will not be airing games in the United States beginning next period, it does have rights to air a packed package of games in select countries, including Latin America (excluding Brazil and Mexico), Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

TNT Sports will also commence showing 13 large 12 football and 15 men’s basketball games next period as part of a sublicense with ESPN. TNT will air two College Football Playoff games beginning this period also under a sublicense with ESPN.

Turner Sports has had an NBA package since 1984 and games have been on TNT since the network launched in 1988. That will complete after this period.

“Together these agreements ensure fans will continue to enjoy TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ and make tremendous worth for our entire financing collection as we accelerate the growth of TNT Sports, Bleacher update, House of Highlights and our global sports business,” Warner Bros. finding CEO David Zaslav said in a statement. “We are pleased to associate with the NBA and Disney/ESPN, and to have solidified long-term rights and income for WBD.”

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