“Inside the NBA” will appear on ESPN and ABC starting next season as part of a deal between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA, according to multiple reports.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, sued the NBA in New York state court after the league did not accept the company’s matching offer for one of the packages in its new media rights deal. 11 years, which will begin with the 2025-26 season.
The deadline to dismiss the lawsuit is Tuesday.
Although “Inside the NBA” will be on ESPN and ABC beginning with the 2025-26 season, TNT Sports will continue to produce the popular studio show and will air from Atlanta, except when the show goes on tour.
The quartet of Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will remain in the show. Barkley signed an extension with WBD in August even though the company lost its rights to broadcast NBA games in the United States starting next season. TNT Sports will continue to have rights to broadcast a full package of games in select countries, including many in Latin America and Poland.
ABC/ESPN, Comcast (NBC/Peacock) and Amazon will broadcast nationally televised NBA games from the 2025-26 through 2035-36 seasons through an 11-year deal that will net the NBA approximately $76 billion.
“Inside the NBA” is expected to air during key moments of the league’s calendar: opening night, Christmas Day, the playoffs and the NBA Finals. It is also likely to air on Saturday nights in the second half of the season, when ABC has a prime-time game package.
The deal gives TNT Sports, Bleacher Report and House of Highlights a global content license to 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 seasons.
Although TNT Sports will not broadcast games in the United States starting next season, it does have rights to broadcast a full package of games in select countries, including Latin America (excluding Brazil) and Poland.
ESPN, TNT Sports and the NBA declined to comment when contacted by The Athletic.
Turner Sports has had an NBA package since 1984, and games have been on TNT since the network launched in 1988. That will end after this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
