NBA commissioner Adam Silver is still in the process of negotiating the league’s media rights and has not yet named a winner. Reports have surfaced indicating that TNT’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), may be losing its broadcasting rights deal to competitors such as Disney/ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. While the NBA has been partnered with TNT for many years, a potential new deal with other networks could leave TNT on the outside looking in. Silver stated that no official announcement has been made, and negotiations are ongoing, with the outcome still uncertain.
The state of the league’s television rights has been a point of interest, particularly due to the popularity of the long-running studio show “Inside the NBA,” featuring Ernie Johnson and former NBA stars Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith. Johnson has expressed his commitment to remaining with the network, regardless of what happens with the NBA media rights. Meanwhile, Barkley reportedly has a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave if TNT loses the NBA package. Silver remains confident that at least two of the show’s stars will continue to cover the NBA for years to come, regardless of which network ends up with the broadcasting rights.
The current media rights deal for the NBA is set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season. While WBD faces the possibility of losing its broadcasting rights with the NBA, it has recently secured a five-year sublicensing deal with Disney/ESPN. This deal grants WBD the rights to first-round and quarterfinal College Football Playoff games, enhancing its overall sports offerings. Silver emphasized his belief that Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith will continue to perform and announce together in the future, regardless of which network holds the broadcasting rights.
Multiple reports have suggested that the NBA is expected to formalize deals with Disney, Amazon, and NBC in the near future. WBD leadership will have the opportunity to match the “total value” of these offers before the contracts receive final approval. Silver acknowledged that negotiations are ongoing and expressed uncertainty about how things will ultimately work out. As the league continues to navigate the process of securing media rights, the future home of NBA games remains unknown, with various networks vying for the opportunity to broadcast games and cover the league.
The situation with the NBA’s media rights has been a topic of discussion, particularly with the looming possibility of a new broadcasting deal that could see the league partnering with different networks. While reports indicate that TNT may be on the verge of losing its broadcasting rights, the official outcome remains to be determined. With the popularity of studio show “Inside the NBA” and its iconic cast of personalities, there is anticipation surrounding how the negotiations for the NBA media rights will unfold. Despite the uncertainty, Silver’s confidence in the continued presence of Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith in covering the league provides some reassurance amid the evolving landscape of NBA broadcasting partnerships.
