After the 2024-25 season, the NBA’s broadcasting deal with TNT will expire. As of now, NBC is in the lead to snap up the broadcasting rights of the coveted league, which puts “Inside The NBA”, the popular game day show, in jeopardy. Charles Barkley, one of the panellists on the show, recently unloaded on the TNT management due to their poor handling of the situation.
CNBC’s Alex Sherman provided a latest scoop on the matter on the “Joe Pomp Show” and it certainly proves that Barkley was correct all along. “I think the Warner Brothers Discovery’s message of financial discipline has irritated the NBA,” said Sherman. “And look, you brought it already. Clearly, that’s why they didn’t walk away with a handshake deal like Disney did from there during the exclusivity window. So, I think there’s some tension there.”
On Thursday’s “Dan Patrick Show”, Charles Barkley went on a passionate rant over the TNT vs NBC saga. “I think the first thing is, they came out and said we didn’t need the NBA. So I think that probably pissed [commissioner] Adam [Silver] off. I don’t know that, but when we merged, that’s the first thing our boss said. ‘We don’t need the NBA.’ Well, he don’t need it, but the rest of the people, me, Kenny, Ernie, Shaq and the rest of the people who work there, we need it,” said Barkley about the TNT brass.
NBC’s reported bid stands at $2.5 billion for the rights, while Zaslav is only ready to pay $2.1bn. While talks between the NBA and NBC are reaching a positive conclusion for the latter, the future of “Inside The NBA” seems doomed.
What Will Charles Barkley Do if NBA Moves From TNT?
Charles Barkley has been with TNT for over two decades. His co-hosts, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, complete the four-way act that has entertained the USA audience for ages.
As the seal on the NBA’s deal with NBC seems inevitable, unless something drastic happens, the crew is certainly going to break off. Shaq has already taken a hiatus and has been replaced by Warriors C Draymond Green. Arnie Johnson is the longest-serving crew member and will stick by his employers even if they miss out on the NBA deal. For Barkley, the door is open to leave, and he intends to do just that. Alex Sherman recently touched on the matter and said, “Charles Barkley will have a great career doing broadcasting no matter what he wants to do, but that show requires all 4 players.”
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Barkley is open to signing the interested crew members under his production company to reboot the show, but that might not be required, as there is still a chance for TNT to return in the seemingly lost battle.
Also Read: Rich Paul’s TNT Slip-up Sparks Speculation on LeBron James’s Future with the Lakers
