On Wednesday, the NBA produced some unfortunate news when they announced that Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company that owns TNT and broadcasts Inside the NBA, failed to match offers from Amazon, which bid on the up-for-grabs rights to broadcast NBA games.
The fate of TNT’s ownership of rights and production of Inside the NBA has been a significant topic for months as the league has renegotiated its rights.
The league said in a statement that TNT’s parent company failed to match the new 11-year, $1.8 billion annual contract the NBA agreed to with Amazon.
“Warner Bros. Discovery’s most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer, and therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon,” the statement reads, per Yahoo.com.
“Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans. Our new arrangement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable, and streaming packages that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements. All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience.
“We are grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT.”
Social media couldn’t believe that Inside The NBA was truly gone.
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The company’s statement suggests that some sort of legal action will be taken regarding the NBA’s decision to effectively end Inside The NBA.
Earlier this month, USA TODAY Sports reported that the NBA finalized a combined 11-year media rights deal with Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBC, and Amazon worth approximately $76 billion. The deal will begin with the 2025-26 season and run through the 2035-36 season.
Earlier this week, TNT Sports invoked a matching clause in its current contract with the NBA to “allow fans to keep enjoying our unparalleled coverage, including the best live game productions in the industry and our iconic studio shows and talent.”
Also Read: TNT’s “Inside The NBA” Releases Major Update Ahead Of The 2024-25 Season
The deal still has one year remaining, so TNT still has another season of the Inside The NBA before things really get crazy.
TNT Vows To Fight The League Over Decision In An Effort To Continue Inside The NBA
TNT is not going down without a fight.
TNT Sports took issue with the NBA’s decision to reject their offer to move on elsewhere.
In an effort to keep Inside The NBA afloat, they issued a swift response, “We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it,” TNT Sports said in a statement.
“In doing so, they are rejecting the many fans who continue to show their unwavering support for our best-in-class coverage, delivered through the full combined reach of WBD’s video-first distribution platforms — including TNT, home to our four-decade partnership with the league, and Max, our leading streaming service.
“We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond, and we will take appropriate action. We look forward, however, to another great season of the NBA on TNT and Max, including our iconic ‘Inside the NBA.'”
