ALL signs are pointing towards the 2024-25 season being the final edition of Inside the NBA.
According to Sports Business Journal, the NBA is finalizing media rights deals with Disney, NBC and Amazon this week.
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Sports Business Journal reported massive figures coming from the networks for NBA media rights.
ESPN is expected to be paying around $2.8 billion for their slice of NBA coverage.
NBC’s package is reportedly coming in around $2.6 billion, up from an initial $2.5 billion.
Amazon’s deal is ranging from $1.8 to $2 billion and would have a collection of the In-Season Tournament, the Play-In Tournament, first-round playoff games, the WNBA, and international rights.
With TNT losing its NBA coverage, it also spells the end of fan-favorite show Inside the NBA.
The 2024-25 season will officially be the last for the cast of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal.
NBA fans were crushed by the news, and shared their sadness on social media.
“They’re going to be missed,” one fan said.
“End of an era,” another fan said.
“TNT needs to let them go to NBC,” a third fan said.
“Sad day for the NBA,” a fourth fan said.
Inside the NBA’s future?
Inside the NBA’s run on TNT Sports is in doubt due to the NBA’s broadcasting deals.
The Emmy-winning sports show is a fan favorite thanks to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.
But TNT’s broadcast deal with the NBA is up after next season and NBC is lining up a bid to take those rights.
If TNT loses its NBA package, it raises questions over the popular Inside the NBA.
One solution could be to recreate the show on another network, which snaps up the NBA rights.
“It’s been a good run man,” a fifth fan said.
It is unclear what the future holds for the Inside the NBA cast, but Charles Barkley made it known he has an opt out in his contract for this exact scenario.
“I covered my ass to be honest with you,” Barkley said.
“I just signed a 10-year deal two years ago, but one of the things I did was I put an opt-out in a couple years because I wanted to cover my ass when it comes to this situation.”
Barkley did not reveal if his cohosts have the same opt out, but they all signed their new deals at the same time in 2022.
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