TNT’s beloved pregame and postgame show will survive, with ESPN airing “Inside the NBA” starting next season as part of a settlement.
At different points over the last six months, the future of “Inside the NBA” — the studio show featuring host Ernie Johnson and former players Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith — seemed bleak with TNT’s rights deal set to expire following the 2024-25 season and the league headed for Amazon and NBC, in addition to remaining with ESPN, in a new package.
But the network’s beloved pregame and postgame show will survive, with the Wall Street Journal reporting Saturday that ESPN will be licensed to air “Inside the NBA” starting next season to keep the show intact as part of a settlement stemming from Warner Bros. Discovery’s July lawsuit.
It’s unclear at this point how ESPN plans to utilize the show in conjunction — or instead of — its current “NBA Countdown” coverage, but for now, at least, the core of “Inside the NBA” will remain intact once Shaq signs an extension and the show will continue to get produced by TNT, according to The Athletic.
