In the sports media world, it was unexpected news when it was announced that TNT’s popular basketball pre- and post-game show “Inside the NBA” would be moving to ESPN. Charles Barkley, one of the show’s stars, was just as surprised as everyone else when he found out about the move. He mentioned that Warner Bros’ Discovery’s Turner Sports did not inform him about the move before the news broke.
Barkley expressed his disappointment on “The Bettor Angle” show on BetQL network, stating that he and his fellow cast members were not notified about the transition. He learned about it through the media and even received texts from friends at ESPN welcoming him to the network. The lack of communication from TNT left Barkley feeling like the “Inside the NBA” team had been traded without any prior notice.
Having been vocal about Turner Sports’ rift with its NBA media rights, Barkley, who has been part of the show since 2000, expressed his frustration with the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. Despite initially considering leaving TNT after the new media rights deal was signed, Barkley decided to stay with the team he had been a part of for over two decades.
After a lawsuit and settlement between TNT and Barkley, it was confirmed that “Inside the NBA” would continue to be produced independently by TNT in Atlanta, but would air on ESPN and ABC starting in the 2025-26 season. This agreement came as part of a larger 11-year media rights extension that ESPN has with the NBA.
Moving forward, fans can expect to see the familiar faces of Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley on “Inside the NBA,” as the show makes its transition to ESPN. Despite the initial shock and lack of communication surrounding the move, Barkley remains committed to providing entertaining and insightful basketball commentary to viewers.
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