Bill Simmons confirms Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and crew’s TNT have lost rights for NBA to NBC

TNT had the NBA's broadcasting rights since 1988.

Bill Simmons confirms Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and crew’s TNT have lost rights for NBA to NBC

'Inside the NBA' may have come to an end as Bill Simmons revealed that TNT has lost the broadcasting rights NBC.

As the fans are busy in the playoffs, the NBA has made a huge decision about the league’s broadcasting rights. The end of ‘Inside the NBA’ may have arrived as sportswriter Bill Simmons revealed that TNT has already lost the rights to NBC.

For the past few weeks, fans have been worried about the negotiations between the league and TNT. As the network’s contract is coming to an end, NBC had made a bid of $2.5 billion to take over the broadcasting. As all of this was still seen as a work in progress, Bill Simmons confirmed on his podcast (1:44:00 mark), that the deal is already made. The league is likely waiting for the playoffs to end to make the announcement.

One of the funniest things ever is that we're all pretending that the TV deal was not done a week and a half ago...I think it's done. I think Warner (Bros.) already lost it. I don't why we're waiting till after the playoffs, maybe that's how they have to do it. But it's a wrap. NBC's getting it.
Bill Simmons said

TNT had the league’s broadcasting rights for 36 years and ‘Inside the NBA’ has been running since 1989. As Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley joined Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, the crew has been one of the best if not the best team on NBA television.

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Along with the quartet’s incredible basketball knowledge, the four veterans have also made the fans laugh with their amazing humor and chemistry. However, as NBC is now getting the rights, the group is likely to break up resulting in the end of an era.

NBA reportedly demanded TNT to outbid NBC with $300 Million

To keep their rights beyond the 2024-25 season, the league demanded TNT to make a better offer than NBC. According to NBATradeReport on X, as NBC made the bid of $2.5 billion per year, the league wanted TNT to raise the price to $2.8 Billion to keep the rights. The report stated that the equal deal is not enough as NBC has ‘multiple broadcast windows’ than TNT.

It seems as if TNT has disagreed with the demand as per Simmons’ statement. The network will now lose the dynamic duo of Inside the NBA as Shaq will reportedly stop doing TV altogether. Barkley on the other hand has decided to become a free agent. Johnson is the only member that will stay with Turner as Smith’s future is yet unclear.

Hence, the 2024-25 season might be the last season the fans will get to enjoy the quartet together on TV. NBC will take over along with ESPN and ABC as the official broadcasters for the NBA.

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