CLOCK IS TICKING
NBC ‘closing in on $2.5bn TV rights deal’ that would end Inside the NBA – but there’s still hope for TNT Sports
Warner Bros. Discovery may have to fork out big time in order to win the bidding war
THE future looks bleak for Inside The NBA as NBCUniversal reportedly nears a deal for the league's third broadcasting rights package.
Inside The NBA has been enjoyed by basketball fans nationwide since 1989 on the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned TNT Sports.
4
4
However, the network's nine-year deal is set to come to an end after the 2024-2025 NBA season, as per The Athletic.
With ESPN's nine-year deal also set to conclude at the same time, a bidding war has been ongoing for the league's three rights packages.
ESPN is reportedly close to a new deal worth $2.6 billion annually, while Amazon Prime Video has also closed in on a $1.8 billion deal, according to the Sports Business Journal.
As for the third and final rights package, currently owned by WBD, it is reportedly looking increasingly likely that this will head to NBCUniversal, sources told the outlet.
Read More on the NBA
While not a certainty, the deal could be worth $2.5 billion a year and see a "Basketball Night in America" show formed - perhaps as their successor to Inside The NBA.
The only way WBD could reclaim the rights would be if they were to bid in the region of $2.8 billion annually.
Another option could be to file a lawsuit against the NBA.
"NBC has made their bid, and they're not budging," a source said.
Most read in Basketball
"So it's over, right? And Warner Bros. is saying, 'We'll match it, and (Commissioner Adam Silver) is probably saying: 'It's not matched?"
It's the definition of "match" that could reportedly lead to a lawsuit.
Shaq leaves Inside the NBA co-stars and TNT camera crew in fits of laughter after accusing Charles Barkley of 'OTBS'n'
Should WBD manage to win the bidding war, then Inside The NBA would presumably be safe for years to come.
Hosts Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley all put pen to paper on new long-term deals in October 2022.
While the details of their deals were never made official, Barkley recently revealed that his 10-year contract included an opt-out clause should WBD lose the league's rights.
"I covered my a** to be honest with you," Barkley told ESPN Cleveland.
4
"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 a** when it comes to this situation.
"I said, 'If you guys lose the NBA, I want to make sure I can get out of here.' So I am actually in a really great position."
As such, should NBC win the bidding war, Barkley could theoretically head their way.
Read More on The US Sun
By comparison, Johnson reportedly has no intention to leave, as per SBJ.
The report also claimed that the show's conclusion could also result in O'Neal leaving TV altogether.
4