The NBA hasn’t officially declared the winner of the broadcast rights bidding war, but speculation is strong that NBC has come out ahead, potentially signaling the end of “Inside the NBA” on TNT.
For over 35 years, Turner Sports has broadcast NBA games, a relationship that began in 1988. This longstanding partnership introduced many fans to basketball on TNT, making the potential shift quite significant.
The NBA’s broadcast landscape saw NBC enter in 1990, initiating the “Roundball Rock” era until 2002 when ABC and ESPN took over. NBC, however, re-entered the fray for the NBA rights with a substantial bid of $2.5 billion for when the current contract expires after the 2024-25 season. To retain the rights, Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT, would have needed to offer $2.8 billion.
While no official announcement has been made, Bill Simmons recently discussed on his podcast, The Bill Simmons Podcast, that NBC appears to have secured the deal. He remarked at the 1:44:00 mark, “One of the funniest things ever is that we’re all pretending the TV deal wasn’t done like a week-and-a-half ago… I think it’s done. I think Warner already lost it. I don’t know why we’re waiting til after the playoffs. Maybe that’s how they have to do it, but it’s a wrap. NBC’s getting it.”
If NBC has indeed won, this would be a significant shift for NBA broadcasting and fans of “Inside the NBA.” Charles Barkley has suggested he might move to another network if TNT loses the NBA rights, citing a clause in his contract, while Ernie Johnson is reported to have no plans to leave Turner.
Given Simmons’ deep connections in the basketball world, his insights carry weight, though they should still be considered cautiously until an official confirmation is made.
