NBA bosses are said to sign TV deals with ESPN, NBC and Amazon worth a combined $7.4 billion a year, which would be a blow to TNT.
According sports business journalThe NBA is formalizing written contracts with all three companies this week as they are in the final stages of negotiations.
This is likely to upset fans of Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, who are popular analysts on the popular TNT show ‘Inside the NBA.’
ESPN will reportedly pay $2.8 billion a year for the league’s most prized games, including the NBA Finals, a conference final and weekly primetime matchups.
Meanwhile, NBC is willing to shell out $2.6 billion annually for the ‘B’ package, which would likely include a show called ‘Basketball Night in America,’ which would air on Sunday nights after the NFL season.
According to SBJ, NBC would also secure a conference semifinals, a conference final and two primetime slots per week.
Amazon’s deal, valued at $1.8 billion, would include the season tournament, first-round playoff games and the WNBA.
Last week, NBA legend O’Neal said he was “very confident” that “Inside the NBA” will remain on TNT next season.
The beloved studio show features O’Neal, Barkley, Kenny Smith and host Ernie Johnson.
“I don’t know (about the future of the show), but I hope (Warner Bros. Discovery CEO) David Zaslav takes care of the business, I’m sure he will,” he said.
“I think we’re in a great situation right now.”
Barkley was a little less sure, adding: “It would be sad (if the show ended). We don’t know… I hope so (continues). Not just for me and Kenny, Ernie and Shaq, but for the actual people who work there, it sucks to be stressed right now.