In a groundbreaking shift, the acclaimed studio show *Inside the NBA* will move to ESPN and ABC beginning in the 2025-26 NBA season. This transition follows a settlement between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA, announced Monday, ensuring the show’s celebrated team of Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal remains intact.
Despite TNT Sports losing U.S. broadcast rights to NBA games, *Inside the NBA* will continue to be produced independently by TNT Sports from its Atlanta studio, except when the show goes on the road. The move signifies a rare collaboration between competing networks, allowing ESPN to incorporate the Emmy-winning show into its extensive NBA programming slate, which includes pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage of marquee events such as the NBA Finals, playoffs, and Christmas Day games.
“*Inside the NBA* is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports,” said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “We’re thrilled to add their chemistry and expertise to our NBA studio offerings, further cementing ESPN as the preeminent destination for sports fans.”
The agreement is part of a broader settlement after Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT Sports’ parent company, sued the NBA in August. The lawsuit challenged the league’s decision to reject Warner Bros. Discovery’s matching bid for a broadcast package in the NBA’s new 11-year media rights deal, set to begin in 2025. As part of the settlement, Warner Bros. Discovery will retain global licensing rights to NBA content through 2036, alongside its digital collaborations with the league, including NBA.com.
TNT Sports CEO Luis Silberwasser emphasized the show’s enduring appeal, stating, “We take great pride in *Inside the NBA* and are thrilled to continue producing this iconic program for ESPN and ABC.”
This partnership reflects the changing landscape of sports media, with networks finding innovative ways to collaborate despite competing interests. While TNT Sports’ U.S. broadcast relationship with the NBA ends after nearly four decades, its continued production of *Inside the NBA* ensures fans will still enjoy the show’s unique blend of humor, insight, and chemistry.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called the agreement a “huge win” for basketball fans, praising the show’s legacy and its role in elevating the NBA’s global presence.
As the NBA moves into a new era of media partnerships, *Inside the NBA* remains a cornerstone of basketball storytelling.
