The NBA’s television rights situation has become a hot topic due in part to the popularity of “Inside the NBA,” a long-running studio show that features the likes of Ernie Johnson and former NBA great Charles Barkley. Shaquille O’Neal And Kenny Smith.
While the deal awaits final approval from the NBA Board of Governors, NBCUniversal and Amazon are reportedly in discussions with the league, with both media companies apparently detailing what NBA product will look like on their respective platforms.
Barkley, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and TV commentator, took issue with the potential structure of the NBA’s future media rights deals, and isn’t too fond of the idea that fans will be forced to stream regular-season games and other marquee matches in the near future.
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DALLAS, TEXAS – JUNE 14: Charles Barkley speaks with media before Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center on June 14, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Stacey Revere/Getty Images)
Barkley visited the Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Lake Tahoe, California, earlier this week, which is hosting this year’s American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament.
While on the golf course, the 61-year-old announcer shared a bit about the company he works for. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) may just be on the outside looking in when the dust settles. WBD is the parent company of TNT.
Charles Barkley slams TNT executives as they risk losing NBA rights
Barkley has been a staple of TNT’s NBA coverage for nearly 25 years but recently announced that the upcoming 2024-25 season will be his last as an analyst.
A basketball sits on the court next to the NBA logo during a break in the first half of a game in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Barkley has been a vocal critic of sports’ shift toward streaming, citing the potential economic benefits, but he also argued that the shift to streaming is to the detriment of NBA fans.
“Well, I think you have greedy players and greedy owners,” Barkley told CNBC.
“They don’t care about anything other than making as much money as they can. We shouldn’t put money before the average fan. Not everyone has access to streaming. There’s nothing wrong with streaming, per se, but I think it’s a disservice to the fans when they’re only going to the highest bidder and not appearing on regular TV.”
TNT basketball commentator Charles Barkley on air before the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Final Four semifinal game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the North Carolina State Wolfpack at State Farm Stadium on April 6, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Mitchell Leighton/Getty Images)
Despite being one of the league’s broadcast partners for the past few decades, TNT may be on the verge of losing its broadcast rights deal to a competitor. Potential new media deals could include Disney/ESPN, NBC and Amazon, which could leave WBD just watching from the outside.
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Earlier this week, Associated Press The NBA has agreed to terms on a new media deal worth an estimated $76 billion over 11 years, The Associated Press reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
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