“Inside the NBA” is the rare sports studio show that feels like a bigger event than the game unfolding on the court: The cast, featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, not only constructed discussions around the NBA’s biggest stories, but also often used the panel’s incredible chemistry to suddenly create new topics and buzz moments.
The future of “Inside the NBA” appeared to be the biggest casualty of the NBA’s new media rights deal — a massive $76 billion pact between NBC, Disney and Amazon — with TNT being the outlier, meaning “Inside the NBA” is gearing up for its final season in 2024-2025, at least until the litigation is over. Warner Bros.’ ability to enforce its match rights provisions;.
Even if TNT is cut, there’s a chance “Inside the NBA” could be replicated elsewhere. New report from Front Office Sports They highlighted Barkley’s release clause in his contract, allowing him to be hired as a media free agent if NBC, ABC/ESPN or Amazon acquire the rights. FSO also speculates that a company like Amazon could bring together the entire “Inside the NBA” cast and create a new studio show under a different name. Unfortunately, there’s a problem: Barkley is the only cast member who is reported to have a release clause in his contract, making it difficult to recreate “Inside” in its entirety.
Barkley will be one of the biggest winners of the NBA’s new media rights deal. Bids for Barkley are estimated to start at $20 million per year. Barkley has previously indicated he plans to retire after next season, but at 61, his most lucrative years may still be ahead of him.
There’s going to be a lot of money pumped into the NBA as a whole, but it remains to be seen how that will impact the product. Will the average fan open another app to stream Amazon’s games instead of just watching cable? Even if another company were to sign Barkley and try to re-create “Inside the NBA,” it just won’t be the same show, and it won’t have the same history.
Either way, Inside the NBA is set to be great television this season, the show’s final year, and the cast will likely be more unfiltered than ever as they mark the end of a great run. Let’s hope this isn’t the last we see of Barkley and company.
