With TNT potentially losing its broadcasting rights to the NBA, Charles Barkley could become a highly sought-after free agent. Barkley has spoken out about the negotiations and expressed concern for his colleagues.
The state of the NBA's television rights has been a hot topic, particularly due to the popularity of TNT's "Inside the NBA" studio featuring Ernie Johnson and former NBA greats Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny Smith. TNT has been one of the league's broadcast partners for decades, but it may be on the verge of losing its rights to competitors.
A potential new media deal could include Disney/ESPN, NBC, and Amazon, possibly leaving TNT's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), out of the picture. The Sports Business Journal reported that the NBA is expected to formalize deals with Disney, Amazon, and NBC. However, WBD leadership has the opportunity to match the "total value" of other offers before the contracts receive final approval.
If TNT and the NBA part ways, Barkley could become a highly-sought-after talent on the media free agent market. Barkley has expressed his concerns about the negotiations, saying that the uncertainty has negatively impacted workplace morale. "Morale sucks, plain and simple," Barkley said on the "Dan Patrick Show." "I just feel so bad for the people I work with, Dan. These people have families, and I just really feel bad for them right now."
Barkley recently told Sports Illustrated that he would have to evaluate his options if TNT loses the NBA package. "I would have to look at their packages," Barkley said. "I don’t know who’s going to have what, so I couldn’t even make an educated guess, even hypothetically. There will be two important questions: What do you have, and where you gonna do the show from?"
Barkley reportedly has a clause in his contract that allows him to go elsewhere if TNT loses out on the NBA package. ESPN currently airs a variety of NBA-related shows on its platforms, and Barkley could end up working closely with Stephen A. Smith. However, Barkley has expressed reluctance about taking on commitments to multiple programs. "They’re not gonna work me like a dog," Barkley said. "ESPN Radio, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes. I mean, HELL NO! As much as I love ESPN, I just turned 61. The notion that I’m going to be working like a dog into my mid-60s, that’s definitely not going to happen."
No official announcement about the future home of NBA games has been made, and league Commissioner Adam Silver cautioned that negotiations are ongoing. "Who knows," Silver told TMZ. "We’re all still talking. Who knows how it’s gonna work out." Silver also expressed confidence that at least two of the "Inside the NBA" stars will continue to cover the NBA, regardless of which network holds the broadcasting rights. "We’re never gonna lose Charles and Kenny," Silver said. "They’re always going to be covering the NBA. . . . I can’t imagine those guys [on ‘Inside the NBA’] won’t be performing and announcing together in the future, and we all love them."
The league's current media rights deal will expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.
