TNT reveals final plans for Inside the NBA crew of Shaq, Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson

amazon, tnt reveals final plans for inside the nba crew of shaq, barkley, kenny smith, and ernie johnson

NBA

UPDATE: Now, as Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports is reporting, TNT may pull off a “buzzer-beater” that allows them to retain their NBA ties. If so, the Inside the NBA cast would remain together for the foreseeable future.

Rumors have lingered for several weeks that TNT’s Inside the NBA crew consisting of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith could be in their final days together.

What’s happening is TNT had been embroiled in a TV rights battle to broadcast NBA content, which other major networks were bidding massive amounts of money for.

NBA rights go to Disney, Amazon, NBC, and ESPN, but not TNT

We now know the fate of the Inside the NBA cast because the league is officially finalizing media deals with Disney, Amazon, and NBC instead.

According to Tom Friend of the Sports Business Journal, the NBA is in the final stage of media rights negotiations that will exclude TNT from the NBA broadcasting picture.

ESPN is reportedly paying $2.8 billion annually for the NBA’s “A” package, which includes coverage of the NBA Finals, weekly primetime games, WNBA, and international broadcasting rights.

Meanwhile, NBC is getting the “B” package or $2.6 billion, which includes “Basketball Night in America” on Sunday nights after the NFL season ends, two primetime windows per week, and several playoff matchups.

Amazon is set to pay between $1.8 and $2 billion for a package that includes the In-Season Tournament, first-round playoff games, WNBA, and international rights.

All of this is to say, TNT’s Inside the Crew will no longer have a home on TV after the 2024-25 season concludes, breaking up a legendary quartet.

Follow us on MSN to see more exclusive sports content.

More must-reads:

    OTHER NEWS

    37 minutes ago

    "As long as my wife and my kids and my mom think cool of me" - Rasheed Wallace explains why he ignored criticism towards his personality

    37 minutes ago

    ‘He’d had enough’: Oilers humanize Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 4 rout

    37 minutes ago

    Italy star compares Albania to England after opening victory at Euro 2024

    37 minutes ago

    Why this photo of a mobile speed camera operator has sparked outrage

    37 minutes ago

    Home Secretary calls for 'urgent explanation' after police stop cow with car

    37 minutes ago

    Byron Murphy II throws out the first pitch at Seattle Mariners game

    37 minutes ago

    NBA legend Charles Barkley announces retirement from TV after 2024-25 season

    37 minutes ago

    Wayne Rooney tells Gareth Southgate two calls he got wrong for England's Euros squad

    37 minutes ago

    Spain v Croatia player ratings: Carvajal 8, Yamal 8; Modric 6, Budimir 5

    41 minutes ago

    Adidas investigates bribery allegations in China, FT reports

    43 minutes ago

    More Small Businesses Seek to Include Neurodiverse Talent

    43 minutes ago

    Wells Fargo Fires Employees For 'Fake Work'

    43 minutes ago

    The seaside town on the front lines of boarded-up Britain

    43 minutes ago

    Late Queen's favourite teatime treat was posh biscuit you may not have heard of

    43 minutes ago

    ‘Tank’ Davis knocks out Martin in eighth round to keep WBA lightweight title

    43 minutes ago

    Hajj: Over 2 Mln Pilgrims at Mount Arafat for Most Important Rite

    43 minutes ago

    IDF announces 'humanitarian pause' in Salah al-Din area of Gaza

    43 minutes ago

    England's sigh of relief as Aussies weather huge Scottish storm

    43 minutes ago

    University of Galway is ‘short on academics, but has too many managers’, say worried staff

    43 minutes ago

    Bloody night across NYC sees two shot during party at Brooklyn park

    43 minutes ago

    Gervonta Davis seals brutal knockout of Frank Martin to take his unbeaten record to 30-0... before celebrating at ringside in Vegas with Ryan Garcia

    46 minutes ago

    Flood alert for some WA regions as nation shivers

    49 minutes ago

    Israeli military announces daily 'tactical pause' in Rafah area to get aid into Gaza

    50 minutes ago

    Melendez hits grand slam on 12th pitch, Royals beat Dodgers 7-2 as Yamamoto leaves early

    50 minutes ago

    Rory McIlroy feeling confident despite Bryson DeChambeau’s sizable U.S. Open lead

    50 minutes ago

    ABC Classic presenter Ed Le Brocq's portrait 'I am a centaur' by Jaq Grantford a finalist in 2024 Archibald prize

    50 minutes ago

    Star edge-rusher hopes to be a 'Raider for life'

    52 minutes ago

    Retiree, 65, remarried with young child, allowed to halve maintenance for ex-wife to $600 a month

    57 minutes ago

    Jennifer Lopez meets up with husband Ben Affleck at his Brentwood rental amid claims she is 'over' trying to save their marriage amid divorce rumors

    57 minutes ago

    Mamba Mentality: Oilers’ Foegele rocks Kobe Bryant shirt ahead of Game 4

    57 minutes ago

    China pledges new pandas, Wong vows firm stance on ties

    1 hour ago

    Cyril Ramaphosa is re-elected South Africa president in ‘new era’ of coalition

    1 hour ago

    Mahomes Ready to 'See How Special' Chiefs Dynasty Can Get

    1 hour ago

    L-G Sinha directs security forces to dismantle terror eco-system in J&K

    1 hour ago

    Snoop Dogg throws first pitch at MLB game in Milwaukee before a hilarious cameo in the booth

    1 hour ago

    Canterbury Bulldogs star Max King and wife Christy Young announce the arrival of their first child and share adorable pictures of their newborn son

    1 hour ago

    Aussies turn against Robert Irwin after he threatened to sue One Nation over 'defamatory' video: 'Snowflake'

    1 hour ago

    Aaron Rodgers is away on an ayahuasca retreat, NFL insider hints - after New York Jets QB sparked controversy by missing the start of practice

    1 hour ago

    Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup celebrations are put on ice as Edmonton Oilers net EIGHT to avoid sweep and pull a game back in series

    1 hour ago

    Broadway celebrates a packed and varied theater season with the 2024 Tony Awards