Overview

• The licensing deal preserves the Atlanta-based production and keeps Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith employed by TNT while airing on ESPN and ABC around marquee NBA events.
• ESPN’s statement confirms the team will host pregame, halftime and postgame coverage for the NBA Finals, Conference Finals, Playoffs, Christmas Day games, opening week and other high-profile matchups.
• Barkley revealed he first heard of the move via texts from Scott Van Pelt, Brian Windhorst, Elle Duncan and Bob Myers, receiving notice before any call from TNT executives.
• He condemned Turner Sports for what he called an “awful job” of informing on- and off-air staff, saying the delay fueled anxiety among crew members during the playoffs.
• The transition ends TNT’s 35-year run as a primary NBA broadcaster and redistributes game telecasts across ESPN, ABC, NBC and Amazon under the league’s 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal.