Overview

• The plan covers 20 airings in 2025–26, starting Oct. 22–23, then Oct. 29 and Nov. 12, returning on Christmas before ramping up with ABC’s Jan. 24 tripleheader.
• On ESPN, pregame begins one hour before tip and postgame starts immediately after; on ABC, pregame starts 30 minutes prior with Saturday postgames continuing on the ESPN App.
• The full team—Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal—returns, with shows produced by TNT from Atlanta under the sub-licensing arrangement.
• The TNT-produced studio will appear on every ESPN/ABC playoff date, including the NBA Finals, and will be on nearly all ABC dates after Jan. 24 except Super Bowl Sunday and Selection Sunday.
• Barkley said ESPN assured the crew they will not be rushed to SportsCenter or cut off for local affiliates, addressing his primary concerns about airtime.