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2d ago

Inside the NBA Heads to ESPN and ABC as TNT’s 35-Year Run Ends

Under the NBA’s new $76 billion, 11-year deal, NBA TV’s role will shrink with Inside the NBA’s hosts splitting coverage across ESPN, ABC plus NBA TV studio shows.

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Shaquille O'Neal on the set of ESPN's "NBA Countdown" before Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
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Overview

  • Inside the NBA concluded its final TNT broadcast during the Eastern Conference finals and will debut on ESPN and ABC in the 2025-26 season.
  • ESPN will retain Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith with production remaining in Atlanta under TNT Sports’ editorial control.
  • Charles Barkley has voiced concerns about his ESPN workload and is awaiting details of his upcoming schedule before finalizing his commitments.
  • Shaquille O’Neal staged a playful on-air confrontation with ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins during NBA TV’s Finals coverage, underscoring ongoing tensions between network talents.
  • The league’s new media rights agreement shifts NBA games to ESPN, ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime Video, reducing NBA TV’s long-term role in live coverage.