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2mo ago

Inside the NBA to Debut on ESPN and ABC After 36-Year TNT Run

Under a new licensing deal TNT Sports will retain creative control, preserving the show’s signature format for ESPN’s marquee NBA broadcasts.

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

Overview

  • Inside the NBA will debut on ESPN and ABC in the 2025-26 season after its final episode on TNT in May.
  • Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith are confirmed to continue as hosts under their current TNT Sports contracts.
  • TNT Sports will produce the show in Atlanta, anchoring it for opening week, Christmas Day, ABC games after January 1, and NBA Finals coverage.
  • Barkley has expressed concerns about his workload under the new schedule, while O’Neal has already appeared on NBA Countdown and engaged playfully with ESPN colleagues like Kendrick Perkins.
  • The relocation follows the NBA’s 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal that shifts games to ESPN, ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime Video and places NBA TV’s future role in uncertainty.