Charles Barkley releases statement amid TNT, NBA breakup

Charles Barkley releases statement amid TNT, NBA breakup

Earlier this week, it was reported that Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT’s parent company) would match Amazon’s media rights proposal ahead of the NBA’s new TV deal. Though the NBA rejected the proposal Wednesday, officially announcing the new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal with Disney (ESPN/ABC), NBCUniversal (NBC, Peacock) and Amazon (Amazon Prime Video), which won’t begin until the 2025-26 season.

Charles Barkley, a cohost of TNT’s Inside the NBA, an Emmy Award-winning pre- and post-game show that’s aired since 1989, released a statement regarding to two sides breaking up on Friday morning.

It reads as follows:

“Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance,” Barkley’s statement read. “TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn’t want to piss them off.

“It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks.

“I just want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the last 24 years. They are the best people and the most talented and they deserve better. I also want to thank the NBA and its fans–the best fans in sports. We’re going to give you everything we have next season.”

Charles Barkley, legendary TNT Inside the NBA Analyst, releases statement pic.twitter.com/oP3depz9xd

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 26, 2024

What will NBA’s new media rights deal include for Disney, NBC, Amazon?

Regardless if Turner Sports was able to secure rights for the new deal, Barkley announced he was going to retire from TV at the end of the 2024-25 season after 25 seasons. The 61-year-old has been a primary face of the show alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.

While they weren’t there for their clear-cutting analysis, Inside the NBA was one of the top entertainment pre- and post-game shows in American sports. If you wanted to laugh at silly banter, that was the show for you–it did it as well as anyone could’ve asked for.

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