One name was significantly missing when the NBA announced their new media deal package. With the addition of new networks such as Amazon Prime and the return of NBC, TNT will no longer have the right to broadcast NBA games.
TNT has been streaming NBA games since 1989 and is most popular for its show Inside The NBA, starring Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and veteran sports commentator Ernie Johnson. When the news of TNT’s departure came about, it was expected that Charles Barkley would no longer continue after the last season of Inside the NBA.
In June this year, during the NBA Finals, Barkley announced that the upcoming season would be his last on TV, even if TNT could sign a deal with the league. However, reversing this announcement on Tuesday, Barkley says he intends to remain with TNT Sports to serve the remainder of his 10-year contract.
In an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, Barkley revealed that he decided to remain with TNT since the network assured they were finding ways to keep Inside the NBA alive. TNT’s top executives have assured Barkley that the crew and star cast of the show will be retained whatsoever.
Barkley said, “Hey, once I can keep people employed at Turner. Because, Dan, I’ve got to tell you something. I’ve heard some of the most horrific stories the last six months from the people I work with… People telling me, ‘I’m married, I got kids, I’ve got a mortgage, and I’m gonna get fired.’ I’ve never been in that situation before.”
Reports suggest that the Inside Show could expand to cover even further sports beyond basketball. When Barkley was asked about the same, he said, “I don’t know anything about tennis, but I know we just got the French Open.”
Though the future remains to be seen, we still have a season more of Inside the NBA streaming on TNT this year. The network is figuring out how to keep Chuck and the rest of the crew onboard and keep their show running.
