TNT Matches Amazon’s Offer to Retain NBA Broadcast Rights

In a move to retain its NBA broadcast rights, TNT has submitted a matching offer to the National Basketball Association (NBA). The network’s decision comes as the NBA is set to begin a new round of broadcast rights deals, with Amazon reportedly offering an 11-year, $1.8 billion annual contract.

According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, TNT’s matching offer is aimed at retaining its current package of games, including Tuesday and Thursday night games during the regular season, All-Star weekend, and playoff games through the Western Conference finals. The network’s offer does not mention Amazon, but it is expected to decline TNT’s offer in favor of the Amazon package.

The NBA’s current broadcast deals run through next season, meaning that TNT will continue to carry the league’s games through the 2025 Western Conference finals. Beyond then, the fate of the network’s NBA coverage and its iconic studio show “Inside the NBA” remains unclear.

Hosted by Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, “Inside the NBA” is a beloved studio show that has been a staple of the NBA for decades. Johnson has reportedly said that he won’t leave TNT if the network loses NBA rights, while Barkley’s stance has been a moving target. He has suggested that his own production company could take over the show and has also vowed to retire from broadcasting at the end of next season.

The NBA’s decision to decline TNT’s offer could lead to a potential showdown among the three entities, with the league potentially reaching a deal to keep the league on the network or reaching a settlement that could make the network go away. Failing to reach an agreement could lead to a battle in court.

With TNT reportedly targeting Amazon’s deal, the path is cleared for NBC’s return to NBA coverage. NBC previously carried NBA games from 1990-2002, and ESPN and ABC will retain the league’s primary package that includes NBA Finals coverage.

The NBA’s broadcast rights deals are a significant source of revenue for the league, and the outcome of this process will have a major impact on the future of the league’s coverage.