February 16, 2025
Forward of the deal, one among O’Neal’s co-hosts Charles Barkley, indicated that he was going to decide to staying with TNT
Shaquille O’Neal, one of many cornerstones of the long-running Inside The NBA tv program, reportedly signed a long-term deal price $15 million a yr that may, at the very least, so long as this system is optioned to ESPN, preserve all the members of the present at Turner Sports activities, the sports activities arm of TNT.
Based on Entrance Workplace Sports activities, the size of O’Neal’s deal was not reported, nevertheless it does enable TNT to drag off a commerce of types to maintain its hottest program on air.
In alternate for a bundle of Massive 12 faculty soccer and basketball video games, ESPN will get the license to hold the present since TNT was excluded from the NBA’s new TV deal in favor of NBC and Amazon.
Forward of the deal, one among O’Neal’s co-hosts Charles Barkley, indicated to Ernie Johnson Jr., the glue of the Inside The NBA program, on the podcast they share, Steam Room, that he was committing to staying with TNT.
“I’m informing NBC that I can’t settle for their supply,” Barkley mentioned. “I’m gonna cancel future conferences with Amazon…My coronary heart is all the time and shall be at Turner Sports activities. I’m hoping this factor comes collectively and I can stick with TNT and ESPN.”
Based on Entrance Workplace Sports activities, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, in addition to Johnson, are additionally anticipated to signal multi-year offers to stay with TNT, which might allay the worry that gripped NBA followers when it was introduced that TNT wouldn’t be receiving a brand new deal as an NBA media rights accomplice. As an alternative of disappearing for good, the corporate’s hottest present will stay within the NBA household.
Per Yahoo Sports activities, what is anticipated to alter, nonetheless, is how usually the group is on tv. What was as soon as a weekly present will now be broadcast round marquee occasions within the NBA’s calendar, together with, for the primary time, the NBA Finals.
Based on a November press launch from ESPN, “TNT Sports activities will proceed to independently produce Contained in the NBA from its Atlanta-based studios over the time period of the settlement. The legendary ‘Contained in the NBA’ studio group will seem on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile stay occasions, together with ESPN’s pregame, halftime and postgame protection of the NBA Finals on ABC, convention finals, NBA playoffs, all ABC video games after January 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the ultimate week of the season and different marquee stay occasions.”
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