Johnson, Ernie Remaining at Turner Even With NBA Uncertainty, “Inside The NBA” on TNT May Be Coming to an End Soon
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show does not renew, Johnson is expected to stay with Turner Sports.
Since 1990, he has been a major player for TNT Sports, covering March Madness, the MLB Playoffs, and the NBA Playoffs. Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley are among the other cast members that might leave the show.
TNT may lose its media rights agreement with the NBA, which is the cause for the uncertainty surrounding the show. According to Front Office Sports, if the agreement with TNT is not renewed, ESPN, NBC, and Amazon might engage in a bidding war for the rights.
According to Barkley, his contract contains an opt-out option in the event that the NBA selects a different network.
Sources, however, suggest that Johnson will probably stick with Turner through thick and thin and may even carry on hosting the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and providing MLB play-by-play commentary.
His decision to remain with Turner’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), appears to be largely motivated by loyalty.
There have been rumors that the whole cast of “Inside the NBA” may depart to work for a different network. ESPN has expressed interest in Barkley and has been working on a program modeled after “Inside the NBA.”
Barkley may possibly end up at NBC because of its connections to Turner via Mark Lazarus. But it’s still unclear what will end up happening.
This year’s big sports media story is probably going to be about the impending NBA media rights deal. According to reports, NBC is serious about purchasing the rights, therefore WBD might not be involved.
Warner Bros. Discovery may match any offer, but that would come with a hefty price tag compared to what they already pay for the NBA rights.
David Zaslav, the CEO of the company, has declared that they will be disciplined in negotiations and that they do not absolutely need the NBA.
Though it’s unclear what will happen, there are rumors that Zaslav will need to outbid NBC with a sizable offer.
In any case, it’s evident that Johnson’s involvement in “Inside the NBA” and its future are both uncertain.
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