NBA Commissioner Adam Silver apologized to TNT employees for the uncertainty caused by ongoing negotiations over TV rights.
The Warner Bros. network Discovery is at risk of losing its gaming package to NBC, which is reportedly close to closing a $2.5 billion deal with the league.
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This could result in the iconic Inside the NBA show ending after the 2024-25 season when current broadcast deals expire.
One of the speakers, Charles Barkley, has publicly expressed his displeasure with the possibility of TNT losing league games.
The Phoenix Suns icon has spoken candidly about the fate of nearly 200 people who could lose their jobs if the network cuts ties with the NBA after more than 30 years.
Asked about negotiations ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals, Silver acknowledged the importance of Inside the NBA to the league.
The commissioner said it is not easy to eliminate sentiment towards the iconic show while at the same time dividing the TV rights among interested networks.
“It’s been difficult, this particular show is special,” he said.
“And I have a close relationship with everyone who’s been in that program since they played in the league, too, and Ernie and I have been friends forever.
“At the same time, it’s not just talent, of course.
“There are hundreds of long-time people involved with what I still call Turner Sports, who are long-time friends and colleagues, and it’s no different at the other networks.
“On the one hand, from the league’s point of view, it’s fantastic to be liked and desired and to have several suitors.
“At the same time, I’m uncomfortable with it being zero-sum.
“That at the end of the day, there will only be a few television packages, there will only be a few Finals games, playoff games and regular season games to go around.”
In recent weeks, reports have said that ESPN and Amazon have reached first-look deals with the league, while TNT’s hesitation to renew its current TV rights deal has opened the door for NBC to enter.
Silver seemingly confirmed that a TNT-NBA split is a real possibility, saying that “the folks at Turner Sports” are the ones who “seem to be most impacted right now” by the ongoing negotiations.
What does the new TV deal mean for the NBA?
By US Sun Assistant Sports Editor Damian Burchardt.
The new television rights deal promises to be a big win for NBA players.
The league is expected to more than double revenue from its media partners, pocketing around $6.9 billion per year, which will inevitably lead to a huge salary cap increase in 2025-26.
This will cause the value of players’ contracts to skyrocket.
Projected numbers suggest we could see the first $100 million per year deal being signed soon.
Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown is currently set to earn the highest single-season salary in NBA history, bringing in $65.1 million in 2028-29.
It seems like basketball fans would be on the losing side of the fight if the NBA and TNT actually split.
Inside the NBA is a unique sports entertainment program, as evidenced by ESPN’s continued failure to create its own version of the show in recent years.
The NBA won’t be the same without Kenny and Ernie trying to make sense of Shaq and Chuck’s endless fights every Tuesday night.
The commissioner said he sympathized with WBD network employees, who have been worried about their future for weeks.
“I apologize that this has been a drawn-out process because I know they are committed to their jobs,” Silver said.
“I know people who work in this sector.
“It’s a big part of your identity and your family’s identity, and no one likes that uncertainty.
“And I think it’s up to the league office to bring these negotiations to a head and conclude them as quickly as possible.”
The TNT team received some positive news earlier in the day, with WBD reportedly trying to secure a small package for the fourth game in a late turnaround.
The deal could include regular-season basketball and the NBA playoffs.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
