WBD Settles with NBA: 'Inside the NBA' to ESPN in 2025, WBD Gains Big 12 Games

Nov 17, 2024, 02:19 PM

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has settled its breach of contract lawsuit against the NBA, reaching an agreement that will keep the company in partnership with the league for at least the next decade. As part of the settlement, WBD will license its popular studio show, "Inside the NBA," featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny Smith, to ESPN and ABC starting with the 2025-2026 NBA season. The show will air during key moments of the NBA season, including Opening Week, Christmas Day games, ABC games after January 1st, the NBA Playoffs, and the NBA Finals. WBD will continue to produce "Inside the NBA" and retain its talent as TNT Sports employees. Additionally, ESPN will sublicense Big 12 college football and basketball games to WBD, allowing TNT to air 13 football games and 15 men's basketball games each season starting in 2025. The settlement also grants WBD new digital and international NBA rights in parts of Northern Europe and Latin America, and allows WBD to continue operating NBA TV for the next several years.