Shots fired!
Charles Barkley has spoken, making his first public comments since the NBA decided to end their 40-year partnership with TNT and launch a new television media rights deal with Amazon Prime Video. The new broadcasting contract begins in the 2025-26 season.
The NBA made the announcement Wednesday that they intend on entering into a long-term relationship with Amazon, saying that Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT) didn’t match their offer. As a result, TNT’s iconic “Inside the NBA” television show might be put to an end. (RELATED: Disney And ESPN Are Making A Documentary About The 2020 NBA ‘Bubble’ Playoffs, But Will We Get The Full Juice?)
Barkley decided to clap back at the league’s decision Friday, even claiming that the NBA was planning to end their partnership with TNT “from the beginning.”
“Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance,” said Barkley in a statement. “TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn’t want to piss them off.”
Charles Barkley has released a statement on TNT losing its NBA rights — and therefore the end of Inside the NBA. pic.twitter.com/dSxeBhRBOT
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) July 26, 2024
This is yet another example of how money taints everything, literally everything. Like damn, not even a legendary show like “Inside the NBA” can get away from “business is business.”