TNT Matching Offer With Amazon For “Inside the NBA” With Ernie, Charles, Kenny & Shaq

TNT announced that it has submitted a matching offer to retain its NBA broadcast rights and its intent to continue producing the beloved studio show “Inside the NBA.” The NBA has not responded. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports that TNT is matching the new 11-year, $1.8 billion annual contract the NBA has with Amazon, a deal that the NBA prefers to honor, according to the report. The league is expected to decline TNT’s offer to claim the rights to the Amazon package, setting up a potential showdown among the three entities, per the report. TNT announced its offer in a statement that vowed to continue producing “our iconic studio shows.” It did not mention Amazon in the statement. Hosted by Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal, “Inside the NBA” is synonymous with the league and esteemed by players and fans alike. Johnson has reportedly said that he won’t leave TNT if the network loses NBA rights.

Source: Yahoo