Charles Barkley releases statement after TNT loses NBA rights: ‘It’s a sad day’
Charles Barkley issued a statement Friday after the NBA rejected TNT’s media rights offer earlier this week, calling it a “sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans.”
It was announced Wednesday that the NBA rejected TNT’s media rights offer, instead opting to enter an arrangement with Amazon for at least the next 11 years beginning with the 2025-26 season. TNT matched the Amazon offer, but the league decided to go the streaming route instead. Barkley believes the league “has wanted to break up with us from the beginning.”
“Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning,” Barkley wrote. “I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance. 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. It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks.
“I just want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the last 24 years. They are the best people and the most talented and they deserve better. I also want to thank the NBA and its fans — the best fans in sports. We’re going to give you everything we have next season.”
Charles Barkley disappointed in NBA’s decision to drop TNT
Barkley, 61, has served as an analyst on TNT since 2000. He, alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal, make up the on-air crew for the popular pre and postgame show, “Inside the NBA.” The former NBA star said last month that the 2024-25 season would be his last on TV.
The NBA’s new media rights deal with Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBC and Amazon is worth $77 billion over 11 years. Amazon‘s portion is worth $1.8 billion, an offer which TNT claimed it matched.
The 2024-25 season will instead be the final season in which NBA games will be broadcasted on TNT. The network has held rights to broadcast NBA games dating back to 1989.
“We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it,” TNT Sports wrote in a statement. “In doing so, they are rejecting the many fans who continue to show their unwavering support for our best-in-class coverage, delivered through the full combined reach of WBD’s video-first distribution platforms including TNT, home to our four-decade partnership with the league, and Max, our leading streaming service.
“We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond, and we will take appropriate action. We look forward, however, to another great season of the NBA on TNT and Max including our iconic Inside the NBA.”