Big changes are coming to basketball TV.

“Inside the NBA,” the hugely popular and award-winning show with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, and Shaquille O’Neal, will soon be airing on ESPN and ABC. Disney, which owns these networks, announced this exciting news on Monday.

Currently, “Inside the NBA” airs on TNT Sports, but things are shifting because TNT will stop broadcasting NBA games in the U.S. after next year. This move marks a major change in how basketball fans will watch their favorite sport.

ESPN’s chairman, Jimmy Pitaro, expressed his excitement about bringing the “Inside the NBA” team on board. He called the show one of the best in sports and said ESPN is thrilled to add its unique chemistry and expertise to their NBA coverage.

Interestingly, even though “Inside the NBA” is moving to ESPN and ABC, it will still be produced by TNT Sports from its Atlanta studio. The show will continue to feature the same beloved cast, keeping the fun and entertaining style fans love.

TNT has been broadcasting NBA games since 1989, but their contract is up after the 2024-25 season. Starting with the 2025-26 season, the NBA will be aired on ESPN/ABC, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video.

Earlier this year, TNT Sports had the option to match other offers for NBA broadcasting rights. They reportedly matched Amazon’s $1.8 billion-per-year deal to keep NBA content. However, on Monday, TNT’s parent company Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed a new 11-year contract with the NBA. This deal allows TNT to produce and distribute NBA content and air games outside of the U.S.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s announcement also made it clear that all issues around media agreements with the NBA have been resolved. This agreement allows TNT Sports to keep producing “Inside the NBA,” which has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards, even as it shifts to ESPN.

This news follows a long series of developments around the future of “Inside the NBA.” Earlier this year, Charles Barkley mentioned he planned to retire after the 2024-25 season. However, he later committed to staying with TNT Sports long-term.

It’s also worth noting that Barkley has joked in the past about never wanting to work for ESPN. In a memorable moment on “Inside the NBA,” he humorously mocked the idea of working across multiple ESPN platforms and even jokingly referenced speaking Spanish on ESPN Deportes.

Now, starting next season, “Inside the NBA” will become ESPN’s go-to show for pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage during big events like the NBA Finals. Fans of basketball can look forward to seeing their favorite crew on a new network soon!